Wedding Costs Rising, Budgets Shrinking: How Micro Weddings Help!
A change in the wedding landscape
Over the past few years, the wedding landscape has undergone a significant transformation. Many couples opt for less traditional wedding styles, and smaller ‘micro’ weddings and elopements remain as popular as ever. At Cote How, we specialise in small weddings, and have done for years, long before they became as fashionable as they are today. We passionately believe they have something to offer every style and budget!
In this blog, we explore some key facts and figures that help explain how couples can manage rising wedding costs by reducing their guest list.
The Rising Cost of Living...and Wedding Planning
A survey conducted by Hitch in 2023 revealed that ‘Nearly 1 in 2 couples said the economy had an impact on their wedding budget’ and ‘the average cost of a wedding is £20,700’ (1)
With the rising cost of living affecting us all, it’s no surprise that couples are being more careful about what they are comfortable spending on their wedding, including how many guests to invite.
Last year, Bridebook surveyed over 4,000 couples, and their research found that the average cost of a wedding for less than 50 guests was over £12,500. (2) ‘When planning your wedding, don’t forget that your guest list plays a starring role in the venue selection process. Think of it like casting a play – the more people you invite, the bigger the stage you’ll need to set and the higher the cost.’ (3)
Food for thought… cost effective catering
Catering for your guests takes a big chunk of your wedding budget, so the smaller your guest list, the greater the savings. With this in mind, couples can explore wedding styles with more informal food options. More relaxed food styles may be more cost-effective than a traditional 3-course wedding breakfast with an evening buffet. The same is true of transport. Larger parties mean steeper costs for travel to and from a venue, such as when couples need to provide coach transfers, for example.
Guests for less – plan a post-wedding party
Couples planning a wedding often consider how the wider financial climate impacts their guests. The Independent estimated the cost of attending a wedding for the average guest last year at just over £1000 (4). Inviting guests to a wedding that requires them to stay away from home can be a significant financial burden.
Incorporating their wedding into a luxury destination mini-break means the couple combines marrying with a ‘mini-moon’. Friends and wider family are spared the expense of travelling to witness the wedding vows. Instead, they can celebrate with the couple on their return, with a simple, post-wedding party.
A Micro Wedding can mean less is more
Choosing a smaller celebration could be a practical solution for couples who need to prioritise to keep costs manageable. A 2023 survey of 2,000 UK adults on the impact how the cost of living crisis on wedding planning found that 94% of couples plan to cut back on their wedding costs to save money, with the first thing to go being the guest list. ‘Almost half (45%) of those surveyed stated they would cut down on their guestlist in an effort to save money.’ (5)
Making budgets go further by staying small
Choosing a smaller wedding isn’t always about saving money. However, it can make money budgets go further, allowing for a location or luxury wedding style that isn’t affordable if more guests are invited. Simply put, a micro wedding can mean less is more. More intimate micros can be a conscious choice for a more relaxed and less stressful wedding, too. Weekday weddings remain very popular as couples look for better value than the traditionally more expensive Saturday wedding day.
A wedding doesn't have to cost the earth
A ‘non-wedding wedding’ is a phrase we hear more frequently in 2024, as couples allocate their budget differently than the more traditional wedding formula. Intimate ceremonies with a separate party to follow are increasingly popular. The same is true of smaller bridal parties. Couples are also much more mindful of sustainability. Fewer guests are more likely to reduce environmental impact; a wedding that doesn’t cost the earth, quite literally.
As the average cost of a UK wedding has more than doubled over the past decade, according to Compare Wedding Insurance, the trend towards eloping or smaller, more intimate micro weddings looks here to stay. (6)
Thank you to...
If you are a regular wedding supplier here at Cote How and would like to contribute to our wonderful wedding blog, please get in touch. Huge thanks to our talented recommended photographers for sharing their images with us, specifically Jo Greenfield, Tom McNally, Jo Bradbury, Rachel Joyce, Stanbury Photography, and Delicious Photography.
If you would like to know more about our Micro weddings, check out our Micro Wedding styles on our website. To find out more about marrying in our area, contact Kendal Registry Office
Articles referenced:
(1) The National Wedding Survey: The Average UK Wedding in 2023 Updated February 7th 2024; (2) How Much Does a Wedding Cost? The 2023 UK Average, 7th Feb 2024 (3) Guides for Brides Wedding Expert – https://guidesforbrides.co.uk/wedding-ideas/how-much-do-wedding-venues-cost (4) Can’t buy me love? The staggering spend of wedding guests revealed Tuesday 23 May 2023 (5) https://www.fhinds.co.uk/blog/Cost-Of-Living-Crisis-How-Wedding-Plans-Are-Changing (6) https://www.compareweddinginsurance.org.uk/blog/average-cost-uk-wedding.php
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