Couples need to be more "ruthless" with their wedding ideas in order to reduce the cost of their big day, it has been claimed.

A report by ING Direct found that the average wedding costs £18,500 - up from £4,300 in 1988.

Colette Harris, editor of You and Your Wedding magazine, explained that couples need to prioritise what aspects of their marriage are important to them - whether it be spending more on wedding photography, the dress or a car, for example.

However, she warned that guests are the biggest expense and therefore it is important to only invite the truly important people.

"In the end it's about making your vows and getting married to the person you love and want to spend the rest of your life with and having the people you really care about there to celebrate with you," Ms Harris said.

She added that having lots of guests and matching napkins on the table is not what makes a big day special.