People are accessing their savings accounts to be able to afford to attend the weddings of friends and family members, new figures show.

On accommodation and travel alone, guests spend £111, Halifax found, while £106 is spent on clothes and £81 on gifts for the bride and groom.

During the reception, the average guest forks out £63 and the hen or stag do can set them back £91.

Flavia Palacios, head of Halifax savings products, commented: "So that you can afford the wedding season in your life, it is important to have a regular, established savings habit in place."

She emphasised that this will help to not only pay to attend other people's weddings, but will also help couples fund their own big day.

Research from Clydesdale Bank recently found that the average cost of a wedding has declined by £4,331 over the past year.