How much does a wedding cost in the UK? (2026)
The average UK wedding costs £20,604, according to a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples, not counting the engagement ring or honeymoon. That is about £278 a guest. Venue hire and catering take around 51% of the budget, and region matters: averages run from £17,342 in the North West to £26,986 in London.
Figures checked 24 October 2026. They are the same figures PlanHitch's quote check uses.
Got a quote already?
The free quote check puts it against the range for your region and says whether it looks low, fair or high. Or split a total across every line with the budget calculator.
What does each part of a wedding cost?
The typical range is what published UK price guides print for each kind of supplier. The average is from a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples, where it publishes one. Where only a range is printed, there is no average here rather than a guess.
| Supplier | Typical range | UK average |
|---|---|---|
| VenueAverage: a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples (venue hire without catering). Range: published UK price guides, 2026 | £3,000 to £10,000 | £6,040 |
| CateringAverage: a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples (reception and evening food). Range: published UK price guides, 2026, for 40 to 160 guests | £3,480 to £13,920 | £7,408 |
| PhotographerAverage: a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples. Range: published UK price guides, 2026 | £500 to £2,500 | £1,484 |
| VideographerAverage: a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples. Range: published UK price guides, 2026 | £500 to £2,500 | £1,514 |
| FlowersAverage: a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples. Range: published UK price guides, 2026 | £200 to £2,500 | £1,187 |
| Cake and dessertsAverage: a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples (wedding cake). Range: published UK price guides, 2026 | £250 to £1,000 | £360 |
| StationeryAverage: a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples (full suite). Range: published UK price guides, 2026 | £100 to £500 | £378 |
| Wedding dressAverage: a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples (the dress). Range: published UK price guides, 2026 | £500 to £2,000 | £1,532 |
| TransportAverage: a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples. Range: published UK price guides, 2026 | £250 to £1,000 | £593 |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent)Average: a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples (celebrants). Range: Humanists UK fees for humanist weddings. Registrar fees are separate and set by the council | £450 to £1,500 | £504 |
| DJRange: published UK price guides, 2026. No average is published for DJs alone | £300 to £2,000 | Not published |
| Live band (including ceilidh)Range: published UK price guides, 2026. No average is published for bands alone | £1,500 to £4,000 | Not published |
Not listed: bar and drinks, lighting, decor, hair, make-up, suits, rings and wedding planners. For these we couldn’t find a published range, or the one we found disagrees with the survey, so the quote check doesn’t judge them either.
How much does a wedding cost per guest?
About £278 a guest, on average, from the same survey. The average ceremony has around 74 guests.
Food is where numbers bite. Published catering prices run from around £3,480 for 40 guests to £13,920 for 160: about £87 for each guest you add, or £700 a table of eight, in food alone.
How much does a wedding cost in each UK region?
Averages for the whole wedding, venue hire and photography are published for each region. The last column is how far supplier prices in the region sit from the UK average, across all supplier categories.
| Region | Average wedding | Average venue hire | Photographer range | Supplier prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £26,986 | £6,045 | £700 to £3,000 | +30% |
| Scotland | £22,987 | £7,144 | £500 to £2,000 | +7% |
| South East | £22,637 | £6,317 | £700 to £3,000 | +1% |
| South West | £22,304 | £6,564 | £500 to £2,200 | −1% |
| West Midlands | £20,006 | £4,960 | £500 to £2,200 | −4% |
| East of England | £19,794 | £5,865 | £500 to £2,200 | +4% |
| Wales | £19,175 | £6,076 | £500 to £2,000 | −5% |
| Yorkshire | £18,769 | £5,355 | £500 to £2,200 | −12% |
| Northern Ireland | £18,564 | £1,442 | £500 to £2,000 | +13% |
| North East | £18,410 | £5,531 | £500 to £2,200 | +5% |
| East Midlands | £17,981 | £4,739 | £500 to £2,200 | −9% |
| North West | £17,342 | £6,211 | £500 to £2,200 | −2% |
| UK | £20,604 | £6,040 | £500 to £2,500 | — |
The survey names some regions differently (“Yorkshire & the Humber”, “Central” for the Midlands). The photographer ranges are published for three groups of regions, not for each one.
