ACCORDING to new research by wedding planning website Bridebook, the average cost of a wedding in 2017 has risen to £27,000.

As if that wasn't shocking enough, £27,000 is also the average yearly salary in the UK. Spending an entire year's salary for just one day, even though it's a very special day, seems a little bit ridiculous to us.

With venue hire averaging out at £5,727 and dresses costing around £1,200, the costs can quickly mount up and across the UK couples are getting themselves into debt that they can't really afford in the quest for the perfect day. In fact, only 22% of couples pay for their weddings up front.

If you're looking to spend less than a year's salary on your wedding, follow our tips for tying the knot for not a lot!

Borrow your bling

Save some cash on your wedding day jewellery and borrow it from a friend or family member! You know what they say; something old, something new, something borrowed...

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Fake your cake

Wedding cakes are EXPENSIVE and people hardly ever eat them leaving the happy couple are often left with more cake than they could ever imagine eating. Save money by asking your baker to make a tier or two out of polystyrene or card.

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Ditch the DJ

A typical wedding DJ is likely to cost around £400, but you've got all of the tunes you'll want to dance to on your phone or computer, right? Most venues will have a sound system, so cut the cost by getting all of your guests to contribute to a playlist and plug your own tunes in.

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Say no to Saturday

Booking a wedding on a weekday can make your venue considerably cheaper than a Saturday. Your friends and family love you - they can sacrifice one day of annual leave!

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When it comes to saving money on your wedding it's all about deciding what's important to you and what's not. As ever, it's all in the planning.