Setting a wedding budget is one of the first and most important steps in your wedding planning journey. It helps you prioritise your spending and ensures that every element of your special day aligns with your finances. To make budgeting easier, here’s a simple guide based on how couples typically divide their wedding budgets.
The average cost of a UK wedding is around £20,700, but it’s important to remember that your budget should be unique to you. Begin by deciding on your total available budget, whether that’s based on savings, family contributions, or a combination of both. Once you know your limit, you can allocate funds to different aspects of the day.
Around half of your budget will likely go towards the venue, ceremony, and catering. This includes the hire of the venue(s), food and drink for your guests, and legal costs for the ceremony (which usually start at around £400). If you're opting for an all-inclusive venue package, this can help simplify the budgeting process by covering many costs at once.
Capturing your big day is a priority for many couples, and photography and videography typically make up about 10% of the budget. Professional photographers and videographers ensure you have lasting memories of your wedding, so it’s worth investing in someone whose style you love.
Many couples include their honeymoon in their overall wedding budget. Setting aside roughly 10% for your honeymoon ensures that you can celebrate your first moments as a married couple with a special trip.
Your wedding attire, including the wedding dress, suit, accessories, and any alterations, will usually take up around 9% of your budget. If fashion is a high priority for you, consider increasing this portion.
Entertainment is key to keeping your guests happy, so plan to spend roughly 4.5% of your budget on music, whether that’s a live band, DJ, or any other forms of entertainment.
Flowers, décor, and any additional styling for the day typically account for 4% of the budget. You can adjust this based on your venue and how much you want to invest in transforming the space.
Your wedding cake might not be a huge portion of the budget, but it’s still a special detail. Plan to allocate around 3.5% of your funds to cover the cake and any additional dessert options.
Finally, allocate the remaining budget to smaller but important elements like stationery (1.5%), transport (2.5%), hair and makeup (1%), and wedding favours (1%).
Every couple has different priorities, so don’t be afraid to adjust these percentages to fit what matters most to you. Whether you want to splurge on catering or save on stationery, your wedding budget should reflect your unique vision and style. Remember, it’s your day, and your budget should work for you. There are always allowances and adjustments to be made, keep track of your spending with our budget tracker tool.
With this approach, you can create a balanced, realistic wedding budget that helps you enjoy the process of planning your perfect day and keep up with where you are throughout the process.
If you're interested in finding out more about Weddings at Rowton Hall or want to book an appointment to view our venue, then please fill in the form below and our Wedding team will be in touch.
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