“Couples can wait until the absolute last minute – even the night before the wedding – to decide whether to pay for drinks or not,” he explains. “So many couples overspend on their budget that when it comes to shelling out an extra three or four thousand pounds for drinks, it can make more sense to let guests buy their own. It won’t affect their enjoyment of the day and each individual will be spending a fairly small amount.”

Natasha, a bride-to-be planning a wedding in London, agrees. “I think it’s fair to offer a drink for the toast and over dinner, and in an an ideal world I would love to be able to pay for my guests to have free drinks all day, but weddings are so so expensive that it's really difficult to do.”

However, etiquette is a huge factor in wedding organisation, and many couples feel a free bar is a necessary show of their hospitality. So, when a budget applies it can mean cutting costs elsewhere. The study highlights that 29% of couples don’t use printed stationery, while 49% host their wedding on days other than a Saturday to save money. Both of which are initiatives used by Anita, a 30-year-old Auditor who is getting married in September.

The end of the open wedding bar: why we shouldn't expect a night of free drinks