Depending on where you look, the average wedding cost here in the UK falls anywhere between a huge £15,000 and a staggering £25,000, with the cumulative average figure settling around the £18,500 mark (in case you're reading this after 5 pints or a bottle of plonk, yes, you did read it correctly!)
Understanding how much each activity or item will cost is crucial to effective budgeting, so based on this figure of £18,500, we have put together an average wedding cost chart to help you on your way (exclusive of the engagement ring and celebrations which for information average out at just over £1000).
It is important to remember that it’s not how much you have to spend, but how effectively you spend what money you have that counts. With this in mind, even if you have a budget of just a £1000 or so, you can still have a superb wedding. The key to everything is to pay attention to the average wedding cost cost percentage figures in the right hand column, not the average wedding cost figures in the centre column.
|
ITEM
|
AVERAGE COST
|
AVERAGE %
|
|
Insurance
|
£110
|
0.6%
|
|
The Service
|
£520
|
2.8%
|
|
Reception
(venue, food & drinks)
|
£4,000
|
21.5%
|
|
Evening Reception
(venue, food & drinks)
|
£1,700
|
9.2%
|
|
Entertainment
|
£850
|
4.6%
|
|
Flowers
|
£685
|
3.7%
|
|
Balloons & Decorations
|
£460
|
2.5%
|
|
The Bride’s Outfit
|
£1,590
|
8.6%
|
|
Hair and Beauty
|
£170
|
0.9%
|
|
The Groom’s Outfit
|
£200
|
1.1%
|
|
Attendants Outfits
|
£575
|
3.1%
|
|
Photography
|
£905
|
4.9%
|
|
Videography
|
£905
|
4.9%
|
|
Transport
|
£480
|
2.6%
|
|
Stationery
|
£465
|
2.5%
|
|
The Wedding Cake
|
£370
|
2.0%
|
|
Wedding Rings
|
£630
|
3.4%
|
|
Gifts
|
£205
|
1.1%
|
|
Stag & Hen Nights
|
£280
|
1.5%
|
|
Honeymoon & First night hotel
|
£3,400
|
18.5%
|
The above table is based on the average wedding costfor a UK-based wedding – weddings abroad are, on the whole, cheaper affairs. The table also assumes that you will plan, organise, and arrange everything yourself – things that a wedding planner can do for you. If you do wish to hire in such help, costs do vary and you will either be charged a flat fee, percentage based fee, or a combination of both. An article dedicated to wedding planners is available on site, and if you are planning to take one up on their services, it is well worth a read.
.
.
Recommended Reading
For those of you wanting to find out more, we've a whole host of other wedding planning articles on our site packed full of expert information and helpful advice, not to mention our online wedding directory that's filled with wedding planners, toastmasters and more.
