The average UK wedding costs around £20,700, according to Bridebook's 2023 UK Wedding Report (the most recent available figure at time of writing; a 2024 or 2025 edition may have been published by the time you read this, so it is worth checking Bridebook's research pages for the latest data). For many couples, that means dipping into savings, asking family for help, or looking at borrowing options. Before you commit to any of those, it is worth knowing where the biggest savings usually come from.
What tends to drive the cost up
Wedding costs cluster around a handful of big-ticket items: the venue, catering, photography, and flowers account for most of the total. Guest numbers are closely linked to almost all of them. A bigger guest list generally means a larger venue, more food and drink, more chairs, more table decorations, and more invitations. Catering alone can run from around £50 to £150 or more per head depending on the style of service (this range is indicative; actual quotes will vary by region, caterer, and menu), so trimming ten guests can save several hundred pounds before you factor in anything else.
The important bit is: the choices you make early, particularly around guest numbers and venue, tend to shape everything else.
Six ways couples commonly reduce the overall cost
- Trim the guest list first. Every extra guest adds cost across catering, venue capacity, stationery, and favours. A smaller, closer group often means a better experience for everyone there.
- Consider a weekday or off-peak date. Many venues charge lower rates for mid-week bookings or dates outside the spring and summer peak season. Saturday in peak season is typically the most expensive slot; some venues charge several hundred pounds less for a Sunday, and weekday rates can be lower still. It can be worth asking venues directly what flexibility they have on pricing for different dates.
- Look at register offices and licensed non-traditional venues. A register office ceremony is a lower-cost legal option. Some couples have a simple legal ceremony and then a separate celebration with friends and family at a venue of their choice. Under the current statutory fee structure, giving notice costs £35 per person, and a register office ceremony fee is set at £46, making the legal element of the day a fraction of a full venue package. Fees correct as of early 2025; verify current figures at GOV.UK's register a marriage page before acting.
- Separate the legal from the celebration. A small legal ceremony followed by a relaxed party at a home, garden, or hired hall gives you more control over costs and choices. It is also worth comparing dry-hire venues, where you bring in your own caterers and suppliers, against all-inclusive packages: dry hire can look cheaper upfront but the total cost depends heavily on which suppliers you choose, so comparing both options on a fully loaded basis is a useful step.
- Ask about what is included, and what is not. Some venue packages bundle catering, bar, and decoration. Others price these separately. Comparing the full cost of each option, not just the headline room hire fee, can show where the real value is.
- Set a clear budget before you start viewing venues. Once you have seen a venue you love, it is harder to walk away. Agreeing a firm budget together before you begin viewing, and writing down what you are willing to flex on and what you are not, makes those decisions easier.
Why it matters for borrowing
Many couples use a personal loan to cover some or all of wedding costs. That is a straightforward option, but the total amount repayable depends on the interest rate you are offered and the term you choose.
To make that concrete: a £5,000 loan at a representative 9.9% APR repaid over two years would cost roughly £5,520 in total. Spread the same loan over four years and the monthly payment falls, but the total repayable rises to around £6,080 — meaning the longer term costs approximately £560 more for the same amount borrowed. The 9.9% APR figure is illustrative only; the rate you are actually offered will depend on your individual credit circumstances and the lender's criteria, and may be higher or lower. It can help to use a loan repayment calculator to see the full cost before you agree to anything. Our guide to personal loans explains how to compare offers and what to look out for.
If you are borrowing to cover deposits paid to venues or suppliers, it is also worth considering wedding insurance. A policy can protect non-refundable deposits if a supplier fails or circumstances force you to postpone, which is particularly relevant when borrowed money is at stake. Premiums vary by level of cover and provider, but basic policies typically start from around £20 to £30, with more comprehensive cover often ranging from £60 to £150 or more. You can compare options via a comparison site or through MoneyHelper's insurance guidance to get a sense of what is available.
What to read next
- Loans for weddings, what to know before borrowing for a wedding, including what lenders look at and how to compare costs
- Loan interest rates, how interest rates work and what affects the rate you are offered
- Personal loans, a plain-English overview of how personal loans work
Sources
- Bridebook UK Wedding Report 2023, average UK wedding cost data
- GOV.UK: Register a marriage, statutory notice and ceremony fee information