Your wedding is supposed to be the happiest day of your life, so it’s no surprise you want every last detail to be perfect. Unfortunately, many couples are knocked for six when they find out just how much their dream day is likely to cost. According to Bridebook’s 2019 UK Wedding Report, brides and grooms in the UK now spend £30,355 on average with nuptials now more expensive than they’ve ever been.
Whether you’d be happy with a low-key ceremony or have your heart set on a showstopper rivaling Kim and Kanye’s, you and your partner will have to put some money aside for the occasion. But just how much do you need to save before you can say “I do”? We’ve broken down some of the main costs to help you put together your wedding budget.
The rings
Traditional couples won’t need to factor the cost of an engagement ring into their wedding budget as the jewellery would have been bought before the proposal. However, it’s now becoming more common for modern brides to have their say rather than accept their partner’s choice of ring. In fact, over a third of women pick their own engagement rings, so the price will need to be included in your wedding planning if that applies to you.
According to jewellers at Taylor & Hart, the price of an engagement ring will mostly be determined by the quality of the diamond you choose. The centre stone is responsible for about 80% of the value of a solitaire ring (a single jewel), while the metal weight (the ring’s thickness) and any extra details like engravings make up the remaining 20%. Higher carat weights have larger price tags, though the shape of the stone also makes a difference. Round diamonds are the most sought after option and therefore the most expensive, so choosing an alternative could enable you to save some cash. For example, a round one carat stone costs £5,796 compared to an oval at £4,773 and a cushion at £3,382.
Taylor & Hart’s collection of standard engagement rings starts from £865 and their bespoke ones begin at £1,350. It’s difficult to estimate the cost when there are so many variables involved, so we would recommend sharing your preferences with a professional jeweller to get a clearer idea.
Venue hire
Guides for Brides has calculated that a typical UK wedding venue costs £6,000, but the price massively varies depending on the type of location. It could be more cost-effective to choose a setting that offers a package also covering food and drink, with the wedding planning company reporting average prices between £4,720-£11,660 for 80 guests. If you want to organise your catering separately, venue hire drops to £2,500-£5,070. Marquees are also a popular option for couples and range from £1,870-£4,450, though that doesn’t include potential extra costs like seating and heating.
Larger, grander settings will be more expensive so you could save thousands or pounds by marrying in a simpler venue. Registry office weddings are significantly cheaper— prices start at £245 in Hertfordshire registry offices for example—while church weddings cost between £505-£550 depending on whether or not it’s your home parish.
Bridal gowns and groomswear
Usually the most exciting of all wedding purchases, a bridal gown costs £1,313 on average according to The National Wedding Survey 2019. Prices depend on the fabrics, design details and where you buy from. Couture designs will be the most expensive (£1,600+), followed by boutiques (£900-£3,000) and then the high street (£50-£1,000). Vintage stores and charity shops are great places to look for second-hand wedding dresses at much lower prices (£300+/£50-£100 respectively), or you could also trawl sample sales for gowns at discounted rates. Alternatively, consider paying £50-£200+ to hire your outfit for the day—a cost-effective and eco-friendly option.
Unsurprisingly, suits for grooms tend to be far cheaper. The average cost as per the survey was £452, with the majority of men shopping in high street stores such as M&S, River Island and Burton. According to Bridebook, bespoke tailoring is roughly £1,000-£2,000, made to measure suits are £400-£600, high street design are £200, and hired outfits cost £50-£100.
Wedding catering
Research from Bidvin has revealed that wedding catering costs UK couples £1,575 on average. Food is charged ‘price per head’ so the more guests you have, the higher the bill. Therefore, you could consider limiting your guest list for the sake of your budget. The cost will also depend on whether you’re opting for a sit-down dinner or a buffet-style spread. Three-course meals were once the norm when it came to wedding catering, but now it’s much more common for newlyweds to have casual, quirky food stations like food trucks, mobile bars and even doughnut walls. The latter options typically work out cheaper—Feast It says food trucks cost £7-£15 a head compared to £30-£100 for traditional catering—and also allows you to offer your guests a greater variety of dishes instead of a set menu.
Caterers based near your wedding venue will charge less than those far away because travel expenses will be factored into your quote. Also look out for caterers who cook with local, seasonal ingredients as this means they won’t be paying as much as businesses who source from abroad. In turn, it will cost you less to choose their dishes.
Entertainment
Once the meal, toasts and speeches have been wrapped up, your guests will be expecting some upbeat entertainment to keep them in good spirits for the rest of the reception. The costs will obviously be highest for the most talented, large scale festivities. According to Alive Network’s wedding entertainment price guide, professional live music from big bands and jazz orchestras can cost from £1,500-£2,000, while ‘party bands’ playing rock, pop and soul are a little cheaper at £1,000-£1,500.
These acts tend to be the most popular at weddings which is why they’re so expensive, but you could make huge savings by choosing more unconventional entertainment. For example, for £500-£750 you could hire a string quartet to create a classy ambience, or a steel or ceilidh band to really liven up the room. While paying just £250-£500 could get you a DJ or another solo musician, or even zanier performers like magicians and circus acts to give your loved ones an unforgettable night.
We’re very proud to bring you this feature in association with Taylor & Hart. For more articles, please pay a visit to our lifestyle page.