The average UK wedding now costs £30,355, having risen 12% from last year. It’s no secret that all the big (and little) parts of weddings add up to an expensive event. There are major outgoings on things like the wedding venue and the dress, as well as smaller purchases – like decorations and the cake. The first step for most newly engaged couples – after sharing that engagement ring selfie of course – is devising a budget that will make their wedding day dreams a reality.
As a leading collection of hand-picked venues, we welcome couples from all walks of life to share their wedding days with us. Our castles and country estates have played host to various weddings of all sizes, styles, and themes, each of which has had their own budget. Discover the dos and don’ts of budgeting for your special day so you can nail the numbers and celebrate your love and union with your nearest and dearest.
Do prioritise wedding day budgeting
As a newly engaged couple, you’re likely to have many things on your pre-wedding to-do list. Determining a budget for the big day should be at the top. Whether you plan to host a wedding with a long list of guests or want to keep things more intimate, setting your budget early in the wedding planning process will stand you in good stead.
Start by listing all the essentials of a wedding before adding the items that will be unique to your ceremony and reception. You’ll find average costs for wedding essentials online, but to keep budgeting as accurate as possible approach wedding suppliers for quotes.
Create a realistic budget, and if your current wedding fund falls short of this figure, give yourself enough time to save. A carefully devised budget will also help you keep a clear head in the run up to your wedding day.
Don’t forget the hidden costs
You’ll be surprised by just how many unexpected costs appear during the wedding planning process. Hair and makeup trials, last minute beauty buys and treatments, wedding underwear, alterations, and dry cleaning are all hidden costs of modern day wedding celebrations.
On the wedding day itself, there may be other costs for refreshments and meals for suppliers like your photographer and videographer. While we don’t allow corkage at any of our venues, other venues may charge for this service. Sending out your invites also comes with a hidden cost that could add up as One Fab Day describes:
“You have all your invitations paid for, beautifully written, addressed and ready to go. You may have had a stationery budget but more than likely you have forgotten to add in the stamps! Depending on the number of invites you’re sending, the weight and the distance, your stamps could ending up bumping up your stationery budget more than you thought.”
To make the surprise of these hidden costs less of a deal-breaker, a contingency of between 12.5%-15% of your total budget is recommended.
Do save where you can
You should budget to afford a wedding that is within your means. Being realistic about how much you can save in the time you have is another budgeting must. You can save at any stage of wedding planning with a little savvy thinking.
You can cut costs by booking early or off-peak, reducing your headcount, using printable wedding stationery or décor, going DIY with selected wedding projects and reusing flowers from your ceremony at your wedding reception.
Don’t do it alone
You don’t have to face financing your wedding alone. To ensure you plan and execute the wedding day of your dreams within your means you may want to consider taking out a wedding loan. Wedding loans offer an affordable and flexible way to pay for your wedding day, allowing you to spread the cost with as little as 10% deposit and zero interest.
