Presence over presents: Brits ditch wedding gifts

With destination weddings on the rise, British guests are prioritising presence over presents, as rising travel costs turn weddings into holiday getaways and prompt a rethink of traditional gift-giving. New data from Klarna, the global digital bank and flexible payment provider, reveals that 75% of Brits think destination weddings are too expensive - with 60% believing couples shouldn’t expect wedding gifts if the wedding is abroad. Guests are planning smarter to fund the growing trend; findings from the study show:

• To cut costs, 1 in 5 skip the hen/stag do, while 28% say they re-wear outfits, give smaller gifts, or share rooms
• While 40% have used their savings to cover costs, nearly 1 in 5 (18%) have used a credit card or interest incurring loan 
• 44% said they would find it helpful to use an interest-free payments option to help cover some of the costs associated with weddings
• The average guest is willing to spend up to £795, with 42% capping their spend at £1,000 for the celebrations

With interest-free payment options available through partners like Expedia, Airbnb, and Booking.com, Klarna gives attendees the flexibility to book travel and accommodation early - when prices are often lower - while spreading the cost over time.

Karin Haglund, Head of Consumer Insights at Klarna said: “Destination weddings tap into Brits’ love of travel and shared experiences, but our research shows that cost remains a concern when celebrating love abroad. For those who want more flexibility, Klarna offers interest-free payment options and budgeting tools in the app that help support smarter planning — whether that’s by booking travel early to secure a better deal or keeping track of costs along the way.”

Brits will travel for the big day

• 70% would travel beyond their local region to attend a wedding
• One in four are willing to go anywhere in the world
• Younger generations are leading the way: 36% of 18–24s and almost 1 in 2 (48%) of 25–34s have accepted a destination wedding invite, compared to just 19% of over-45s.

Weddings feel like holidays - but money matters

• Three quarters say destination weddings appeal because they double as a holiday
• 54% would accept an invite if it's a location they've wanted to visit
• But 75% say cost is the biggest downside, and 42% would only attend if the total cost stays under £1,000
• The average guest is willing to spend up to £795 on a destination wedding
• 60% say couples shouldn't expect wedding gifts if the wedding is abroad

Money saving hacks being implemented

• 1 in 5 would skip the hen or stag to prioritise the wedding itself
• 28% would save money by re-wearing outfits, giving smaller gifts, or sharing a hotel room
• One quarter choose cheaper, but more inconvenient flights
• 22% would go for a shorter stay to save on hotels and other expenses

klarna.com