The "average UK wedding cost" figure that circulates in the press — usually somewhere between £20,000 and £32,000 — is technically accurate and practically useless. It averages together a 20-person dinner in a Cotswolds pub and a 200-person marquee reception in Surrey, which is a bit like averaging the price of a studio flat in Doncaster with a five-bedroom house in Chelsea.
What's more useful is a category-by-category breakdown of where money goes — and, crucially, where it's possible to save without the day suffering.
The core categories
Venue hire: 30–40% of total budget
The single largest line item. A Saturday exclusive in London or the South East will consume this percentage quickly; a rural barn or village venue with lower hire costs can leave room elsewhere. See our wedding venue cost guide for city-by-city data.
Catering: 20–30% of total budget
Catering cost depends almost entirely on two numbers: head count and menu choice. A three-course sit-down dinner from a quality caterer runs £60–£120 per head for food only; add drinks at £30–£50 per head and you're at £90–£170 per person. For 100 guests, that's £9,000–£17,000 before service charges. Bowl food and grazing-style receptions can bring this down by 20–30%.
Photography: 10–15% of total budget
Photography is the category where it pays least to cut costs. A photographer who charges £1,200 instead of £2,500 is usually, though not always, providing a meaningfully different level of skill and experience. See how to choose a wedding photographer for guidance on what to look for.
Browse wedding photographer costs →
Flowers and styling: 8–12% of total budget
Floristry is where the per-pound visual impact is highest. An experienced florist can transform a plain room with well-chosen seasonal flowers. Ceremony arch, table centres for 10 tables, bouquets and buttonholes for the wedding party will typically run £1,500–£5,000 depending on complexity and seasonality. Out-of-season flowers (peonies in January, dahlias in February) cost significantly more.
Browse wedding florist costs →
Videography: 8–12% of total budget
Videography is optional but increasingly common. Most couples who don't book it wish they had; few who do book it wish they hadn't. A one-camera team covering ceremony and speeches typically starts around £800–£1,200; a full-day two-camera production with a four to eight-minute film runs £1,500–£3,500.
Browse wedding videographer costs →
Entertainment: 5–10% of total budget
A live band for the evening costs £1,000–£4,000 depending on size and demand; a DJ is typically £500–£1,500. Photo booths, lawn games and evening fireworks add to this. The most efficient entertainment budget keeps the dance floor full for four hours and stops there.
Stationery, favours and extras: 3–5%
Easy to underestimate and easy to overrun. Invitations, order of service, menus, table plans, and favours add up to £500–£2,000 for a 100-person wedding. Digital-first formats (online RSVP, digital menus) can reduce this significantly.
A worked example
For a 100-person London wedding on a Saturday in September, a realistic budget range looks like this:
| Category | Budget | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Venue hire | £6,000 | £15,000 |
| Catering + drinks | £10,000 | £18,000 |
| Photography | £2,200 | £4,000 |
| Videography | £1,500 | £3,000 |
| Floristry | £2,000 | £5,000 |
| Entertainment | £2,000 | £4,000 |
| Extras | £1,500 | £3,000 |
| Total | £25,200 | £52,000 |
Note: this excludes the wedding dress, suits, hair and makeup, rings, and honeymoon.
Where to save without it showing
Move the date. A Friday in October is 25–35% cheaper than a Saturday in July, for an identical venue and caterer. The day doesn't feel different to guests.
Reduce guest count. Catering costs are linear; many venue costs have a floor. Going from 120 to 80 guests can free up £4,000–£6,000 in catering alone.
Choose seasonal flowers. A florist working with what's in season costs less and often produces more interesting work than one sourcing specific species out of season.
Don't cut photography. Of all the categories, this is the one where a lower spend shows most clearly in the product you live with for the rest of your life.
Getting started
Start with your venue — it anchors everything else.
Build your full supplier shortlist — three proposals per category within 24 hours.