Getting engaged is the most exciting time. What’s less exciting is when you actually start planning the wedding and realise you might need to remortgage your house to pay for the damn thing.

It’s no secret that weddings are expensive. No matter the size or style, they’re a luxury – and luxuries always come with a hefty price tag. It’s not that there are vendors lurking in the shadows waiting to rip you off. It’s just that this shit is expensive. It just is.

How much does it actually cost to get married in 2026?

Let’s talk numbers. Because whether you’re planning a full-scale rave in a barn or a tiny, stylish ceremony in your local registry office, it’s good to know what things cost right now and where your money actually does some work.

Survey after survey says the same thing: the classic UK wedding lands somewhere around £22,000 to £25,000* once you add up the big-ticket stuff. Of course you can spent a lot, lot more if you’ve got expensive taste or a big family, and a lot less if you do a lot of DIY or ditch the stuff you don’t care about… but this is a good ballpark to begin with.

The numbers get higher the bigger your guest lists gets. Venues are expensive, and suppliers are actual human beings living in an actual economy – I mean, have you seen the cost of butter these days!? But, seriously, you do not need to spend this much to have an incredible wedding. You just need to know your priorities.

Where the money actually goes

Here’s the rough breakdown of a standard British wedding budget based on 2024–25 spending patterns. Spoiler: it’s mostly food and a room to put people in.

Wedding Planner: Around 10%-15% of your budget for a full planning service.

While there are some ballpark figures for hiring a wedding planner in the UK floating around, it depends a lot on what level of service you want (full planning, partial help, on-the-day coordination, etc.). Some planners (especially “luxury” or very experienced ones) have minimum fees – often starting at around £5,000 and up, particularly for larger or high-service weddings.

If you want full help and are working with an average budget: aim for a planner fee in the £2,000-£3,500 range.

If you want help with some bits (or want day-of coordination) but still do some DIY/styling yourself: £1,500-£2,500 is reasonable.

If you just want someone on the day to make sure nothing goes wrong – £1,000-£2,000 is typical.

Some venues do include a co-ordinator with their packages but this is not the same service as hiring an independent planner. A venue planner will likely be less involved with the creative side and more on the logistics. They also probably will not help you source or communicate with other vendors (other than those arranged through the venue). And just remember, they work for the venue, so doing right by the venue is their priority, not you.

Venue: Usually around £9,000-£11,000.

This includes the privilege of existing in a nice space on a Saturday in the summer – no catering, no drinks. May or may not include staff. Quotes may be lower in off-season or weekdays. Keep a close eye on what these quotes include – you don’t want to book it and then realise it didn’t include any chairs or that turning on the beautiful fairy lights comes with an additional fee (and yes, we’ve actually seen this before).

Catering: Around £5,000+ for 80-90 guests.

That’s about £60 per head but expect quotes up to £200 per head for fancier set ups. Yeah, its a lot but when was the last time you ate out out a restaurant for less than £60?

Alcohol: The limit does not exist.

An open bar could bankrupt you, but in the UK its quite usual for the couple to just pay for half a bottle of wine per person for dinner + a glass of champagne for the speeches. You then have a cash bar for everything else. Be sure to check if you venue charges corkage if you are bringing your own because that’s another delightful add-on that a lot of venues like to spring on you.

Photography & Video: Photography: £1,500. Videography: £1,300.

This is what the surveys say, but these numbers actually feel a tad low to us. In our experience, we’d suggest figures closer to £2,000 for photos and the same again for video using experienced professionals. If you are also having a social media content creator for a full day, expect to pay around £1,000-£1,500.

Outfits: Wedding dress averages sit around £1,500.

But for custom design or if you are working with a designer who doesn’t mass produce and/or makes everything in the UK, expect to pay closer to £2,500-£3,000.

Hair & Make-Up: Around £400-£500 (if only one bride), and £600-£1,200+ if you include a larger wedding party.

Entertainment: Bands and DJs usually run £1,000-£2,500.

Good music = good vibes.

Décor, florals and styling: Wildly variable.

Anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand depending on scale, taste, and how DIY you’re willing to get. If you are hiring a stylist to come in and set everything up for you on the day, expect to pay around £800-£1,500 depending on their level of involvement.

Everything else

Stationery, transport, favours, signage, cake, candles, the four thousand tiny things that seem cheap until you add them up…. This is usually where budgets quietly explode.

Custom invitations can run anywhere from £1–£5 each depending on the designer and paper quality. A vintage car might cost a few hundred quid just to drive you round the corner, or you could get an Uber for a tenner. An elaborate cake could be around £1,500 or you could just buy cupcakes from Tesco.

This category is the hardest to pin down because it’s where personal taste takes over. These are the details that make the wedding feel like you, which means the cost varies wildly from couple to couple. Weddings are custom events and custom experiences, so it’s almost impossible to give a single “average” that fits everyone.

What’s actually worth the money

Remember, you don’t need all of it. You just need the bits that matter to you. And a lot of couples have no idea which bits those are until they’ve accidentally bought 80 satin chair bows off Etsy and are questioning their life choices.

Here’s the stuff that genuinely earns its keep:

The venue
It sets the tone, solves logistics, and decides the general mood of the day. You don’t need the fanciest place. You need the right place. A blank canvas is great if you want to do a lot of your own DIY and décor. Somewhere that handles everything for you is ideal if you want less stress and to just show up – but you will pay a lot more for it.

Food and drink
People will forgive a late ceremony. They will not forgive being underfed.

Photography
This is the one supplier you’ll never regret spending on. You will never look back and wish your photos were worse.

Anything that makes the day feel like you
Statement outfits, the décor styling, DIY details that actually reflect your personality. These things hold the most emotional value and will make your wedding feel like yours. Spend as much or as little as you want, just do what feel right for the two of you.

Where you can save money without tanking the day

Guest list trimming
You don’t need everyone you’ve ever met. Smaller weddings = less people to feed, a smaller venue requirement and therefore a smaller bill.

Rethinking catering
You don’t need a three-course meal.
Brunch weddings slap. BBQ weddings are awesome. Food trucks rule. BYO is chaotic but so fun. Do something unique that fits the vibe.

DIY but strategically
DIY the things you enjoy, not the things you think you “should” do.
Your sanity is worth more than 100 hand-glued favour tags. You do not need them. DIY does not equal free. All those trips to Hobbycraft really do add up!

Buy second-hand or rent outfits
The alt community is brilliant for rewearing and sharing pieces. Plus: sustainable, cheaper, and cooler. Vinted and Facebook Marketplace will be your best friend.

Look at off-peak dates
Weekdays and winter weddings can save you a lot on the venue cost specifically.

Just remember: Your wedding is not a performance and it’s not a competition with strangers on social media.

It’s a day where you make a commitment and throw a party in whatever way feels right. So set your budget based on your values, not on what the “average UK couple” is doing. Because honey, there is nothing average about you.

^{*Bridebook’s 2025 UK Wedding Report puts the “average total cost” of a wedding at £20,822 (excluding engagement ring and honeymoon) or £26,583 including the honeymoon and ring. Hitched’s 2025 survey of UK couples married in 2024 reports an average wedding cost of £23,250.}