How much does a wedding cost in the UK?
Updated 16 October 2026
The average UK wedding cost £20,604 (Bridebook UK Wedding Report 2026, 7,000 newly married and planning couples), or £21,990 by Hitched's count of 2,020 couples married in 2025 (Hitched Wedding Industry Report 2026).
£225 a guest
- Venue hire£5,559
- Wedding breakfast£3,800
- Photography and video£2,138
- Dress and accessories£1,924
- Flowers and decor£1,496
- Everything else£7,593
Cost by number of guests
Bridebook's couples with about 100 guests spent £22,510, and those with 120 or more spent £26,000, about £217 a guest (Bridebook UK Wedding Report 2026).
Where the money goes
About half goes on the venue and catering (51%) and about a fifth on outfits, hair and rings (19%) (Bridebook UK Wedding Report 2026). The planner's starting split follows those shares.
Typical supplier prices
On average, couples spent £6,040 on venue hire (without catering), £1,484 on the photographer, £2,002 on evening food (Bridebook UK Wedding Report 2026).
By region
Hitched publishes averages for four regions. For the rest, the Merriwell estimate uses the UK figures, because there is no current public price index by region.
London
Couples spent £24,622 on average (Hitched Wedding Industry Report 2026).
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £25,700 (£20,500 to £30,800).
Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
South East
Couples spent £23,589 on average (Hitched Wedding Industry Report 2026).
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £24,600 (£19,700 to £29,500).
Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
South West
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £22,900 (£18,300 to £27,500).
Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
East of England
Couples spent £23,350 on average (Hitched Wedding Industry Report 2026).
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £24,300 (£19,500 to £29,200).
Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
West Midlands
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £22,900 (£18,300 to £27,500).
Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
East Midlands
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £22,900 (£18,300 to £27,500).
Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
Yorkshire and the Humber
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £22,900 (£18,300 to £27,500).
Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
North West
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £22,900 (£18,300 to £27,500).
Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
North East
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £22,900 (£18,300 to £27,500).
Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
Wales
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £22,900 (£18,300 to £27,500).
Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
Scotland
Couples spent £22,123 on average (Hitched Wedding Industry Report 2026).
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £23,000 (£18,400 to £27,600).
Giving notice costs £45 each (fees set by the Registrar General, from April 2026). Councils set their own ceremony fees, so ask your registrar.
Northern Ireland
Merriwell estimate for 100 day guests: £22,900 (£18,300 to £27,500).
Giving notice costs £22 for each notice form, at least 28 days before, and a registrar's ceremony is £36, with room hire and approved venues set by each council.
Notice and ceremony fees
England and Wales. Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues.
Scotland. Giving notice costs £45 each (fees set by the Registrar General, from April 2026). Councils set their own ceremony fees, so ask your registrar.
Northern Ireland. Giving notice costs £22 for each notice form, at least 28 days before, and a registrar's ceremony is £36, with room hire and approved venues set by each council.
Evening guests
Evening guests usually have the evening food and drinks but not the wedding breakfast, so they cost far less than day guests. Bridebook's couples spent £2,002 on evening food on average. The planner costs them apart.
August is the most popular month (17% of weddings), then May; 47% are on a Saturday (Bridebook 2026). January, March or a weekday can cost less: ask venues for their quieter dates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a wedding cost in the UK?
- £20,604 on average (Bridebook UK Wedding Report 2026, 7,000 newly married and planning couples), or £21,990 by Hitched's count of 2,020 couples married in 2025 (Hitched Wedding Industry Report 2026).
- How much does a wedding cost per guest in the UK?
- About £272 a guest (Hitched Wedding Industry Report 2026). It falls as weddings grow: Bridebook's couples with about 100 guests spent £225 a guest, and with 120 or more, £217 (2026).
- How much does a London wedding cost?
- £24,622 on average, the highest of the regions Hitched reports (Hitched Wedding Industry Report 2026).
- How much does a wedding in Scotland cost?
- £22,123 on average (Hitched Wedding Industry Report 2026). Giving notice costs £45 each (fees set by the Registrar General, from April 2026). Councils set their own ceremony fees, so ask your registrar.
- How much are notice and registrar fees?
- England and Wales: Giving notice costs £46.50 each, at least 29 days before the wedding. Register office ceremonies have a set fee; each council sets its own prices for approved venues. Northern Ireland: Giving notice costs £22 for each notice form, at least 28 days before, and a registrar's ceremony is £36, with room hire and approved venues set by each council.
- How much do evening guests cost?
- Much less than day guests: they usually have the evening food and drinks only. Bridebook's couples spent £2,002 on evening food on average (2026).
Sources
- Bridebook UK Wedding Report 2026, Bridebook, 8 September 2026. 7,000 newly married and planning couples. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Hitched Wedding Industry Report 2026, Hitched (The Knot Worldwide), 1 January 2026. 2,020 couples married in 2025. Checked 16 October 2026.
- The Registration of Marriages etc. (Fees) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/233), legislation.gov.uk, 6 April 2026. Statutory fees in England and Wales from 6 April 2026. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Registration fees (set by the Registrar General for Scotland), Moray Council, 1 April 2026. Scotland, from 1 April 2026. Checked 16 October 2026.
- How and when to give notice of marriage, nidirect. Northern Ireland. Checked 16 October 2026.