How Much Does a Wedding Cost in 2026? Average UK Wedding Now Costs £21,990

Ever wondered how much the average wedding costs? Our 2026 Wedding Industry Report reveals the average UK wedding now costs £21,990. Based on a survey of over 2,000 couples, we’ve broken down the spending habits, the trending traditions, and exactly where the money is going in the current economic climate.

Our study revealed some fascinating data - as well as how much the average wedding cost in 2025, we can also tell you what age group spends the most on their wedding, how many couples turned to family members for financial support, and where in the UK couples are spending big!

In addition to this, we also have the full scoop on which wedding traditions are trending, and which ones are falling out of favour. Call us biased, but it’s a FASCINATING read - breaking down the average wedding cost in the UK, plus what the average UK wedding looks like now.

Better get ready to make your wedding budget...

Here’s our breakdown of the UK’s average wedding cost and how and what it's being spent on, based on data from over 2,000 couples who married in 2025.

• The average wedding cost in the UK 2025
• The average wedding cost in the UK 2024
• The average wedding cost in the UK 2023
• The average wedding cost in the UK 2022
• The average wedding cost in the UK 2021

How much does an average UK wedding cost? 

So let’s look at that UK average wedding cost today in 2026, based on couples who tied the knot last year:

• Average wedding cost in the UK: £21,990
• Highest spending generation: Millennials
• Average UK Millennial wedding costs £23,612
• 1 in 4 Millennials spend more than £30,000
• The average cost per wedding guest in the UK is £272

Average Wedding Cost UK: 2025-2026

The average wedding in the UK costs £21,990. While overall spend has dipped slightly from the peak in 2024, the cost per guest has actually risen to £272. This signals a behaviour shift: couples are inviting fewer people but spending more on the people who are there.

Average Wedding Cost by Size

When it comes to your budget, guest count is the biggest lever you can pull. Interestingly, while larger weddings cost more overall, the cost per guest actually declines as the invite list grows.

For example, a wedding with over 101 guests averages £30,591 - nearly 40% above the national average. Meanwhile, more intimate celebrations (51-70 guests) keep costs significantly lower, averaging at just over £18,000.

Average Wedding Cost in the UK by Location

It won't come as a surprise to many that the average cost of a London wedding is higher than anywhere else in the UK. While the national average sits at £21,990, London couples are spending £2,672 more than the typical UK pair.  

South East of England, East of England and Scotland are the next three most expensive places to tie the knot. You can see a breakdown of the average cost in the top four areas below: 

• Average cost of a wedding in London: £24,662 (12% above the national average)
• Average cost of a wedding in the South East of England: £23,589
• Average cost of a wedding in the East of England: £23,350
• Average cost of a wedding in Scotland: £22,123

Cost of a Wedding FAQs: Answering Your Most Common Questions

We asked industry expert and head of marketing at Hitched, Chloe Lansdowne, to break down the average cost of a wedding in the UK. 

Interested in the trends which helped shape weddings for 2025 and beyond? Check out our video below! 

Average Wedding Cost UK: 2024

As noted in our previous reports, the average cost of a wedding in 2024 was £23,250. This was 12% up on the average cost of a wedding in 2023, which was £20,700. The average cost of a wedding in 2022 was £18,400, and in 2021, the average wedding cost £17,300.

In 2024, the average spend increased by over £3,000, but this wasn't surprising considering the high levels of inflation and cost of living crisis which was taking place at the time.

Nearly 1 in 2 couples who got married in 2024 said that the economy had impacted their wedding budget, which was a similar story when it came to wedding spend in 2023.

Couples dealt with the rising costs of living in a few different ways - a whopping 60% of couples increased their budget at least once whilst planning, and over half of couples (56%) included more DIY elements than they initially planned to. 

Average Cost of a Wedding UK 2024

In 2024 the average cost of a wedding in the UK was £23,250*, up 12% from the previous year.

Survey taken of more than 3,000 U.K. individuals married in 2024. Survey distributed via email and Hitched social channels. Survey conducted throughout 2024.

Average Cost of a Wedding UK 2023

In 2023 the average cost of a wedding in the UK was £20,700*, up 12.5% from the previous year.

Couples invested in 10 vendors on average for their weddings, and 65% of couples who married in 2023 spent over £15,000 on their big days.

Survey taken of 1,808 U.K. individuals married in 2023. Survey distributed via email and Hitched social channels. Survey conducted throughout 2023.

The Average Cost of a Wedding in 2022

The average wedding cost £18,400 in 2022**. This was a 6% rise from the previous year, and was the first year post-pandemic where weddings took place all year long with no disruption or restrictions.

2022 Average Wedding Cost Broken Down

Here are the key areas couples spent their wedding budget on in 2022:

• Venue hire - £8,400 
• Wedding dress - £1,350
• Photography - £1,300
• Videography - £1,150
• Wedding band/DJ - £1,050
• Flowers - £1,050 
• Invitations & paper goods - £300
• Catering per head - £70
• Wedding hair & makeup - £155
• Bridesmaid hair & makeup - £85

Couples also increased the number of suppliers they hired for their wedding, with the number rising by 20% compared to 2021, meaning 2022 weddings involved an average of 10 different vendors. 

