The cost of getting married in Ireland has fallen by over 20 per cent since the bubble burst but the cost of getting an invitation remains too much for many to bear - with nearly 50 per cent of those polled in a new survey admitting to turning down an invite because they could not afford it.

The survey from the One4All voucher company indicates that many people will have little change out of €500 once all the costs associated with other people’s big day are covered - and that’s before a drink is bought.

All told, 72 per cent of Irish people plan to go to a wedding this year - while just under a third say they will be invited to two weddings this year.

These invitations will not come cheap for many people, with 25 per cent saying they will spend between €150 and €200 on a wedding present. Cash is the most popular option, with 57 per cent saying it was their gift of choice. Just over two thirds of those polled said they would give a marrying couple a present even if they did not attend the wedding.

The costs are taking their toll on many people, with 41 per cent saying they had declined an invitation at least once due to the high price of all the trappings.

A significant number still splash the cash, however, and the survey suggests 40 per cent of those polled always buy a new outfit for a wedding - with 60 per cent of that cohort admitting to spending up to €150 on the clothes. Just 22 per cent said they normally recycled something that was already in their wardrobe, with 40 per cent saying they were more likely to buy a new outfit if they knew someone attending the wedding had already seen them wearing the clothes they had planned to wear.

Almost a third said they always book into a hotel or B&B when attending a wedding and typically spend over € 100 on accommodation.

An all-expenses-paid honeymoon, cash and a washing machine topped the list of best wedding presents, while towels, bedding, canteens of cutlery and kitchen clocks were declared to be the worst of gifts.