Every supplier, region by region
Where nothing is published for the region, the figure is the UK figure adjusted by that region’s supplier prices, and it says so. These are the ranges the quote check uses for a wedding in that region.
LondonShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £3,000 to £10,010 | £6,045 | Published for London |
| Catering | £4,520 to £18,100 | £9,630 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in London |
| Photographer | £700 to £3,000 | Not published | Published for London |
| Videographer | £650 to £3,250 | £1,970 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in London |
| Flowers | £260 to £3,250 | £1,540 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in London |
| Cake and desserts | £330 to £1,300 | £470 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in London |
| Stationery | £130 to £650 | £490 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in London |
| Wedding dress | £650 to £2,600 | £1,990 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in London |
| Transport | £330 to £1,300 | £770 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in London |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £590 to £1,950 | £660 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in London |
| DJ | £390 to £2,600 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in London |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,950 to £5,200 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in London |
South EastShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £3,140 to £10,460 | £6,317 | Published for South East |
| Catering | £3,510 to £14,060 | £7,480 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South East |
| Photographer | £700 to £3,000 | Not published | Published for South East |
| Videographer | £510 to £2,530 | £1,530 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South East |
| Flowers | £200 to £2,530 | £1,200 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South East |
| Cake and desserts | £250 to £1,010 | £360 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South East |
| Stationery | £100 to £510 | £380 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South East |
| Wedding dress | £510 to £2,020 | £1,550 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South East |
| Transport | £250 to £1,010 | £600 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South East |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £450 to £1,520 | £510 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South East |
| DJ | £300 to £2,020 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South East |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,520 to £4,040 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South East |
South WestShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £3,260 to £10,870 | £6,564 | Published for South West |
| Catering | £3,450 to £13,780 | £7,330 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South West |
| Photographer | £500 to £2,200 | Not published | Published for South West |
| Videographer | £500 to £2,480 | £1,500 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South West |
| Flowers | £200 to £2,480 | £1,180 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South West |
| Cake and desserts | £250 to £990 | £360 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South West |
| Stationery | £100 to £500 | £370 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South West |
| Wedding dress | £500 to £1,980 | £1,520 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South West |
| Transport | £250 to £990 | £590 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South West |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £450 to £1,490 | £500 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South West |
| DJ | £300 to £1,980 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South West |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,490 to £3,960 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in South West |
East of EnglandShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £2,910 to £9,710 | £5,865 | Published for East of England |
| Catering | £3,620 to £14,480 | £7,700 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East of England |
| Photographer | £500 to £2,200 | Not published | Published for East of England |
| Videographer | £520 to £2,600 | £1,570 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East of England |
| Flowers | £210 to £2,600 | £1,230 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East of England |
| Cake and desserts | £260 to £1,040 | £370 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East of England |
| Stationery | £100 to £520 | £390 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East of England |
| Wedding dress | £520 to £2,080 | £1,590 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East of England |
| Transport | £260 to £1,040 | £620 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East of England |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £470 to £1,560 | £520 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East of England |
| DJ | £310 to £2,080 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East of England |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,560 to £4,160 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East of England |
West MidlandsShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £2,460 to £8,210 | £4,960 | Published for West Midlands |
| Catering | £3,340 to £13,360 | £7,110 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in West Midlands |
| Photographer | £500 to £2,200 | Not published | Published for West Midlands |
| Videographer | £480 to £2,400 | £1,450 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in West Midlands |
| Flowers | £190 to £2,400 | £1,140 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in West Midlands |
| Cake and desserts | £240 to £960 | £350 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in West Midlands |
| Stationery | £100 to £480 | £360 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in West Midlands |
