How Much Does a Wedding and Wedding Planner Cost in the UK?

Love may be priceless, but weddings certainly aren’t! 

Although marriage is about love, weddings often have a hefty price tag. Have you ever wondered about the financial complexities involved in the wedding? As couples plan to start this new chapter of their life, the financial aspects often take center stage. In the UK, the cost of a wedding varies depending on different factors, such as the venue, theme, number of guests, and more.

Let’s talk about the cost and expenses you can expect in a typical UK wedding!

Weddings in the UK 

Weddings in the UK are a mix of old traditions and new trends. While traditional venues like castles, marriage halls, and churches are still popular, more and more couples are opting for unique venues like modern spots in cities like restaurants, beaches, barns, and open areas. 

The ceremony usually includes traditional parts like vows and ring exchanges, but couples like to add personal touches, too. Food is a big part of UK weddings where guests can enjoy a mix of different dishes. Moreover, couples and family members also add speeches to their wedding to give it a personal touch.

To understand weddings further, we must know that planning beforehand is essential, as it is the key to a successful function. Some couples hire a wedding planner to help, while others prefer to do it themselves. In the end, UK weddings are all about celebrating love and making lasting memories with family and friends.

What are the Expenses Included in a Wedding in the UK?

Before understanding how much weddings and wedding planners cost in the UK, we must first understand the expenses of a wedding. Planning a wedding in the UK involves various expenses.

Here is the list of the expenses involved in a UK wedding:

• Venue 
• Wedding rings 
• Wedding attires 
• Honeymoon cost 
• Food and drinks 
• Photography and Videography
• Transportation 
• Flowers 
• Decorations 
• Invitation and stationery 
• Wedding cake
• Entertainment 
• Wedding planner

How Much Does a Wedding Cost in the UK?

The average cost of a wedding in the UK can vary widely depending on a variety of things like what you choose, how you want your wedding to be, and also the guest count. 

If we come to the cost of the wedding, on average, a wedding in the UK has the following costs:

• Venue

The first and foremost thing that comes while you budget your wedding plans is the venue. The biggest challenge is thinking about where to host your wedding and what the location would look like. 

The venue is one of the significant expenses, that cost around £8,400. This is an average estimated cost. This can include the cost of renting a venue for both the ceremony and reception. 

Now one main point to consider here is the venue cost can differ. It can be high or low depending on the location, type, and sometimes also the time of year you choose to get married.

For instance, venues in major cities or popular tourist destinations tend to be more expensive as compared to those in rural areas or less popular areas. Moreover, costs can also vary significantly between different regions within the UK like venues in London and the South East generally have higher price tags than those in the North or Midlands.

On the other hand, getting married during peak wedding season, from May to September, can result in higher costs due to high demand. 

Similarly, other factors that influence the cost of the venue include:

• Days selection like weekends or weekdays
• Venue capacity
• Accommodation 
• Services

Finding the perfect venue is a tremendous task, and it is not uncommon for couples to feel overwhelmed. Here is when venue finding services come in handy. Professional wedding venue finders take away the stress of finding the perfect location while remaining within a budget! Daniel Lay Event Services has years of industry experience which means key contacts and access to bespoke venues. You can rely on us to save you the stress of the search and find you a venue that checks all your boxes! 

Now let’s discuss the second factor that influences the cost of the wedding.

• Honeymoon

Although this is a post-wedding thing it is always included while calculating the wedding expenses. The average spend on a honeymoon is approximately £4,300 for couples in the UK. This covers travel, accommodation, and activities for your post-wedding getaway.

• Food and Drinks

The most important thing at a wedding is the food. This expense depends on two main things:

• The type of food you want to feed 
• The number of people 

On average, couples spend around £70 per head on catering for the wedding breakfast or dinner, as well as drinks for the reception. However, the total cost varies depending on the menu choices and the number of guests.

• Wedding Rings

The cost of wedding rings can vary significantly, depending on factors like the type of ring, the quality of the stone, and the metal used for the band. The selection of the ring and budget depends on your preferences.

• Wedding Dresses

Now comes the wedding dresses that is one of the major expenses of every wedding. The average cost of a wedding dress, including shoes, alterations, and accessories, is around £1,400 for a bride. However, this cost can increase depending on the style and choice of the dress. 

For the groom’s attire, including the suit or tuxedo, shirt, tie, shoes, and accessories, the average cost is approximately £300. Similarly, this is an estimated cost and can significantly increase or decrease depending on the attire quality, style, and variations.

• Photography and Videography

To capture memorable moments, couples opt for professional photography and videography services. This has now become and major expense. Selecting professional services has become a big challenge and also a trend. If we talk about the service charges, these typically range from £1,300 to £1,700.

