Average UK Wedding Spend (by region)

Following on from our analysis of the average wedding cost in the UK, we're also able to reveal how wedding spend varies between different geographic regions.

We analysed the data from thousands of wedding insurance policies purchased since 2011, firstly grouping the data by county and then by geographic region. We then applied those percentage differences found in that research to our latest UK average wedding cost of £23,994.

This gives us a clear picture of the differences in wedding spend across the various regions of the UK.

Where are weddings most expensive in the UK?

London remains the clear outlier. Based on the regional differences found in our original research, the estimated average cost of a London wedding would now be around £34,071, over £10,000 more than the current UK average of £23,994.

The South East is the next most expensive region at an estimated £25,194, around 5% above the national average, while the East is only slightly higher at £24,234.

These three regions were the only areas spending higher than the national average.

Where are weddings cheapest?

At the other end of the table, Northern Ireland has the lowest estimated average wedding cost at £20,155, around 16% below the UK average. Wales follows at £20,635, with the North East and North West both around £21,115.

That creates a difference of almost £14,000 between the estimated average cost of a wedding in London and one taking place in Northern Ireland.

Full Regional Breakdown

Why do wedding costs vary across the UK?

Couples in London then are clearly pushing up the national average as a whole, spending around £10,000 more on their weddings than couples typically spend elsewhere in the UK.

There are likely to be a number of reasons for such a large difference. Venue hire and supplier costs can vary considerably around the country, and couples getting married in London may simply face higher prices for many of the same services. The type of venue, number of guests and the choices couples make about things such as catering, entertainment and photography could all have an impact too.

What's particularly interesting is that the difference isn't simply between London and the rest of the country. The South East and East are also above the national average, while every other region in our analysis comes in below it. At the other end of the scale, couples in Northern Ireland spend around 16% less than the UK average, with Wales around 14% below.

Our data doesn't tell us exactly why these regional differences exist. It could be that couples in some parts of the country are more likely to keep costs down by choosing different types of venues or suppliers, cutting back on some of the extras, or taking a more DIY approach to parts of the wedding. Either way, there's quite a difference in what couples are spending around the UK.

Wherever you're getting married, you're likely to make a number of big payments to venues and suppliers in the months leading up to the wedding. Wedding insurance can provide cover for some of these costs if something goes wrong, depending on the policy and circumstances.

Take a look at our wedding insurance comparison table to see the cover and prices available from a range of UK providers.