This is the average cost of a wedding in the UK for 2023
The annual National Wedding Survey released by Hitched.co.uk reveals that after a difficult period during the pandemic years, weddings were well and truly back with a bang in 2022.
The report shines a light on the latest trends, insights and cost of weddings across the UK, thanks to a survey of more than 2,400 British newlyweds.
Wedding Budgets and the Economy
The average cost of a wedding* in 2022 increased to £18,400, up by £1,100 compared to the year before when couples spent an average of £17,300 on their big day.
Newlyweds didn’t set out to spend this much though, with almost half of those surveyed (47%) revealing that they had gone over their original budget*. While the unstable dominated headlines, less than a third** of couples felt the cost of living crisis had impacted their wedding finances.
The knock on effect of inflation saw more than half of couples (56%) increase their estimated wedding budgets** at least once, while 49% opted for more DIY elements than originally planned to counteract the rising costs. The survey* also revealed that friends and family had a huge part to play in the financing of weddings last year, with 63% of couples relying on financial gifts from friends and family to pay for their wedding.
The remaining costs* were covered using their savings accounts (59%) or current accounts (42%), with 40% opting to pay their vendors in cash payments along the way. Few couples opted to go into debt to pay for their weddings last year, with less than a fifth (18%) using existing credit cards to pay for supplier services, while only 11% took out loans or opened up new credit cards (9%) to cover costs.
The Average Cost of a Wedding
Couples spent the majority of their wedding budgets* on their dream venue, with the average cost of a venue rising to £8,400 last year, versus £7,600 in 2021. Catering for guests was the second biggest expense for couples, costing £5,670 on average to supply food and drink to a slightly bigger guest list than in 2021. Last year, couples invited around 81 guests to witness their nuptials, compared to a more tailored list of just 72 the year before.
Photography and videography were some of the remaining large expenses, with couples spending around £1,350 on photography and £1,150 on videography for their big days. This increase in spend from 2021 suggests that capturing memories continues to be an important factor for newlyweds.
Digitally Savvy Couples
Social media and technology played a huge role in wedding planning* last year. More than a quarter (26%) of those surveyed said they first met online via a dating app or website, and then once engaged, couples once again took to social media to share their good news.
A whopping 60% of respondents even admitted they announced their engagement on social media apps like Instagram and Facebook before choosing to tell people in person, with 51% saying they also shared the news with friends and family via WhatsApp. A third even went so far as to send their wedding invitations out to guests via WhatsApp as well.
When it came to sourcing vendors, 100% of respondents used online tools during their journey. Two thirds of couples (66%) used the Hitched App to find the perfect suppliers from the over 18,000 services available for their big day, while less than half (49%) turned to social media for inspiration. Surprisingly, only 12% said they used TikTok to get inspired, while 55% said they found vendors from content shared on Instagram.
Trends and Traditions
Couples threw out the rule book when it came to traditional weddings, and did things their own way in 2022. More couples* opted for alcohol-free weddings than ever before last year, with more than 1-in-10 receptions serving no booze at the bar, while fewer couples opted to have a traditional cake-cutting ceremony than 2021, as only 79% of newlyweds following this time honoured tradition.
More couples chose to live together before their nuptials than the year before (90% in 2022 vs 88% in 2021), yet less couples opted to change their surnames post-wedding (79% in 2022 vs 80% in 2021), asked for permission from loved ones to get married (43% vs 46%), or incorporated the “something old, something new” tradition on the day (61% vs 62%).
When it came to wedding fashion, less couples opted to purchase new outfits in 2022, as renting or borrowing outfits all increased in favour. Though 73% of couples chose to buy new clothing for their 2022 weddings (down from 76% in 2021), 16% chose to wear second hand or passed-down options, an increase from 15% the previous year.
Additionally, there was an increase in the number of couples who rented their wedding outfits last year, with 14% choosing the sustainable option over purchasing new. Overall, a fifth of couples (19%) included eco-friendly or sustainable elements in their wedding day, proving sustainability continues to be a growing focus for many.
Zoe Burke, leading wedding expert and Editor of Hitched says: “The past few years have been some of the strangest ever for the wedding industry, but the latest data from our annual Wedding Survey reveals that weddings were definitely back with a bang in 2022.
“Couples are finally free to expand their guest lists and invest in the special details that will make their wedding days truly unforgettable for all those involved - whether that’s laying on a lavish feast or booking the venue of their dreams.
“It’s great to see that even though times are challenging, 70% of couples didn’t feel the impact of the economy when planning, and so sought to hire even more vendors and invite more guests to celebrate with them than those who got married in 2021.
“It just goes to show, there’s nothing like a good wedding - and here at Hitched we love making them happen!”
For the full report from the National Wedding Survey, please visit: https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/organising-and-planning/average-uk-wedding/
