TOASTERS and cutlery sets are officially the wedding present of the past - with cash now the newlyweds' ideal gift.

Two thirds of Brits tying the knot want to receive money or vouchers on their big day and wedding lists are increasingly being consigned to the waste paper bin, according to new research by insurance company Direct Line.

After cash, today's brides and grooms want holidays and adventure experiences such as hot-air balloon rides.

This contrasts sharply to the 1980s when kitchen equipment was the most in demand present, and it was bedding that topped the gift wish list 30 years ago.

In fact, the research reveals that only three per cent of today's brides and grooms request kitchen equipment such as toasters - and apparently it's all because we're getting hitched later in life.

One county couple opting for cash gifts was Elizabeth and Stan Wood, of Cambria Road, Evesham, who were married on Saturday, March 26.

Elizabeth, aged 36, and housing case worker Stan, 44, had been together for 11 years before deciding to tie the knot and had already set up home together, which meant there was no need for a traditional list of gifts to furnish their property,

"We decided not to bother with a wedding present list at all and were quite happy for people to just come along and enjoy the day," said marketing and office administrator Elizabeth.

"Suddenly people started asking us what we would like so we said it was up to the individual, and without wanting to sound rude, we said if they wanted to give us money, they could.

"We thought we could then spend the money on something we really needed, although my new husband and I have been rather at odds as to what that is!

"I wanted to buy electrical goods or kitchen goods such as a dishwasher or a stereo, or put it towards our honeymoon spending-money because the wedding had cost us so much, but Stan wanted antiques.

"So we reached a compromise of a stereo, and one or two antique objects such as small item of furniture, which will have sentimental value."

Wedding gift giving is serious business, and can mean big bucks - with the average wedding guest spending £71 on their gift.

At the Royal wedding on Saturday, Prince Charles and Camilla received presents each worth £500 and upwards when they wed at Windsor. But are wedding guests complying with requests for cash? In the Midlands, 16 per cent of guests hand over their money as a gift, with 17 per cent giving vouchers instead.

However, some are not so eager to give their best wishes in the form of bank notes. Instead, 16 per cent of Midlanders give kitchen equipment, six per cent buy glassware and three per cent opt for a dinner service.

Twenty-three per cent buy a personal gift not asked for by the bride and groom and very few guests in the Midlands buy holidays or adventure experiences, according to the research. Emily Lewis, aged 28, of Bath Road, Worcester, said: "I've been to a couple of weddings recently and one of the couples asked for money.

"I didn't mind giving it because it's what they need that matters, but you do feel as though it's very impersonal and they know exactly how much you spent."

"I would much rather buy a gift from a list or get something I've put a lot of thought into that they can keep forever to remind them of their big day."

Go green with your nuptials

BILLY Idol may have sung about it being a "nice day for a white wedding" - but why not follow the Environment Agency's tips and have green nuptials?

The EA is encouraging couples tying the knot to take eco-friendly steps to minimise the impact their festivities could have on the environment.

You could keep carbon-dioxide emissions down by arriving at the church in a horse-drawn carriage rather than an over-sized limo, make invitations out of recycled paper or have natural table decorations such as leaves and pinecones rather than plastic.

Other eco-friendly ideas include:

n The ring - to save resources choose an antique ring.

n The venue - choose somewhere that uses green energy or have an outdoor wedding at a beach or botanical garden.

n Flowers - order a Fairtrade bouquet or local seasonal flowers so they don't have to be imported, thereby reducing travel and chemical intervention.

n Wedding gifts - put ceramics, linens and glassware made from recycled products on your gift list.

n The dress - reuse your mums dress for something borrowed or choose fabrics made from natural fibres like hemp, silk or cotton.

n Cosmetics - go organic and use natural make-up.

n Confetti - make sure it's biodegradable, such as dried flower petals, or blow bubbles instead.

n Food and drink - serve your guests locally-sourced produce.

Cost of the big day just gets pricier

NEW research has revealed the cost of getting hitched has risen 760 per cent since Prince Charles first tied the knot in 1981.

Building Society Alliance & Leicester said the average cost of a wedding 24 years ago was £1,737, compared with about £15,000 today.

As a result, one in five couples now need to borrow to pay towards the cost of their big day - with brides and grooms borrowing an average £8,000.

And it appears that even in the 21st Century it is still the men in relationships who are handling the finances.

Last year, men on average took out 30 per cent more loans to pay for weddings than women.

WEDDING GIFTS WISH LISTS - THEN AND NOW

2005 Money 34%

Vouchers 28% Holiday 16%

Experience gift 10%

Kitchen goods 3%

20 years ago

Kitchen goods 35%

Money 29% Dinner service 27% Bed Linen 25%

Towels 22%

30 YEARS AGO

Bed linen 42%

Kitchen goods 38%

Dinner service 32%

Towels 23% Cutlery sets 19%