How much does a wedding cost UK 2026?

Average UK wedding: about £20,600 (Bridebook 2026). London: about £27,000. Budget wedding: £5,000-£10,000 possible. Biggest costs: venue and catering (51% in Bridebook's data), photography, outfits, entertainment. Costs vary hugely, and you can have a meaningful wedding at any budget.

How long does it take to save for a wedding UK?

Depends on budget and savings rate. Examples: a £15,000 wedding at £500 a month takes 30 months (2.5 years). A £10,000 wedding at £400 a month takes 25 months (about 2 years). A longer engagement gives more time to save.

Should I take out a loan for a wedding UK?

Borrowing adds interest to the cost of the wedding, and the repayments carry on after the day. Alternatives to a loan include saving for longer, setting a smaller budget, accepting family help if it is offered, or choosing a simpler wedding.

What is the cheapest month to get married UK?

In Bridebook's 2026 data, the cheapest months are January, February and October, and the most expensive are June, August and September. Bridebook also lists weekday dates among the cheapest ways to get married. Venues set their own discounts for off-peak dates, so ask each one.

Saving for a Wedding UK — Complete Financial Guide

Start here: Weddings and Relationships Hub.

Weddings are expensive, but with planning you can have the day you want without starting married life in debt.

What Weddings Really Cost

Average UK Costs

Category	Average Spend (Bridebook 2026)
Total wedding	About £20,600
Venue (excluding catering)	£6,040
Catering, reception	£5,406
Photographer	£1,484
Dress	£1,532
Menswear	£859
Florist	£1,187
Music, reception	£1,061
Rings / jewellery	£1,057
Cake	£360
Stationery	£378

Bridebook describes a budget wedding as £5,000 to £10,000 and a luxury wedding as £30,000 or more. Category figures are averages across all couples, so they do not add up to the total.

Hidden Costs

Easy-to-forget items include tips and service charges, alterations, transport (Bridebook’s 2026 average is £593), hair and makeup (hair styling £417 and make-up £394 on average), guest accommodation, pre-wedding events, thank you gifts, insurance, marriage notice and registration fees (set by the register office) and extra guests, which at Bridebook’s average of £278 per guest add up quickly.

Creating Your Budget

Step 1: What Can You Afford?

Source	Amount
Your savings now	£
Monthly savings × months	£
Family contributions	£
Total budget	£

Step 2: Prioritise

What Matters Most	Get This Right
Pick your top 3	Spend here
Everything else	Find savings
Don’t try	To have everything

Common Priority Splits

Priority Style	Focus
Party people	Venue, food, drink, music
Memory makers	Photography, videography
Experience lovers	Unusual venue, travel
Intimate gatherers	Quality over quantity

Step 3: Allocate

Bridebook’s 2026 data gives this split of the average wedding budget.

Category	% of Budget
Venue + catering	51%
Attire	19%
Photography and videography	10%
Flowers + decor	7%
Entertainment	7%
Other suppliers and extras	6%

Saving Strategies

Joint Wedding Fund

Method	How
Dedicated account	Separate savings
Both contribute	Regularly
Name it	“Wedding fund” motivation
Don’t touch	For anything else

Monthly Savings Targets

Budget	12 Months	18 Months	24 Months
£10,000	£833/month	£556/month	£417/month
£15,000	£1,250/month	£833/month	£625/month
£20,000	£1,667/month	£1,111/month	£833/month

Boosting Your Fund

Strategy	How it helps
Cut subscriptions	Frees up regular monthly money
Side hustle	Adds income towards the fund
Sell unused items	One-off boost
Reduce eating out	Frees up regular monthly money
Holiday at home	Save travel money
Cashback and rewards	Small extra amounts through the year

Habit-Based Saving

Method	How It Works
Round-up apps	Every purchase rounds up
£1 saved per day	£365/year
52-week challenge	£1 week 1, £2 week 2… = £1,378
Match spending	Save what you spend on coffee

Cutting Costs Smartly

Biggest Savings

Area	Saving Strategy
Guest list	Each guest removed saves the venue and catering cost per head; Bridebook’s average is about £278 per guest
Date	Off-peak months (January, February, October) averaged less in Bridebook’s data
Venue	Non-traditional venues can cost less than a dedicated wedding venue
Day	Weekday dates are among the cheapest ways to marry, according to Bridebook
Time	A smaller meal means less catering

Venue Savings

Option	Typical Saving
Village hall	Often cheaper than a dedicated venue
Registry office	Just the ceremony fee
Restaurant	No separate venue hire
Family garden	Free venue
Dry hire	DIY but can cost less

Food and Drink

Saving	How
Afternoon tea	Instead of dinner
BBQ	Casual, cheaper
Food trucks	Modern, affordable
BYOB venue	Buy own drinks
Signature cocktail	Limits bar cost
Cash bar	After welcome drinks

Other Savings

Area	Budget Option
Invitations	Digital or print yourself
Flowers	Seasonal, local, DIY
Music	Spotify playlist vs DJ
Photography	Newer photographer, fewer hours
Cake	Supermarket, decorate yourself
Favours	Skip or homemade
Transport	Skip fancy car

Avoiding Wedding Debt

Why Not to Borrow

Reality	Impact
Interest costs	You repay more than you borrow
Starting marriage	In debt
Future goals	Delayed (house, children)
Stress	Payments for years

If Family Offers Money

Consideration	Think About
Accept gracefully	If offered genuinely
No strings	Discuss expectations
Fair between families	Or tensions arise
Don’t expect	It’s a gift, not an entitlement
Thank them	Properly

Better Than Borrowing

Alternative	Outcome
Longer engagement	More saving time
Smaller wedding	Quality over size
DIY elements	Cost and personal
Simpler venue	Character not cost
Off-peak date	Same wedding, less money

Timeline

Early in Planning

Action	Done
Set total budget	☐
Start saving	☐
Book venue	☐
Consider insurance	☐

Mid-Planning

Action	Done
Book photographer	☐
Book entertainment	☐
Choose wedding party	☐
Start dress shopping	☐

Later in Planning

Action	Done
Send save the dates	☐
Book florist	☐
Arrange transport	☐
Choose rings	☐

Final Months

Action	Done
Send invitations	☐
Final fittings	☐
Confirm suppliers	☐
Final payments	☐
Marriage licence	☐

Post-Wedding Finances

Don’t Forget

Task	Timing
Name change (if applicable)	After wedding
Joint accounts (if wanted)	When ready
Update beneficiaries	Insurance, pensions
Marriage Allowance	If eligible
Thank you notes	After the wedding

Leftover Budget?

Option	Consider
Honeymoon fund	If not already covered
House deposit	Future goals
Emergency fund	Financial security
Invest	Long-term future

Summary: Wedding Savings Checklist

Know Your Numbers

Figure	Amount
Total budget	£
Current savings	£
Monthly savings goal	£
Family contribution	£
Time to save	months

Savings Actions

Action	Done
Open dedicated account	☐
Set up standing order	☐
Cancel unnecessary subscriptions	☐
Identify side income	☐
Track spending	☐

Budget Actions

Action	Done
Identify priorities	☐
Research actual costs	☐
Include contingency	☐
List hidden costs	☐
Compare quotes	☐

Key Reminders

Remember
The marriage matters more	Than the wedding
Guest experience	Food, drink, atmosphere
Don’t start in debt	Not worth it
It’s one day	Don’t bankrupt your future
Your way is right	Not Instagram’s way

A wedding is a meaningful celebration, not a competition. The couples who look back happiest often aren’t those who spent the most, but those who surrounded themselves with people they love and started married life on solid financial ground.