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How much does a wedding cost?
With the average UK wedding cost sitting at around £25K it’s going to be high up on your list of priorities on managing this pot of money successfully. Once everything is covered the last thing you need are wedding costs you haven’t budgeted for. For more ideas on planning your wedding on a budget follow our dedicated wedding budget board on Pinterest.
In this article we discuss
- How much does a wedding cost?
- Hidden costs not to be caught out by
- The Wedding budget list
- Where you can save money on your wedding costs.
Just to be clear your wedding can cost anything up to £25K or more if that is what you want.
Essential Wedding Tools:
The key is to set a budget or spending cap, manage whatever money you have to spend, cut your cloth accordingly and shop around.
This is what a £25k wedding could look like.
Expect to spend £5-10k for up to 70 day guests and 100 evening guests at a mid range hotel, barn or country house style venue.
Dress £1500
Shoes & Accessories £250
Groom and Ushers £500
Rings £500
Stationery £300
Flowers £500
Venue Decor £500
Venue Props light up letters or a special dancefloor £500 per
Entertainment £1500 (Disco and Band)
Photobooth/candy buffet/chocolate fountain/casino tables are all popular additions £300-£500 per activity
Cake £400
Ceremony £500-800
Hair & Makeup on the Day £300
Bridesmaids £500
Hen party/stag party £800
Honeymoon £2500
Photography £2000
Transport £500
Wedding costs you may not know about.
Planning your wedding is likely to be one of the most stressful things your likely to do, on top of probably already a very busy life – lets face it we are all super busy these days; coordinating lots of different suppliers as well keeping track of the guest numbers, pulling together the theme, juggling to keep everyone happy and perhaps the trickiest part, managing your budget!
Keeping on top of wedding costs can be a challenge, especially when money is tight. We would be quite willing to bet most weddings end up running over budget. But whilst you may have sized up the costs of all the major parts of your day , there are often a few others which can catch you out!
1. Dress Alterations
After much deliberation the dress budget is set, and result the one you fall for comes in under budget, happy days! So you then go ahead and order that expensive tiara and designer shoes. Yeah, budget met! But slow down, last minute wedding nerves leaves you a couple inches short on your waist and you need last minute alterations! Any money left in your money pot? No, the coffers are bare!
2. Bridal Party Gifts
The chances are you have been thinking of this from the getgo, but chances are you left them off your budget spread sheet! Even if you’re just getting bouquets for your mums and maids, they can run up a hefty cost, so be prepared and plan ahead!
3. Postage
Posting your invites and thank you cards actually can cost the thick end of £100 – so make sure you account for it in your budget!
4. Over-time Costs
Whilst some suppliers will be lenient and hang about should your day go slightly off course, time is money! Some suppliers may be booked for a specific length of time or charge by the hour – check your contracts! In any case make sure you stick to your time plan (i.e don’t be late for your ceremony!) or, be prepared to pay your photographer over-time costs.
5. Post Wedding Costs
There are often a few loose ends to tie up, and one that many people forget to factor in is wedding dress cleaning and storage options.
6. Service Charges, Tips and VAT
Double check all your agreements and contracts with suppliers and venues to make sure you’re aware of costs which don’t appear on your bills. Don’t build a budget based on quotes, think about VAT and enquire about service charges, especially from your venue.
7. Contingency Fund
Your dream country castle hotel is 100 miles from home, every list has been ticked off and triple checked before setting off! But you just know that something vital will have been left back at home. Typical. Make sure to keep an emergency fund for last minute shopping trips!
8. Include Yourselves
Classic schoolboy error – always remember to count yourselves in head counts! Feeding everyone but yourselves is just crazy!
9. Hotel Accommodation
You’ve budgeted for the venue, the room for your wedding night, the honeymoon, but what about an early flight it might mean an extra night near your airport? Think about arrangements for your wedding party too. Make sure this is clearly communicated are you paying for the Best Man’s room or is he? Plan this into the budget, as it could equally add an extra few hundred pounds!
10. Beauty Treatments
Producing the best version of yourself doesn’t always start the day before! Some couples opt for weightloss programs, gym memberships, teeth whitening/straightening treatments. It all adds up over the course of a few months. Not to mention on the day and before before the day, chances are you’ll be looking to invest in some additional beauty treatments. And if you have bridesmaids, you may be expected to pay for their hair and make-up too. 100% recommend getting in the pros if your budget allows it, so to make sure it does, factor it in from day 1!
The Wedding Budget List
In this list we identify all of the key expenses that you will need to keep a track of in your wedding budget.
- The Venue
- The Wedding Dress inc alterations
- Wedding Accessories
- Grooms Suit
- Grooms Accessories
- Ushers Suits
- Flowergirls and Pageboy outfits
- Other Attendants Thankyou gifts, grooms, ushers, parents, flowergirls and page boys
- Bridesmaid Dresses and Accessories
- Bridesmaid Gifts
- Stationery
- Wedding Cake
- Flowers
- Transport and accommodation
- Wedding Ceremony
- Hair and Beauty Treatments pre-wedding
- Hair and Beauty on the day
- Reception Decorations
- Favours for guests
- Props for the venue
- The Honeymoon
- Entertainment
- Wedding Rings
- Stag and Hen Party
- Engagement Party
- Photography
- Videography
- Catering and Drinks
The Best Ways to Save Money
Tip1: Start with the guest list more heads equals more spend. Consider combining the day and evening as one, get married later in the day this way you only feed guests once. Organise a brunch for your immediate bridal party is a nice touch to keep the day really special from start to finish.
Tip2: Cut down on attendants do you really need to beat the Guinness book of world records for the most bridesmaids??
Tip3: DIY your own wedding stationery as this will save hundreds of pounds, use free tools such as Canva and have them printed here . Check out this DIY Wedding Stationery tutorial
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