A survey by Hitched.co.uk, the UK’s largest wedding website, has revealed the average cost of a wedding in 2018 is £32,273 – up 19% from last year and the highest it’s ever been.
Now in its 13th year, Hitched’s 21st Century Bride survey - the biggest annual report of UK wedding trends and spend – collected data from more than 3,300 brides to reveal the top wedding expenses.
The single biggest expenditure is venue hire. The top five spends include:
Venue hire- £5,221
Honeymoon - £4,545
Food - £4,151
Engagement ring - £2,657
Drinks - £1,769
The study also showed that London had the highest cost of a wedding with an average of £41,521 – 52% more than the average UK salary. And Yorkshire weddings proved the most budget-conscious, costing the least with an average price of £27,245.
The survey reveals that when it comes to the reception, barns and farms increased in popularity this year, overtaking hotels as the most popular wedding venue, with 28% choosing to hold their reception at a barn rather than a hotel, marquee or a country home.
Top 5 Types of Venue according to Hitched.co.uk:
Barn/farm
Hotel
Country House
Historic Building
Marquee or Pavilion
Sarah Allard, Editor, Hitched.co.uk, says: “It’s clear to see that the venue really is the most important part of a bride’s big day, with couples opting to spend 16% of their total budget on their favoured place to say, ‘I do’.
“It’s no surprise that barns have claimed the top spot as the most popular venue either; not only do they offer a more relaxed and comfortable setting for the celebrations but they lend themselves perfectly to the rustic trend so many couples are looking for.”
The full findings of the Hitched.co.uk 21st Century Bride survey are presented online and in the latest issue of You & Your Wedding Magazine on sale now.
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