Shaking off the last of the pandemic restrictions, we also saw the average number of wedding guests rise to 81 - that’s almost 10 additional guests per wedding compared to 2021’s fairly modest guest list of 72. With an average wedding catering spend of £70pp, this racked up to £5,670 when catering for 81 guests. This is a 21% increase compared to 2021. 

The cost of hiring a wedding venue  increased by 10.5% compared to 2021, and wedding photography costs rose by 8% - this is likely down to couples needing to cater to larger wedding guest lists. 

Nearly half of all couples (47%) went over their initial wedding budget in 2022. Whilst 59% of couples used savings to pay for their wedding, more than one in 10 (11%) took out a loan to cover the costs of their big day in 2022. 

This could be down to the fact that couples have other financial priorities as they plan - 58% saved for a honeymoon too, and honeymoon spend rose by 23% as travel was back on the map.

Nearly a third of UK nearlyweds (32%) were also saving up for a house as they planned their wedding and honeymoon, and 29% were paying off credit card bills and debts. On top of this, a further 18% were also working on paying off their student loans.

***Survey taken of 2,457 U.K. individuals married in 2022. Survey distributed via email and Hitched social channels. Survey conducted throughout 2022.

The Average Cost of a Wedding in 2021

The average wedding in the UK in 2021 cost £17,300**. This was 90% up on the average cost of a wedding in 2020, which was £9,100. 

It’s a huge yearly increase, but it does make sense when you consider the limitations on weddings in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The 2021 Average Wedding Cost Broken Down

Here are the seven key areas couples were spending on in 2021:

• Venue hire - £7,600 
• Wedding dress - £1,300
• Photography - £1,200 
• Groom’s attire - £500
• Catering per head - £65
• Bridal hair - £80
• Bridal makeup - £70

Couples who married in 2021 paid £7,600 to hire their dream wedding venue - this was a 40% increase on the £5,406 couples were paying in 2019. It’s clear to see that after two years apart from everyone, with weddings on hold, the setting in which everyone celebrates together became even more important. 

Photography spend also increased by 4% - your wedding photography is your lasting memento of your big day, so it makes sense to invest in it. Sharing special moments with loved ones has never been more appreciated, so you can understand why couples were willing to spend more to make sure these memories were captured. 

Our survey also revealed that two thirds of couples (66%) were given money by family or friends to help them pay for their wedding - if you combine that with the 7% who borrowed money from a friend or family member, almost three quarters of couples (73%) had some financial help from a relative or friend to pay for their wedding. With 48% of couples going over budget in 2021 as they strived to create that perfect experience, you can see why support from friends and family was so popular.

We also learned that parents pay, on average, 61% of the total wedding cost. That’s right, in 2021, mum and dad paid for three fifths of the total wedding cost - that’s £10,553 of the total average £17,300 spend. They must really love you guys. You can read up on who pays for what traditionally at a wedding here.

**Hitched surveyed 2,060 couples who married in 2021 via an online survey conducted in November 2021-January 2022.

Average Wedding Cost in the UK: 2019

Here are the top 10 wedding spends for 2019:

• Venue hire – £5,406
• Honeymoon – £4,645
• Food – £3,887
• Engagement ring – £2,419
• Drink – £1,587
• Wedding dress/outfit – £1,313
• Photography – £1,155
• Mini-moon – £1,135
• Entertainment/music – £1,005
• Video – £968

Average Wedding Cost in the UK: 2018

Here are the 10 biggest costs of a wedding in 2018:

• Venue hire – £5,221
• Honeymoon – £4,545
• Food – £4,151
• Engagement ring – £2,657
• Drink – £1,739
• Wedding dress/outfit – £1,321
• Photography – £1,166
• Mini-moon – £1,051
• Video – £1,027
• Entertainment/music – £1,014

Average Wedding Cost in the UK: 2017

Here’s the breakdown of wedding spend in the UK in 2017:

• Venue hire – £4,354
• Honeymoon – £3,630
• Food – £3,353
• Engagement ring – £2,084
• Drink – £1,342
• Wedding dress/outfit – £1,209
• Photography – £993
• Mini-moon – £911
• Entertainment/music – £813
• Video – £801

Average Wedding Cost in the UK: 2016

Let’s see how the 2016 average wedding spend broke down:

• Venue hire – £3,738
• Honeymoon – £3,366
• Food – £3,072
• Engagement Ring – £1,742
• Mini-Moon – £1,082
• Wedding Dress – £1,055
• Hen Do – £1,041
• Drink – £965
• Photography – £905
• Accommodation – £747

It’s worth noting that this is an average cost - you don’t need to spend the same figure, as your wedding will be wonderful regardless of your budget. In fact, we can help you out with our guides to having a wedding whatever your budget may be:

• How to Have a Wedding for £3,000
• How to Have a Wedding for £5,000
• How to Have a Wedding for £10,000