If you've been to a wedding recently, you'll know that they're pricey affairs - research suggests the average cost of attending can be almost €1,200 in Ireland, £1,045 in the UK, and $1,296 in the USA, which might be the amount you spent on your most recent holiday! So, if the comfort and enjoyment of your guests is a priority for you and your other half, then the cost of attending your wedding is certainly worth spending some time thinking about.

Why is The Cost of Attending My Wedding Such a Big Deal?

We are well aware that this is a controversial topic. Not only do we, as a nation, tend to shy away from talking about money (we're currently trying to combat this with our wedding budget breakdown series), but we also want to believe that everyone on our guest list is willing, able and living for the opportunity to splurge on our big day. Of course, the vast majority of them are, but for one or two, the cost of attending your wedding could pose a legitimate dilemma.

Your wedding is, first and foremost, about you and your partner, but for many couples, treating their family and friends to a fantastic day is just as important. If this really is a top priority (and be honest with yourself about this, because, of course, it's fine if it's not!), then you need to consider their budget when you're setting yours. If you're currently in wedding planning mode, this can be a little hard to wrap your head around. Regardless of what your budget is, you're expecting to spend a large amount of money on your guests, so to hear that they might not be willing to drop a large sum to celebrate with you, well... it can be frustrating! But if you're asking them to be a part of your big day, it's only fair that you consider their needs too.

Unfortunately, this is trickier than it sounds! On one hand, you don't want to make every wedding-related decision based on your guests' preferences. On the other, you want your friends and family members to have a terrific day, and not have to worry about a thing. How do you strike that perfect balance without going into debt over a free bar and hair and makeup for all? Well, we think we've cracked the code! We've rounded up 11 ways that you can make your wedding less expensive for your guests, some of which won't cost you a penny!

DISCLAIMER: We don't expect anyone to follow all of our tips, but if you take even one or two on board, it will make the whole experience less stressful and more enjoyable for you and your guests. And really, isn't that what your wedding day is all about?

How Do I Keep Wedding Costs Down For My Guests?

1. Think long and hard about the your wedding date

Now, we're not saying that you should ditch a venue that you love because the available dates don't sync up with your third cousin's school holidays! But when you're working through your options, it's worth considering, a) guests who will be travelling from abroad, and b) the work commitments of your local guests.

For example, Christmas is a good option if your far-flung guests will be making the journey to see family anyway, but an exceptionally expensive one if they're not! And a bank holiday may be perfect if many of your guests live in the same country, but not if there are lots of self-employed people or retail workers in your crew.

2. Choose a venue with affordable accommodation nearby

Again, we don't expect you to pick your venue based on the cheap B&B that's 10 minutes down the road, but this is definitely something to add to your wedding venue wish list. From your guests' point of view, there's a big difference between a luxury venue close to affordable hotels, B&Bs and Airbnbs, and a luxury venue that's 70km from the nearest town. Which leads us onto our next point...

3. Organise a bus for your guests

If late-night taxis are going to be really expensive, it's a good idea to hire a bus to take guests back to their accommodation. This also goes for city weddings where the ceremony and reception venues are located quite far apart. The team at Glynn's Coaches make organising this a breeze! If people are getting taxis home from the wedding venue, offer to put people in touch so they can car pool, or arrange a mini bus together.

4. Stress that attendance at the hen party and stag do is optional

Sometimes, relieving the pressure to attend a pre-wedding party is as simple as not sending formal invitations, and instead dropping pals a casual text. Do be aware that very close family members and bridal party members will feel obliged to attend regardless of the location, so if they're the guests you're most worried about, a low-key, local affair is preferable to an extravagant city break.

5. Set a casual dress code and make this clear on your invitations

I love a black tie wedding as much as the next gal, but for guests, a formal dress code usually means a hike in the cost of their outfit. There's no need to worry if you're getting married in a luxurious hotel, castle of country house venue - your guests will still look fabulous in a cocktail dress and suit separates!

6. Make sure your guests have enough to eat

This one may seem obvious, but as people who bring a tote bag of snacks to every wedding we attend, (and having discreetly shared them out in a few critical moments), we can tell you that many couples underestimate the amount of food that's required for a full-day party.

A wedding is 1.5 times longer than a regular day, and could involve the burning of 10 times more calories if you're really going hard on the dancefloor, so people need to eat. Putting on extra food doesn't have to mean a massive expense on your end, though. Swap out delicate canapés for a food truck dispensing carb-loaded treats, or leave a cheap, edible wedding favour at each place setting. Other affordable options include a post-meal wedding cheese cake or a DIY crisp sandwich station!

7. Throw in a couple of extra drinks

Chances are you're already paying for Prosecco or Champagne, cocktails, and wine for your guests (and they're very, very grateful!), but if they've travelled a long distance to attend your wedding, or are spending more than a few days celebrating with you, putting some cash behind the bar for post-dinner drinks is a nice touch. You can also give some cash to a bridesmaid or groomsman, and ask them to make sure that your big-spending, long-travelling guests are looked after.

8. Create a wedding gift registry

Like it or not, most guests feel pressure to give the couple a sum of money by way of a wedding gift, even when the couple have specifically requested otherwise. Opting for a wedding gift registry is your best chance of lightening the load for your guests, so long as you make sure to include lots of affordable items. This way you'll get less expensive items that you really want. Also most gift registries allow people to 'present pool' on bigger gifts. The weddingshop.com is a great option.

9. Organise a child-minder or children's entertainer

It's totally fine to not invite children to your wedding - in fact, parents might thank you for it! - but if you're concerned about keeping wedding costs down for your guests, particularly close family members whose usual babysitters - grandparents and siblings - are also attending your wedding, here's a good compromise: invite the children, but spring for a group babysitter or entertainer to keep the little ones entertained for part of the day, so the parents can relax a little.

10. Keep the second-day celebrations relaxed

It's easier for guests who are struggling financially to opt out of the second-day celebrations than the wedding itself, particularly if you're planning, say, an informal meet-up at the local pub, as opposed to an official meal with a band and dancing. If you want to relieve some of the pressure, leave the second-day party off the invitation and instead drop guests a line a few weeks before to let them know what's happening.

11. Plan your destination wedding wisely

There's no getting around it - destination weddings are almost always more expensive for guests, but lots of beautiful venues abroad offer all-inclusive packages that will relieve a lot of the financial stress on their end. It's also worth checking if your travel agent offers group rates, and paying for a few extras, like airport pick-up, or a welcome dinner.

Got your mind on your money and your money on your mind? You'll find lots more helpful budgeting posts here!