The average wedding comes with a rather hefty price tag – £27,161, to be precise (according to hitched.co.uk). But while we often hear about the huge expense taken on by the bride and groom, they aren’t the only ones shelling out.

Once you factor in buying an outfit, gift, plus your accommodation and travel, the big day starts to add up for guests, too.

In fact, a recent study by American Express revealed that the average Brit would attend four weddings a year, splashing out an eye-watering £432 on each event.

To put that figure into context, the combined cost of £1,728 is more than the average bride-to-be will spend on her own wedding dress.

But a jam-packed wedding season doesn’t necessarily have to mean going into the red. We have a few clever tricks that will help you cut costs this wedding season, without making you look stingy.

From affordable accommodation (thank goodness for Premier Inn) and great value gifts, to the most hard-working outfits you can wear again and again, we’ve got your wedding day worries covered…

We’d all love to be able to afford a new dress for every wedding occasion, but it isn’t always feasible to buy an entirely new outfit every time a new invite comes through the letter box.

Instead, you want just one really hard-working piece that you can restyle for each of the big days. Stylist fashion writer Billie Bhatia suggests investing in a versatile skirt.

“This season, the catwalk was full of pencil skirts, maxi skirts and mini skirts,” she says. “Go for a block colour that you can dress up with accessories and interchangeable tops, such as form-fitting T-shirts, a silk blouse or a cropped knit. Remember, layering is the easiest way to get longevity out of your clothes.”

Picking a hero piece doesn’t have to be expensive, either. “Whistles and Cos are good bets for block colours, but if you really want to wear a print, head to & Other Stories or Mango,” recommends Bhatia.

“But do bear in mind that if you go for a pattern, you’ll need to stick to a muted colour palette. If a pattern is too memorable, you might not want to wear it again and again.”

If you’re driving to the wedding, sharing a lift with other guests is a no-brainer. But things get tricky when you’re going alone.

Try Liftshare, a website that lets you advertise your own journey to strangers and give them a lift for a fixed price.

Not only does it help you cut the cost of your journey, it also gives you some company (and carpool karaoke buddies) along the way. And if you don’t have a car? You can also advertise where you’re going so people can offer you a lift instead.

If you’re planning to travel by train, try splitting your fare. For some reason, buying tickets for separate parts of one longer journey can slash the price – even if you’re travelling on exactly the same train. Visit ticketing sites such as TrainSplit or Ticketclever to cut the cost.

Lastly, don’t rule out railcards. While your 16-25 Railcard may have expired, the Two Together railcard offers up to a third off rail tickets for two named people travelling – you guessed it – together. Perfect if you’re heading to a wedding with a plus-one in tow.

When it comes to wedding accommodation, there are two main things you need to think about: convenience and cost.

Luckily, Premier Inn meets both these criteria. With more than 750 hotels dotted across the country, Premier Inn is pretty much guaranteed to have somewhere you can stay near your venue, offering reasonably priced accommodation, no matter how remote that marquee may be.

What’s more, it’s a great place to get ready as well as crash post-wedding. Each room comes with a powerful shower, a hairdryer and a vanity mirror – ideal for getting yourself wedding-ready.

And the luxury Hypnos® beds mean you’ll leave feeling refreshed the next morning, regardless of your dancing antics the night before. Top it off with one of Premier Inn’s hearty breakfasts (served until 11am on weekends at selected hotels) and you’ve got everything you need for your stay without breaking the bank.

Get wedding-ready at a Premier Inn of your choice….

With all those celebrations in the diary, you don’t need to look any further than Premier Inn for the perfect hotel stay. What’s more, one reader will win two nights at a Premier Inn of their choice.

The prize includes two nights for a maximum of four adults (staying in two rooms), a bottle of fizz, breakfast on both mornings, plus a £250 beauty treatment voucher. For your chance to win, answer the question below…