Wedding Cost Calculator UK 2025
Plan your UK wedding budget with real 2025 cost data. The average UK wedding costs £20,775 (excluding honeymoon). Enter your estimates below to build your complete budget.
Wedding Budget Planner
Enter estimated costs for each category. Default values show typical UK 2025 averages. Adjust to your specific plans.
Venue
Catering
Dress & Suits
Flowers
Photography & Video
Music & Entertainment
Transport
Invitations & Stationery
Rings
Hair & Makeup
Registrar / Officiant
Honeymoon
Miscellaneous
Savings Plan
UK Wedding Costs 2025: What to Expect
Getting married in the UK has never been a small undertaking financially. According to the Hitched National Report 2025, the average UK wedding now costs £20,775 excluding the honeymoon — a figure that has risen steadily over the past decade driven by venue price inflation, food and drink costs, and increasingly high expectations set by social media. Add a honeymoon to the equation and the average total rises to approximately £33,000.
These averages mask considerable regional variation. A London wedding in a private venue with full catering can easily exceed £35,000–£50,000, while a comparable celebration in the North of England, Wales or Scotland might cost £14,000–£20,000. What remains consistent is the proportion of budget consumed by the biggest cost categories: venue and catering together typically absorb 50–65% of total wedding spend.
Venue: The Biggest Single Cost
The venue hire is almost always the largest line item in a UK wedding budget, typically ranging from £3,000 for a modest local venue to £15,000+ for a prestigious country house or London hotel on a Saturday in peak season (May–September). Many venues charge an all-in package covering room hire, tables, chairs, and sometimes a catering minimum spend. Understanding exactly what is and is not included in the venue fee is critical — some venues charge extra for ceremony rooms, additional hours, corkage, security staff and even car parking.
Off-peak dates offer significant savings. January, February and November weddings can be 20–35% cheaper on venue hire. Weekday weddings, particularly Thursday celebrations, are similarly discounted. The trade-off is that some guests may be unable to attend mid-week, particularly those with young children or inflexible work commitments.
Catering: Where Guest Numbers Drive Costs
Wedding catering in the UK typically costs between £70 and £120 per head for a three-course sit-down meal with drinks. At the average of 79 guests, this means a catering bill of £5,530–£9,480 before the wedding cake. Many couples save significantly by choosing a wedding breakfast buffet (£45–£75 per head), a grazing table concept, or food trucks/street food-style catering. The wedding cake alone averages £400–£700 from a specialist baker, though a supermarket-bought decorated cake can substitute for a fraction of the cost.
Photography: Book Early for Best Value
Wedding photography represents one of the most enduring investments in your wedding — the photos and video are what you will have long after the day. Professional UK wedding photographers charge £1,200–£3,500 for full-day coverage, with highly sought-after photographers in popular style niches (editorial, documentary) commanding £4,000–£8,000. Booking 12–18 months in advance gives you the widest choice and often avoids peak-season price increases. When comparing quotes, check what is included: number of edited images, turnaround time, print rights, whether a second shooter is included, and album options.
Wedding Insurance: Do Not Skip This
Wedding insurance is one of the most cost-effective purchases you can make when planning a wedding. A comprehensive policy covering £20,000–£30,000 of wedding costs typically costs £100–£200. Cover typically includes: cancellation and rearrangement due to illness, bereavement or weather; supplier failure (if your caterer or venue goes into administration); public liability; wedding attire and rings; and wedding gifts. Given that the average UK couple signs contracts with 10–15 different suppliers, the financial exposure of even one supplier failure is substantial. Buy your policy as early as possible — ideally when you pay your first deposit.
The Wedding Timeline: 18 Months to the Big Day
Experienced wedding planners recommend starting serious planning 18 months before the wedding date for a Saturday peak-season celebration. The critical path typically runs: venue booking (18 months out) → registrar or church booking (12–18 months) → caterer and photographer (12 months) → dress shopping (9–12 months for lead time) → florist and entertainment (9 months) → invitations sent (3 months) → final payments and timings confirmed (1 month). Starting earlier gives you more choice, avoids disappointment on preferred dates, and allows more time to save.
Wedding Loans vs Savings
Financial advisors consistently recommend saving rather than borrowing for a wedding. However, if some level of borrowing is unavoidable, compare options carefully. A personal loan of £5,000–£15,000 from a bank or building society typically carries representative APRs of 6–10% for applicants with good credit histories. A 0% purchase credit card can be interest-free for 12–24 months if paid in full within the promotional period. Avoid high-interest options. Starting married life with significant unsecured debt can strain finances at exactly the point when you may be saving for a home deposit or starting a family. Consider scaling back the wedding or extending the engagement rather than taking on unaffordable debt.
