Average Cost of UK wedding

mm123

I have just read a article in the Guardian that states that the average cost of a UK wedding in 2010 was 21k!!
Madness however i have friends who have paid this amount, i thought i was spending load at 6k and 2k for honemoon.

How much are you guys budgeting for your big day. I know its an emotive subject while i dont want to look back and wish i had just spent a wee bit more, i dont want to get into lots of debt over it all.Infact i am happy with the wedding i planned which is just 3 weeks away....

kellyloul

we paid about the same as you and that was in 2008! I think if people spend 21k then they are not having a go at doing anything themselves as we did the stationery and bartered on most things!

twirlypinky

DataTypeTotal ExpensesOriginal BudgetActual CostPaid So FarStill to PayApparelBridal gown 200.00 - - - Engagement ring - Garter - Groom's shoes 30.00 50.00 50.00 Groom's Suit 150.00 - - Hosiery - Jewelry 30.00 30.00 30.00 Shoes 30.00 - - - Veil/headpiece 15.00 15.00 15.00 Wedding rings 200.00 300.00 100.00 200.00 DecorationsBalloons - Bows for church pews/other seating - Candles - Lighting - Table centerpieces (excludes flowers) - FlowersBouquets 30.00 30.00 - Boutonnières 5.00 5.00 - Ceremony - Corsages 5.00 5.00 - Reception - GiftsAttendants 50.00 50.00 Bride and groom - Dress Maker 50.00 50.00 Parents 150.00 150.00 Readers/other participants - MusicBand/DJ for reception 320.00 - Musicians for ceremony - Other ExpensesBachelor/ette parties - Engagement party - Extra Documents 95.00 95.00 28.00 67.00 Hotel rooms - Legalisation Fees 240.00 240.00 240.00 Officiant - Rehearsal dinner - Salon appointments - Showers - Translation Fees 300.00 300.00 300.00 - Wedding coordinator - Honeymoon spending money 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 PhotographyCandids - Extra prints - Formals - Photo albums 30.00 50.00 5.00 45.00 Videography - Reception (excludes music and decorations)Cake - Church/ceremony site fee 255.00 255.00 255.00 - Drinks 75.00 75.00 Favors - Food 900.00 840.00 840.00 Linens - Staff and gratuities - Tables and chairs - Stationery/PrintingAnnouncements 10.00 9.91 9.91 - Calligraphy - Guest book - Info Sheets 30.00 25.00 25.00 Invitations 20.00 39.56 39.56 - Matchbooks - Personal stationery - Reception napkins - Thank-You cards 10.00 10.00 10.00 - TransportationBoat Trip 450.00 450.00 450.00 Limousines/trolleys - Parking - Taxis - Grand Total 4,315.00 4,074.47 787.47 3,287.00





Okay, that didn't work! Our original budget was £4,315 and we've so far got it in for £4,074 and that includes everything, even honeymoon spending money.

neilcrook

We have budgeted £7k on wedding in April next year but i updated my spreadsheet last night and its actually coming closer to £5k :-)

Might actually get a honeymoon at this rate lol

Bride2be24

my mum and dad have paid about £6000
H2bs mum & dad have paid £2000 towards a honeymoon
and we have spent about £4500-£5000
so all in all about £12000-£13000 for our wedding :eek: which is quite shocking looking at it now not very MSE :money: really but not all spent by ourselves which in a way is ok

Debbiecatal

We have budgeted for £5500 plus a 10% contingency so hopefully should come in at about £6k. This is doing most things ourselves, but I think that makes it much more personal - we would rather plan ourselves than hire a planner! We realise this doesn't suit everyone, but it works for us

donnap83

My in laws are paying for the reception which has come to around £3000, and i think me and the other half will be paying out about £2000.

£21k is staggering!:money:

VICSH

We are paying about 8k we have saved half so far and still 9 months to go. We managed to save by paying off all our debts before we started saving and using the money we were paying on car loan credit cards a month and put it all directly into our savings. Our parents have kindly offered £1k each so that is a surprise but to be fair we are still saving as if they havent given us that so we dont spend over and get into debt again.
I think it is all about working to your budget and prioritising what you want from your day and adapting the spending to it. I am so excited about my day as I am having exactly what I want but within budget. We have had to lose some things that I dont class as important and had to make stuff myself but I am still set to have a great day!!!

mm123

I know i think to save money you really need to look for bargins, haggle, get married outwith the summer and make and do as much as you can, I must say i am still astounded at how much flowers cost...

jennyiow

Ours is coming in at about £11k for the wedding and honeymoon with £4k from one set of parents and £2k for the others which we are very grateful for! We've saved up the rest of the money ourselves and plan to have it all completely paid for before the big day comes so no debt

MsHoarder

Look at the group surveyed though, its a survey done by a posh wedding magazine, not a representative sample of all wedding costs. Would normally expect better of the guardian though!