Queen of bargains, including trimming the cost of going to weddings

Brits are set to splurge a staggering £15 billion this year watching loved ones say ‘I do’, but be a savvy guest and you won't need to bust the budget…

Wedding goers spend an average of £303 at each do, according to American Express research. Here are our tips to slash the expense…

Trim travel costs

Getting to a wedding often involves a long journey, but travelling with others could help. Some train companies including Greater Anglia have Groupsave tickets, which offer groups of three to nine a third off off-peak fares (see nationalrail.co.uk/groupsave). Car sharing is another good option, as you can split fuel costs.

And when booking hotels, do factor in getting to the wedding and back. Staying at or close to the venue might seem expensive but, with taxis, it might cost more to stay further away.

Dress for less

Getting dressed up for the big day is another big expense, averaging

£50 per guest, but you can cut down on how much you shell out. Instead of buying new clothes each time, why not invest in a simple outfit in a neutral colour that you can accessorise to make it look different – for example, by adding a statement necklace. And if you want a fancy frock for less, consider renting from a dress-hire company, such as girlmeetsdress.com.

Personalise it

Wedding gifts were the greatest expense for guests, according to the report, at typically £57 each. If you have a special talent, such as baking, photography or flower arranging, why not offer your skills as your present to the happy couple? And remember, if the bride and groom have a wedding gift list, try to get in there early – you’ll have more choice of presents and it’ll be more likely that you can pick something in your budget.