The average cost of a wedding was £21,000 in 2023, according to wedding planning app Bridebook, but that rose to £36,000 if you got married in London. So where can you cut back? “Ditch the wedding favours,” says Elizabeth Anderson in The Times; “these simply get left on the tables or thrown away. Extras such as flip-flops and blankets for sitting outside are also unlikely to be used.” Some couples are also foregoing a cake. With a multi-tier, professionally baked cake costing more than £1,600, it is an easy way to save money. Either opt for a store-bought cake you – or a talented family member or friend – decorate, or have no cake at all.
When you are setting the date, consider that “going out of season can lead to serious savings”, Zoe Burke, editor of Hitched, told the Daily Express. Getting married midweek can slash your venue costs. The average venue will set you back £9,877, including catering, according to Bridebook. A Tuesday wedding cost an overall average of £16,273 last year. A brand-new designer wedding dress can cost thousands, but you can find a far cheaper option on the high street – or buy a “‘pre-loved’ dress”, says Matthew Jenkin in The Guardian. You can search online for second-hand dresses at StillWhite, or Oxfam has a whole section of its website dedicated to weddings, with dresses, accessories and suits.
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Ditch the wedding invitations
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