Lorraine Kelly: What’s so wrong with cash-strapped couples who want to get married asking guests to ‘pay’ for wedding? It’s genius

I know they have been lambasted for it, but I think the couple charging their guests £150 to come to their wedding might just be on to something.

Ben Farina and Clare Moran knew they couldn’t afford their dream nuptials and so they sent out wedding invites asking friends and family to chip in.

The £150 admission (£50 for a child) covers three nights at the hotel venue and the couple insist they don’t want wedding presents.

As we all know, wedding lists have really expensive gifts on them, so not having to buy a prezzie is a big saving.

Just being a guest at a wedding is an expensive business anyway.

First of all there’s the engagement present, followed by a hen or stag do, which these days can be an expensive weekend city break or a spa day rather than a quick booze-up down your local.

For the actual wedding day, you will need a new outfit, a wedding present, transport there and back, as well as money for booze if it’s in a hotel with no open bar.

If you have travelled a long way, you also need to book a hotel or B&B for the night. It all adds up and the cost can be astronomical.

At least those guests who are going to Ben and Clare’s wedding will know in advance exactly how much it is going to cost them. They also get a three-day mini-break at the venue in the Peak District and the couple plan to cater for guests not only on the wedding day, but also on the Sunday when they will provide everyone with a big roast dinner.

They claim they have had a positive reaction from friends and family who will all be forking out the £150 fee, and they also plan to do the whole wedding as cheaply as possible so they won’t be out of pocket and the money from guests will cover most of the cost.

According to Brides magazine, the average cost of a traditional wedding is £30,000.

Ben and Clare won’t be spending anything like that. They’ve been together for six years and have two kids together so they don’t need any presents like china, glassware or toasters.

Some of the best weddings I have been to are the simplest, and the most stressful are always when the family have spent an absolute fortune.

The day should be about friends and family and celebration rather than matching napkins and posh favours and I reckon most people would be willing to help the happy couple achieve a great wedding.

This could be the way ahead for many cash-strapped couples who don’t have the money for their big day.