Average Wedding Cost in the UK: Trends from 2022 to 2027

The average UK wedding now costs between about £20,600 and £22,000, depending on which survey you read. Here’s how that figure has moved since 2022, what’s behind it, and what couples can expect to pay in 2027.

We’ve used the two biggest annual surveys of UK couples: the Bridebook UK Wedding Report, which surveyed more than 7,000 couples for its latest edition, and the Hitched National Wedding Survey of newlyweds. Both are published early each year and cover the weddings of the year before. Neither includes the engagement ring or the honeymoon in its headline figure.

How the average has changed since 2022

Two things stand out. First, costs jumped as weddings bounced back after the pandemic. Bridebook’s average rose 8% between 2022 and 2023, and Hitched’s climbed by about 13% in both 2023 and 2024.

Second, the rise has stalled. Bridebook’s average has hovered around £20,700 for three years and dipped by 1% in 2025, while Hitched’s fell 6% from its 2024 peak. Over the whole period, the average is up about 7% on Bridebook’s figures and about 20% on Hitched’s.

Why do the two surveys differ? Hitched only asks couples who have already married, while Bridebook includes couples who are still planning, so the figures never match exactly. The direction of travel is the same in both.

What’s pushing the cost up

• Venue and catering. These are the two biggest bills by far. Hitched found the average venue rose from £8,400 to £8,800 between 2022 and 2024, and catering from £5,670 to £6,400. For 2025 weddings, Bridebook puts a venue without catering at £6,040, reception catering at £5,406 and evening food at another £2,002.
• Spending more on each guest. Hitched’s average spend per guest rose from £261 to £272 in its latest survey, and Bridebook puts it at around £278.
• Hospitality prices. UK inflation was 3.1% in the 12 months to August 2026, but restaurant and hotel prices rose faster, at 4.1% (ONS).
• Budgets that stretch. The share of Hitched couples who went over budget rose from 47% in 2022 to 51% in 2024, and to 56% in the latest survey.

How couples are keeping costs down

• Smaller guest lists. Bridebook found 2025 receptions had 11% fewer guests than in 2024. Hitched calls it “quality over quantity”: fewer guests, with more spent on each.
• Doing it themselves. The share of Hitched couples taking on more DIY rose from 49% to 57% between 2022 and 2024, and 49% cut back on upgrades in 2024.
• Simpler ceremonies. Registry office weddings rose from 9% to 12% of Bridebook couples between 2024 and 2025, and a quarter of its couples spend under £10,000.
• Avoiding peak dates. Guides for Brides found hiring an empty venue costs about £8,167 on a peak Saturday, against £4,203 midweek out of season. August is still the busiest month, with 17% of Bridebook’s 2025 weddings, followed by May and September.

What to expect in 2027

Neither survey has published a cost forecast for 2027 yet, and the first figures for 2026 weddings are due early in 2027. These are the signs so far.

• Prices are still rising. The Bank of England expects inflation to reach around 3¾% by the end of 2026 and slightly above 4% early in 2027 (Bank of England). If wedding costs follow, budgets will need to grow too.
• More private weddings, not cheaper ones. In Bridebook’s 2027 trend forecast, wedding planner Mark Niemierko expects weddings to become “even more private. Not necessarily smaller”. Bridebook also saw searches for empty venues up 188% year on year in June 2026 (Bridebook).
• Barns are booking up. Barns hosted 21% of 2025 weddings, but account for 28% of the 2027 bookings Bridebook has seen so far.

Our estimate: if costs rise in line with today’s 3.1% inflation, the average 2027 wedding will cost about £21,900 on Bridebook’s figures, or about £23,400 on Hitched’s. Both surveys fell for 2025 weddings, so the real figure could come in lower, but we’d plan for something close to £22,000 to £23,500.

Don’t forget the hen do

The wedding isn’t the only cost for the bride’s friends. Aviva figures quoted by Starling Bank put the average cost of going to a UK hen do at £779 per person, or £1,208 abroad. A night in with the entertainment brought to you costs far less. See our affordable hen party ideas and our 27 hen party ideas for 2027, or grab our free hen party planner with its budget tracker.

Wedding cost FAQs

What is the average cost of a wedding in the UK?

Bridebook’s latest figure is £20,604 for 2025 weddings, and Hitched’s is £21,990. Neither includes the ring or the honeymoon.

How much does a wedding cost per guest?

About £270 to £280 per guest, according to Hitched and Bridebook.

What’s the most expensive part of a wedding?

The venue and the catering, which together usually make up more than half of the total.

Is it cheaper to get married midweek?

Usually, yes. Guides for Brides found hiring an empty venue midweek out of season costs about half what it does on a peak Saturday.

How much will a wedding cost in 2027?

No survey has published a forecast yet. If costs rise with inflation, we’d expect an average of roughly £22,000 to £23,500.