Will wedding prices go down? Here’s some tips on making savings.

Did you ever wonder how much a wedding costs on average?

Please read this article to find out how much you need to begin saving for your wedding in 2023 based on our National Wedding Survey!

Aside from the average wedding cost in 2022, our study also reveals the breakdown of spending, how many couples turned to their parents for help, and what couples prioritized when it came to wedding expenses.

You’d better prepare your wedding budget as the prices will never go down but increase in the future.

Wedding costs in the U.K.

Based on survey of 2,457 couples who married in 2022, here’s how much the average wedding costs in the U.K. and how you’re spending it.

Weddings in the U.K. cost an average of £18,400 in 2022. Compared to 2021, when the average wedding cost was £17,300, this is 6% higher and 102% higher than 2020, when pandemic restrictions lowered wedding spend to £9,100.

Despite the ongoing economic crisis, 70% of couples who were married in 2022 said the current economy had no impact on their wedding spending.

That’s a decent increase (over £1,000!), especially when it feels like the cost of living crisis dominates so much of our day-to-day lives.

Possibly, this is due to rising financial contributions, with 63% of couples reporting receiving money from friends and family toward the wedding cost.

Or perhaps it is due to more savvy wedding planning – more than a third (34%) of couples said they cut their guest list to save money. In comparison, 37% said they requested more quotes from vendors to compare prices.

What do couples spend their money on?

The following are ten key wedding spending categories for 2022:

• Venue hire – £8,400


• Wedding dress – £1,350


• Liverpool wedding photographer – £2,000


• Wedding Videography – £1,500


• Wedding band/D.J. – £1,050


• Flowers – £1,050


• Wedding Invitations & paper goods – £300


• Catering per head – £70


• Wedding hair & makeup – £155


• Bridesmaid hair & makeup – £85ea

More suppliers hired

There was also an increase in the number of suppliers couples hired, with the number rising by 20% compared to 2021, meaning that 2022 weddings had, on average, ten vendors.

With the last pandemic restrictions gone, average wedding guest numbers rose to 81, nearly ten more than in 2021. For 81 guests, £70 per person adds up to £5,670 in catering costs. Over 2021, this is an increase of 21%.

Wedding venue costs

Wedding venues have increased by 10.5% compared to 2021, and wedding photography has risen by 8% – likely due to couples needing to cater to more extensive wedding guest lists.

Nearly 50% of couples exceeded their budget

The majority of couples (47%) exceeded their budgets in 2022. 59% of couples used savings to pay bills for their wedding in 2022, while more than one in ten (11%) borrowed money.

Honeymoons

58% of couples are saving up for a honeymoon as well – and now that travel is back on the map, honeymoon spending has risen by 23%, so couples need to save up more than ever for a beach honeymoon, which over half (52%) of couples enjoy.

As they plan their wedding and honeymoon, nearly a third of U.K. newlyweds (32%) are saving for a house, while 29% pay off credit card debt. Additionally, 18% work on paying off student loans.

The average wedding costs will only go up

It means the average wedding cost in the U.K. will be £18,400 in 2022, up by £1,100 from 2021.

A survey was conducted among 2,457 U.K. couples who got married in 2022. The survey was distributed via email and Connected social media channels. During November, December, and January 2022, a survey was conducted.

Here’s 10 Tips for reducing wedding costs:

Here are ten wedding tips for keeping your costs down while still making the day extra special.

1. Invite digitally

A professionally-printed wedding invitation costs money. However, you can send out e-invitations and even create a wedding website for free. By using this solution, you will be able to avoid paying postage and printing fees.

As well as providing directions, a website will enable guests to post pictures and comments after the event and find information about the venue. You can build your website for a low price if you run an internet search.

2. Reduce your flower purchases

Consider making your non-floral table centerpieces with tall candles surrounded by multi-colored glass pebbles to save wedding flower costs down.

Hire silk flowers they look just like the real ones nowadays. Without costing a fortune, it can have a significant impact to savings.

Also use larger decorations like hiring fake trees.  Very popular and can help fill the room.

3. Make guests into late-night photographers

Having a Liverpool wedding photographer capture your entire wedding day can cost a lot. Cutting the cake and bouquet toss could be moved forward – and the photographer could leave earlier.  Find a photographer that offers both wedding photography and videography for one reduced price.

4. Buffets beat sit-down meals

Choosing a buffet over a sit-down wedding breakfast can save you up to 30% on catering costs.

Alternatively, if you are holding your wedding in a large hall or outdoors, you can arrange a hog roast, which can feed 150 people – but you will have to provide vegetarian alternatives for those who don’t eat meat.

5. Have your cake and eat it

Your wedding cake can save money on catering rather than a separate dessert.

A fancy wedding cake doesn’t have to cost hundreds of pounds. Some supermarkets sell traditional three-tier versions for about £1 a slice. Better yet, ask a talented relative or friend. Marks and Spencer’s and Tesco have very good plain cakes you can self decorate.

Or even ask a family friends we all k ow someone who can bake.  And consider a naked wedding cake.

6. Watch the free bar

People tend to really ‘go for it’ when someone else pays for their drinks, so you may find yourself paying a very large bill at the end if you put on a free bar.

Paying for beer, wine, and soft drinks – not spirits – is an excellent way to keep the bar bill down.

Offering Pimms instead of champagne as a welcome drink before the meal can also be frugal and generous at the same time.

Some wedding venues like Meols Hall in Southport actually allow you to bring your own drinks.  Have a look for wedding venues in Liverpool offer this service for just a small corkage fee.

7. Recruit amateur (but good!) musicians

Musicians or a band can enliven wedding celebrations. A big name doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Have a chat with the performers in your local pubs about how much they would charge to play for a couple of hours if you want a group you like for less.

You can also find musical entertainment at local schools or colleges for a fraction of the cost. Don’t forget to hold an audition or watch them perform.

8. Wedding D.Js

Your entertainment budget can be significantly reduced if you hire a decent D.J. rather than a band.

A playlist played via an iPod/iPad/mobile phone may be just as effective.

And if you are hiring a band ask them if they can provide music in between thier sets, to replace the cost of having to hire a DJ.

9. Find a second hand designer wedding dress

Whatever your choice is, there are plenty of ways to reduce the amount you spend on your wedding dress.

Some beautiful wedding dresses are available on the high street and on websites such as net-a-porter.com, which also have bargain ready-to-wear dresses.

You can also find second-hand dresses worn only once, there are any bridal shops that now offer this service.  You could even get a secondhand designer dress for a fraction of the cost.

10. Use a credit card to pay

If you pay with your credit card, you will receive extra protection you would not receive if paid with a debit card or cash.  

Credit card purchases worth more than £100 are jointly and severally liable to the merchant should anything go wrong – such as the venue flooding or your dress failing to appear (Under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act). The card is protected even with only a deposit.

If we can be of further help with your wedding journey please get in touch.