How much do wedding venues cost in 2019?
If you’re wedding planning, then you’ll know that your wedding venue takes up a large chunk of your wedding budget. However, how much exactly do wedding venues cost for the typical couple? We broke down the costs in our Wedding Report, which included data from over 18,000 couples who married in 2017 and 2018, and found out exactly how much to spend on a wedding venue…
How much do couples spend on their wedding venue? According to our statistics, which make up part of the biggest wedding study in the UK, couples typically spend an average of £6,000 on their wedding venue. However, it’s important to note that there are few separate elements you have to take into account when budgeting for your wedding venue. Firstly, is your wedding venue offering you a package, or just dry hire cost? A wedding package tends to include the catering and drinks built in on top of hire costs, which can sometimes bring the overall cost down. We combined our brides’ data with information from venues on Guides for Brides to calculate the average cost of a wedding package for 80 day guests. Prices ranged between £4,723 and £11,660, for an average cost of £5,234. However, if you’re hiring your wedding venue on a ‘dry hire’ basis, i.e. bringing in all the caterers and bar yourself, then your prices look a little different. The average starting cost of venue hire was £2,506, going up to £5,071 for an average hire cost of £3,788.
How much does a marquee wedding cost? Marquees often need to be hired out for a flat fee and then catering and drinks supplied separately. Depending on the marquee size and style, costs ranged from £1,870 to £4,450, for an average cost of £2,980. Bear in mind that you also may have to supply extras such as seating, toilets and heaters! When it comes to catering, there are so many different styles of packages at various price points that it can be hard to calculate an average. Our catering suppliers range from afternoon tea at £6 a head to formal four-course meals at £150 a head! However, we calculated the typical costs of a catering package offered by a venue ranged from £65.53 to £104. This came to an average total of £84.77 per head.
How much does a wedding ceremony cost? We’ve covered the cost of wedding venue hire, but it’s important to factor your wedding ceremony costs in too! No matter whether you’re marrying in a church, at a registered venue or in a register office, your costs work out roughly similar. The cost of a church ceremony is typically £500, depending on your chosen church and the day of the wedding. Don’t forget to factor in extras like the organist, choirs, bell-ringers and heating. If you’re having a civil ceremony in a registered venue and having the registrar come to you, then you can expect to pay an average of £540. If you’re going to the register office instead, prices vary hugely depending on where and what day you’re getting married. Our report showed an average cost of £540 for a register office. We’re finding that celebrant weddings are becoming increasingly popular with our couples, and the prices line up here as well. If you’re planning on a celebrant wedding, then you should plan to spend around £500 on the ceremony. Don’t forget the added extra cost of the legalities at a later date. Want to know more about the cost of a wedding? Check out the full cost of a wedding in the UK here. You can also sign up for your free online wedding planner to help track your wedding budget. Read the full article