UK Wedding Industry Statistics 2025
The UK wedding industry is valued at approximately £14.7 billion annually. There are around 240,000 marriages per year in England and Wales (ONS), with an additional 29,000 in Scotland and 8,000 in Northern Ireland. Saturday remains overwhelmingly the most popular day, accounting for over 70% of weddings. August is the most popular month, followed by July and June. The UK has approximately 6,000 licensed wedding venues and around 45,000 registered celebrants and officiants.
Mustafa Bilgic — UK Personal Finance & Life Events Specialist
Mustafa covers UK life event costs, personal finance planning and consumer economics for UK Calculator. All figures reflect current UK market data for 2025. This calculator provides estimates — actual costs will vary significantly by region, supplier choice and personal preferences. Always obtain multiple quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average UK wedding cost in 2025?
According to the Hitched National Report 2025, the average UK wedding costs £20,775 excluding the honeymoon, rising to approximately £33,000 with honeymoon included. Costs vary by region: London and South East weddings average £25,000–£35,000, while weddings in the North of England, Wales and Scotland typically cost £15,000–£22,000. The average number of guests is 79 for the full day.
What is the biggest expense at a UK wedding?
The venue is consistently the single largest wedding expense, accounting for 30–45% of the total budget. UK couples spend an average of £6,000–£10,000 on their reception venue. Catering is typically the second largest cost at £70–£120 per head. Together, venue and catering often consume 60–70% of the total wedding budget before any other costs are considered.
How can I reduce my UK wedding costs?
Key money-saving strategies include: choosing an off-peak date (January–March, November) saving up to 30% on venue hire; getting married on a weekday, particularly Thursday (20–40% cheaper venue hire); limiting the guest list as food, drink and stationery costs scale directly with numbers; choosing seasonal British flowers; opting for buffet rather than sit-down meal; and micro-weddings with under 20 guests which can cost £3,000–£5,000 all-in.
Do I need wedding insurance?
Yes. Wedding insurance is strongly recommended. A typical policy covering £20,000 of wedding costs costs £100–£200 and covers: cancellation due to illness, bereavement or extreme weather; supplier failure; public liability; wedding attire and rings; and gifts. Given that the average UK couple signs contracts with 10–15 different suppliers, the financial risk of an uninsured wedding is substantial. Buy your policy as soon as you start paying deposits.
How much does a UK wedding photographer cost?
A professional UK wedding photographer typically costs £1,200–£3,500 for full-day coverage (6–10 hours). Budget photographers in regional markets may charge £800–£1,200. Highly sought-after editorial-style photographers can charge £4,000–£8,000 or more. Most packages include 400–600 edited digital images. Adding a videographer typically costs an additional £1,000–£3,000 for a highlights reel and full ceremony recording.
How far in advance should I book a UK wedding venue?
For popular UK venues, especially barn conversions, country houses and city-centre hotels, 12–18 months in advance is standard for a Saturday summer date. Some sought-after venues book 2 years in advance for peak dates. If you are flexible on day of week and time of year, you can often secure a venue 6–9 months ahead. Your local Register Office should be booked at the same time as the venue — at least 16 days before the ceremony is the legal minimum under the Marriage Act 1949.
What is the legal cost of getting married in the UK?
In England and Wales, the minimum legal cost is: giving notice of marriage at your local Register Office (£35 per person = £70 per couple) plus the ceremony fee at a Register Office (£57–£100 depending on ceremony room). Total minimum: approximately £127–£170. For a civil ceremony at a licensed venue, the registrar's attendance fee is typically £400–£600 on top of venue hire. Church of England ceremonies typically cost £570–£750 in 2025 per the Church's fee schedule.
Should I take out a wedding loan to fund my wedding?
Financial experts recommend saving rather than borrowing for a wedding wherever possible. Starting married life with significant debt can strain finances when you may also be saving for a home. If some borrowing is unavoidable, a personal loan at 6–10% APR is typically cheaper than credit cards. A 0% purchase credit card can be interest-free for 12–24 months if paid in full within the promotional period. Consider scaling back the wedding or extending the engagement to save more rather than taking on unaffordable debt.
Official Sources & Further Reading
- GOV.UK — Marriages and Civil Partnerships
- GOV.UK — Giving Notice of Marriage
- Hitched National Wedding Survey