| Wedding dress | £480 to £1,920 | £1,470 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in West Midlands |
| Transport | £240 to £960 | £570 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in West Midlands |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £430 to £1,440 | £480 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in West Midlands |
| DJ | £290 to £1,920 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in West Midlands |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,440 to £3,840 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in West Midlands |
East MidlandsShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £2,350 to £7,850 | £4,739 | Published for East Midlands |
| Catering | £3,170 to £12,670 | £6,740 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East Midlands |
| Photographer | £500 to £2,200 | Not published | Published for East Midlands |
| Videographer | £460 to £2,280 | £1,380 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East Midlands |
| Flowers | £180 to £2,280 | £1,080 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East Midlands |
| Cake and desserts | £230 to £910 | £330 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East Midlands |
| Stationery | £90 to £460 | £340 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East Midlands |
| Wedding dress | £460 to £1,820 | £1,390 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East Midlands |
| Transport | £230 to £910 | £540 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East Midlands |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £410 to £1,370 | £460 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East Midlands |
| DJ | £270 to £1,820 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East Midlands |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,370 to £3,640 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in East Midlands |
North WestShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £3,080 to £10,280 | £6,211 | Published for North West |
| Catering | £3,410 to £13,640 | £7,260 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North West |
| Photographer | £500 to £2,200 | Not published | Published for North West |
| Videographer | £490 to £2,450 | £1,480 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North West |
| Flowers | £200 to £2,450 | £1,160 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North West |
| Cake and desserts | £250 to £980 | £350 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North West |
| Stationery | £100 to £490 | £370 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North West |
| Wedding dress | £490 to £1,960 | £1,500 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North West |
| Transport | £250 to £980 | £580 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North West |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £440 to £1,470 | £490 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North West |
| DJ | £290 to £1,960 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North West |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,470 to £3,920 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North West |
North EastShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £2,750 to £9,160 | £5,531 | Published for North East |
| Catering | £3,650 to £14,620 | £7,780 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North East |
| Photographer | £500 to £2,200 | Not published | Published for North East |
| Videographer | £530 to £2,630 | £1,590 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North East |
| Flowers | £210 to £2,630 | £1,250 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North East |
| Cake and desserts | £260 to £1,050 | £380 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North East |
| Stationery | £110 to £530 | £400 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North East |
| Wedding dress | £530 to £2,100 | £1,610 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North East |
| Transport | £260 to £1,050 | £620 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North East |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £470 to £1,580 | £530 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North East |
| DJ | £320 to £2,100 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North East |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,580 to £4,200 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in North East |
YorkshireShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £2,660 to £8,870 | £5,355 | Published for Yorkshire |
| Catering | £3,060 to £12,250 | £6,520 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Yorkshire |
| Photographer | £500 to £2,200 | Not published | Published for Yorkshire |
| Videographer | £440 to £2,200 | £1,330 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Yorkshire |
| Flowers | £180 to £2,200 | £1,040 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Yorkshire |
| Cake and desserts | £220 to £880 | £320 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Yorkshire |
| Stationery | £90 to £440 | £330 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Yorkshire |
| Wedding dress | £440 to £1,760 | £1,350 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Yorkshire |
| Transport | £220 to £880 | £520 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Yorkshire |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £400 to £1,320 | £440 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Yorkshire |
| DJ | £260 to £1,760 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Yorkshire |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,320 to £3,520 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Yorkshire |
ScotlandShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £3,550 to £11,830 | £7,144 | Published for Scotland |
| Catering | £3,720 to £14,890 | £7,930 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Scotland |
| Photographer | £500 to £2,000 | Not published | Published for Scotland |
| Videographer | £540 to £2,680 | £1,620 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Scotland |
| Flowers | £210 to £2,680 | £1,270 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Scotland |
