For richer, for poorer in wedding gifts

WEDDING guests are getting more frugal with their gifts for newlyweds with spending down a third over the past two years, according to new research.

The average wedding present is now worth 28.26, against 42.91 in 2008 – a fall of 34 per cent – according to the study by Moneysupermarket Vouchers.

But couples marrying this year should benefit – following last year's low of 26.71 per wedding gift, spending is said to be slowly on the rise again.

Scottish guests are the most generous, spending an average of 40.48 on wedding gifts, nearly 10 more than Londoners, who came in second place, spending 30.78, according to the research. Yorkshire guests were at the bottom of the table, spending 23.15 on gifts.

The older generation, meanwhile, tends to spend the most, with the over-55s shelling out more than 40 on presents, compared with 24 spent by 18- to 24-year-olds.