• Transportation

Transportation for the bridal party and sometimes guests, such as hiring a wedding car or a bus, can cost between £300 and £600. However, this is optional and its cost can depend on your choices. 

• Entertainment

Music and entertainment at a wedding have become necessary trends to make the wedding exciting and entertaining for your guests. The cost of these services, including bands, DJs, and other performers, can range from £200 to £1,600 or more.

• Flowers and Decorations

Don’t let your wedding go dull. Add colors and decorations to it. To do this, you will have to decorate your wedding venue. The expenses of the floral arrangements and decorations for the ceremony and reception typically cost between £350 and £500.

• Invitation Cards & Other Items

The cost of wedding invitations, save-the-dates, programs, and other stationery items usually ranges from £100 to £300.

• Wedding Cake

Wedding cake is a must for every Western wedding. It can be purchased or customized and this thing impacts its cost. Moreover, the flavors and type also greatly affect the cake’s cost. A custom wedding cake, including design and flavors, can cost between £300 and £400.

• Miscellaneous Expenses

During the wedding, several other expenses can also emerge at any time, increasing your wedding costs. 

Don’t forget to include the additional expenses when calculating the wedding cost. Furthermore, the cost of hair and makeup, wedding favors, wedding hires, marriage license fees, and other services or activities also impacts the cost.

Wedding Planner

Now, let’s talk about wedding planners, what is it and how much does it cost in the UK. 

What is a Wedding Planner?

A wedding planner is a professional who can assist you in planning and organizing your wedding day. The role of the wedding planner is to help and simplify the wedding planning process. 

They offer various levels of services. A wedding planner can offer full-service planning where they handle all aspects of the wedding from start to finish, and also partial planning services where they assist with specific wedding tasks.

A wedding planner handles tasks like: 

• Venue selection 
• Vendor coordination
• Budget management
• Timeline creation
• Logistics planning
• Design and decor
• Overseeing the wedding 

Is it Necessary to Hire a Wedding Planner?

Hiring a wedding planner is not a requirement for every couple, but it can be incredibly beneficial depending on individual circumstances, preferences, and the complexity of the wedding. However, hiring them can prove beneficial for you. It can relieve your stress and save you time to look after other matters of the wedding.

Daniel Lay Event Services offers comprehensive wedding planning services. From venues to catering and from entertainment to photography, we take care of all the details so you can have the wedding of your dreams! 

How Much Does a Wedding Planner Cost in the UK?

Wedding Planners charge different prices for wedding ceremonies and reception. The cost of hiring a UK wedding planner depends on:

• The planner’s experience and reputation
• The level of service you require

 Here is a brief overview of the costs you can expect to pay your wedding planner:

• For Full Wedding Planning

Wedding planners often charge between 10 to 15 percent of your total wedding budget. This means if you have a budget of £20,000, you should expect to pay them between £2,000 to £3,000 for full wedding planning services.

On the other hand, some wedding planners also have a minimum fee, which could range from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds. This amount depends on the planner’s experience in the field and the type of services they are offering.

• For Partial Wedding Planning

The charges for Partial Wedding Planning are different from full wedding planning. You should discuss this with your planner ahead of hiring them. 

Some planners charge hourly rates for partial wedding planning, which can vary between £30 and £100 per hour. They can also offer a fixed fee package based on the estimated hours required to complete the specific tasks you need help with.

• Wedding Day Management 

For wedding day management by the planner, you should expect a budget between £500 to £1,500. This cost depends on the location, complexity of the wedding, and the planner’s experience.

• Additional Considerations

Some wedding planners also offer additional services like multi-day wedding planning, destination wedding planning, or specific services like guest management. These services can affect the overall cost, and you must discuss them with your wedding planner beforehand.

Moreover, also be aware that some wedding planners may charge additional expenses for travel, accommodation, and other out-of-pocket costs incurred while planning your wedding.

When Do You Need a Wedding Planner?

Now, when you are deciding about whether to hire a wedding planner or not, this totally depends on your wedding’s size, your organizational skills, and your budget. You might not need a planner if you have a small, simple wedding or love planning things yourself.

However, you must hire a wedding planner if you plan a bigger event or want help coordinating your big day. They can help you take care of the logistics, offer expert advice on managing the wedding well, and reduce stress. 

This is why hiring a wedding planner will help you relax and enjoy your wedding day to the fullest. So, this is all about how much weddings and wedding planners cost in the UK. Although planning a wedding is a blend of joy and logistics, understanding the costs involved helps couples make informed decisions.

You can make your dream wedding a beautiful reality with thoughtful planning and budgeting.