If you're thinking of getting married in 2019 or beyond, then the big question you're facing is likely to be: how much does a wedding cost? In our Annual Wedding Report of over 18,000 couples who got married during 2017 and 2018, we analysed how much the typical wedding costs in the UK - and the results may surprise you!
In our survey, we tallied up the total costs of both key and optional suppliers for weddings throughout the country. Some couples spent in excess of £100,000 on their big day, bringing the national average to around £16,500 for key suppliers. but the majority of couples typically spent around £12,000. This should be great news for couples who are worried by surveys claiming that you'll need in excess of £32,000 just to tie the knot!
So, now you know the cost of a typical wedding, how should you split this between your wedding suppliers, and what are likely to be your top expenses?
Top five expenses
Unsurprisingly, the venue and food costs claims the top spot for wedding expenses, with the typical wedding venue and catering package coming out at around £5235. Venue hire costs tend to average at £3788, with in-house catering packages coming out at around £84 per head.
Next on the list is the honeymoon, which couples typically spend £3100 on. This is down from last year's figure, with newlyweds choosing to enjoy gorgeous short-haul honeymoons rather than splashing out on long-haul flights.
Third on your list of expenses is bridalwear, which comes out at £1200. While this may surprise some, this figure includes alterations and accessories, so it's a good ballpark to aim for.
Fourth on the list is wedding photography, which our couples typically spent £1100 on. We're not surprised by this figure, as photography is an important wedding investment. After all, why spend thousands on decor and outfits if you have no photos to remember them by?
Finally, the fifth highest expense for a typical wedding is live music. While a DJ might be a more budget-friendly alternative at £510 on average, a live band will cost around £800. If your budget doesn't stretch to this but you still love live music, then individual musicians cost around £129 each.
How much does a wedding ceremony cost?
These days you have lots of flexibility when it comes to how you tie the knot. Luckily the costs for a wedding ceremony tend to be around the same whatever you choose.
If you're looking for a religious ceremony in a church, then the cost of a church wedding will typically come out at around £500. Be aware that you may need to spend more on musicians, bell-ringers, heating and decoration.
When marrying in a register office, the costs will vary largely depending on location, and the day of the week. On average, you can expect to pay around £540. This matches the cost of marrying at a licensed wedding venue, which also typically costs £540.
Celebrant ceremonies are becoming increasingly more popular with couples, and these will set you back around £500. However, you will still need to pay the costs of a register office if you want to be legally married in England and Wales.
Typical cost of a wedding in 2018
If you're looking for a simple list, here are the typical costs of both essential and extra wedding suppliers according to our 2017-2018 couples:
Bridalwear £1200 Cake £325 Entertainment £620 Flowers £500 Menswear £400 Insurance £100 Venue £6000 Stationery £200 Wedding rings £380 Ceremony £540 Disco/DJ £510 Photography £1100 Hair and makeup £250 Honeymoon £3000 Videography £1100 Transport £460 Fireworks £800 Photobooth £300 Magician £250 Bouncy castle £80 Venue decor £300 Wedding planner £2400 Toastmaster £320 Gifts and favours £800 Live music £800 Chocolate fountain £450 Save the dates £50 Need help with your wedding budget? Sign up for your free online wedding planner and get a wedding budget tracker, personalised checklist and more!