| Cake and desserts | £270 to £1,070 | £390 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Scotland |
| Stationery | £110 to £540 | £400 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Scotland |
| Wedding dress | £540 to £2,140 | £1,640 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Scotland |
| Transport | £270 to £1,070 | £630 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Scotland |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £480 to £1,610 | £540 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Scotland |
| DJ | £320 to £2,140 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Scotland |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,610 to £4,280 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Scotland |
WalesShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £3,020 to £10,060 | £6,076 | Published for Wales |
| Catering | £3,310 to £13,220 | £7,040 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Wales |
| Photographer | £500 to £2,000 | Not published | Published for Wales |
| Videographer | £480 to £2,380 | £1,440 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Wales |
| Flowers | £190 to £2,380 | £1,130 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Wales |
| Cake and desserts | £240 to £950 | £340 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Wales |
| Stationery | £100 to £480 | £360 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Wales |
| Wedding dress | £480 to £1,900 | £1,460 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Wales |
| Transport | £240 to £950 | £560 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Wales |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £430 to £1,430 | £480 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Wales |
| DJ | £290 to £1,900 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Wales |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,430 to £3,800 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Wales |
Northern IrelandShow pricesHide
| Supplier | Typical range | Average | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | £720 to £2,390 | £1,442 | Published for Northern Ireland |
| Catering | £3,930 to £15,730 | £8,370 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Northern Ireland |
| Photographer | £500 to £2,000 | Not published | Published for Northern Ireland |
| Videographer | £570 to £2,820 | £1,710 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Northern Ireland |
| Flowers | £230 to £2,820 | £1,340 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Northern Ireland |
| Cake and desserts | £280 to £1,130 | £410 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Northern Ireland |
| Stationery | £110 to £570 | £430 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Northern Ireland |
| Wedding dress | £570 to £2,260 | £1,730 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Northern Ireland |
| Transport | £280 to £1,130 | £670 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Northern Ireland |
| Celebrant (humanist or independent) | £510 to £1,690 | £570 | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Northern Ireland |
| DJ | £340 to £2,260 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Northern Ireland |
| Live band (including ceilidh) | £1,690 to £4,520 | Not published | UK figures adjusted for supplier prices in Northern Ireland |
Where does most of the money go?
Venue hire and catering together take around 51% of the average budget. They are also the two contracts with the most room for extras: minimum spends, service charges, corkage and late-licence fees that aren’t in the headline price.
Before you pay a venue deposit, read the cancellation and minimum-spend clauses. Every PlanHitch account includes one free contract review that pulls those terms out in plain English.
Questions couples ask
How much does the average UK wedding cost in 2026?
£20,604, according to a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples. That excludes the engagement ring and the honeymoon. It is an average, so it is pulled up by the biggest weddings: a register office ceremony and a meal for thirty costs a fraction of it.
How much does a wedding cost per guest?
About £278 a guest on average across the whole day, from the same survey. Catering is the line that moves most with numbers: published guides put it at around £3,480 for 40 guests and £13,920 for 160.
Where in the UK is a wedding most expensive?
London, at an average of £26,986. The North West has the lowest regional average, at £17,342. Scotland's average is £22,987, and the highest average venue hire is in Scotland, at £7,144.
Why do different surveys give different averages?
They ask different couples, at different times, about different things. Hitched's 2026 UK Wedding Report puts the average at £21,990, which is the figure our budget calculator starts from. Read any average as a reference point and plan from your own guest count and quotes.
How do I know if a supplier's quote is fair?
Put it into PlanHitch's quote check. It compares the price with the typical range for that kind of supplier in your region, using the figures on this page, and says whether it looks low, fair or high, and why. It's free.
Does the average include the engagement ring and honeymoon?
No. The survey's totals leave out both. Wedding rings are counted; the engagement ring isn't.
Sources
Checked 24 October 2026. "a 2026 survey of 7,000 UK couples" is Bridebook's 2026 UK Wedding Report. Ranges are from the published price guides listed.
- Bridebook, "How much does a wedding cost? The UK average" (2026 UK Wedding Report, updated 8 September 2026)
- bridebook.com/uk/article/wedding-prices-venue
- bridebook.com/uk/article/wedding-prices-catering
- bridebook.com/uk/article/wedding-prices-photography
- bridebook.com/uk/article/wedding-prices-flowers
- bridebook.com/uk/article/wedding-prices-cake
- bridebook.com/uk/article/wedding-prices-stationery
- bridebook.com/uk/article/wedding-prices-the-dress
- bridebook.com/uk/article/how-much-does-wedding-music-cost
- guidesforbrides.co.uk/wedding-cars-and-horse-drawn-carriages
- humanists.uk/ceremonies/fees
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