How much did your wedding really cost?

[Blondbombsite]

I’m curious because on here it often seems that if you spent more than £500, you’re looked down on for being stupid and vain but simultaneously your guests are all there under duress so can’t have any inconvenience or expense to attend. Obviously these two things are at odds, so I wondered what the true experience was for most people.

We’re getting married soon and although I don’t know the final costs yet I estimate it will be around 12k in total. That’s for 30 guests, a sit down meal (including canapés first, beef dinner, desert table and cheese table), welcome drinks/ wine with meal and an open bar all night. The biggest expense is food and drink apart and accommodation as we’re paying for all of the bridal party to stay at the venue the night of the wedding and breakfast together the day after.

Including outfits for me, dh and our 3 children, and meal afterwards, about £350

Mine as a while ago but max £3k in todays money? It included my wedding dress, groom outfit, food etc…. About 30 people.

we used the village hall, SIL did the wedding cake. Got a caterer for the evening food (exchange between her and MIL) etc… provided the alcohol too.
The most expensive item was my dress 🫣🫣

Not on a shoe string as such but not over the top either. Even nowadays, I wouldn’t be spending much more than that.

Around £15k in the end I think (not including my dress or the honeymoon).

Full day for about 50 people with canapes, a wonderful hot buffet late afternoon and cheese and biscuits later.

Also included;

Flowers
Celebrant
Register office fees
Vintage Wedding car
Coach transport to and from venue for guests
4 x bridesmaid dresses, hair and make up
My hair & make up + trials for both
DH suit + 3 groomsman suits
All decor, some hired, some DIY.

DJ
Hotel penthouse for 2 nights
36 bottles of wine/Prosecco + corkage Marquee hire & chairs for outdoor ceremony
Photographer
Rings

We could have done it cheaper, but we had the venue of our dreams and the wedding package there took up just over half of the total above.

Some bits we splurged on (vintage car, photographer we wanted, penthouse at £500 a night) and others we saved (flowers weren't much, rings in January sales, DJ on mates rates).

My parents chipped in 1/3 and we saved HARD for a year for the rest. Didn't go a penny into debt and had the best day ever so I'm at peace with the spend.

Last budget check a few weeks before Covid, we were at £53k, and still hadn’t booked all suppliers.

Covid happened, we decided to get married nonetheless and spent £4,500k in total with just 13 guests.

Am gutted we never got the dream wedding but in hindsight we realise we saved a fortune. Spent that money on a new car instead.

3 years ago all in (including my dress £1500) we spent 17k and that was doing things relatively simple! 50 day and another 50 at night.

£6k including honeymoon but we eloped, it did include three nights stay at the venue too which was very nice :)

The biggest cost (apart from honeymoon and accommodation) was the registrar fee!!

£1500. But that was nearly 20 years ago. We were really stretched financially, but still wanted to have a wedding.

We only invited our close family and friends. So 20 guests and us two. We booked a local pub that was licensed for doing the ceremony as well so it was all in one place. It was a lovely location by the river, we had a local chap do the photos, then a buffet with drink. Very simple cake, my friend made a centre piece for it. Dress second hand off ebay, decorations sourced from the internet, simple flowers from a local florist.

It was all very low key, relaxed and simple and was actually perfect for us. We requested no presents as we had everything we needed. It was a lovely day.

I expect you could do a similar thing for under 5k now.

Didn't do engagement, registry office ceremony with family only, restaurant afterwards for food, reception at local rugby club for about 50. Total cost about £3K.

$80 for licence and judge.

About £3k for a big fuck off 3 week holiday in the US, and then £250 for a bit of a do when we got back.

This was in 1993.

1400 pounds. But that was nearly 30 yrs ago was a fab day before weddings all came big buisness

Ours cost £475 in December 2020 during lockdown.
Only allowed because husband was having cancer treatment during a very potentially dangerous time. This covered my dress, ring, giving notice, ceremony and certificates. Only 6 of us allowed and everyone went to their homes afterward so no celebration after.

This thread was always going to turn into competitive thrift. It’s a bit sad that pp who had a more expensive day might feel embarrassed by it. Ours was £12k in 2009, remains one of the best parties I’ve ever been to, and gives me no regrets.

Deliberately holding a wedding on a Wednesday to test the mettle of your guests is sociopathic.

28yrs ago, £17,500 for 150 guests in the Palm Court of Alexandra Palace, dinner, evening buffet, horses & carriage, honeymoon in Barbados etc. Don't regret it one bit.

@bloodywitchescat Very sorry for your loss. I’m glad you had a lovely wedding day.

3.5k 12 years ago. Including registry office, transport for guests ( friends with the poshest car drove us!) rings, outfits, sit down meal for 28 in our favourite pub with rooms, drinks for toast and table, honeymoon (Cornwall in November). Everyone took pictures and we compiled them. It was an amazing day!

Nearly 12 years ago, I would say everything came to around £12. We had 80 guests at the ceremony and afternoon, then took 30 to a Michelin starred restaurant for the evening.

£8k for everything. To be honest I don’t care how much others spent, as long as they’re not the people spending £10k plus on a wedding then complaining they can’t afford a house deposit (yes I know a few of these, it is the most annoying thing).

18 years ago and £5 k. Registry office and then a 3 course meal for 60 including children. My dress was circa £400 from a dressmaker.

My best friend about a year later married and her dress alone was £35 k! I was very envious at the time, but no longer. We are both very happily married and the only thing I regret is that I did not drink more champagne at mine on the day.

50k wouldn’t change a thing

Under £2k incl honeymoon (big white dress, church wedding, sit down reception, evening party, short U.K. break) but that was over 30 years ago. (still married).

Same year an acquaintance had a (first) wedding costing many thousands - parents were still paying off the loan when she left the second husband …..

Best part of £40k. Huge wedding, lots of people and lots of entertainment extras.

We didn't get in any debt to do it, had been together ten years and saved up for it for a long time. I don't regret it

Excluding honeymoon. Approx 13k including my dress which was nearly 2k. So 11k. That was for exclusive hire of the venue, 95 guests. Afternoon tea the day before for 50 ppl and all accommodation for the bridal party. I did my own flowers, favours and invites. My SIL made the cake as a gift, my uncle did the photography as a gift also. We were very lucky.

😯😯😯

Very little - 34 years ago - Register Office fee, lunch for seven of us ... simple frock that I could wear again, DH wore a newish suit (did have a new tie from Liberty) ... no stress and no regrets.

There has been research that found that the cost of the wedding is inversely proportional to the length of the marriage.