And finally…Edinburghers lead UK’s wedding spenders

The survey of 1,536 adults by One4all, the Post Office gift card, found Edinburgh residents spend on average £297 on attending a wedding, splashing out on outfits, beauty treatments, transport and accommodation – £128 higher than the national average.

And that figure doesn’t include the wedding gift for the happy couple, which sets the average wedding guest in Edinburgh back £51, bringing the total spend to £348.

Despite the research showing the city is willing to invest the most when attending a wedding, a sneaky 1 in 4 guests from Edinburgh have lied to the happy couple by telling them their gift is on its way, when in fact it hasn’t even been bought.

A further half of those surveyed confess to having turned up to a wedding with a gift that they have taken from their own home – meaning the bulk of Edinburgh residents flashy wedding budget is being spent elsewhere, on their appearance, travel and accommodation.

The data also shows just how unpopular wedding lists are in Edinburgh - with more than 1 in 4 (28%) disliking being told what to buy by couples. Instead, they prefer to give more traditional gifts, with gifts for the home or a financial gift towards a honeymoon topping the list.

Aoife Davey, group marketing manager at One4all, the Post Office Gift Card, said: “It’s interesting to see the level of financial investment those in Edinburgh are making when attending a wedding, with the bulk being spent on personal appearance and lavish travel and accommodation – but it is also quite alarming how many people have turned up to a wedding without a gift!

“It’s also clear that those in Edinburgh prefer to go down the traditional route of selecting a gift for the happy couple themselves, rather than being dictated to by something like a wedding list, and that traditional types of gifts - such as homeware and useful appliances - are still the preferred to choice of many guests.

“Unlike other cities, those in Edinburgh are spending a lot on outfits, travel and accommodation and spending less on wedding gifts. But, as they’re clearly not afraid to splash the cash, this is perhaps down to guests being unsure what to buy.

“As the gifting experts, our advice would be, unless there is something that you know the bride and groom need or want specifically, it’s often safer to give the gift of choice, such as a gift card or money, which they can use to get something they will really enjoy together, such as an experience day, a meal or an activity on their honeymoon.”

Despite money towards a honeymoon or a new home being a popular request from many couples, 1 in 3 (30%) of guests in Edinburgh dislike being asked for this - with many viewing it as a last minute resort, as more than 1 in 4 confess to having done this in a panic.