Find the results of our National Cost of a Wedding survey 2008 here!
Last month we asked you to take our survey and tell us about your wedding budget and how you were spending it. Well, more than 1,500 of you responded and what better time to talk wedding budgets than the week of probably the most expensive wedding of the year, that of Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin!
We can reveal that the average wedding in the UK now costs £20,273. But not only has the price of a wedding increased, but also how you're all spending your budgets.
The biggest chunk of the budget is spent making sure your guests have a good time. Couples spend on average £7,724 on their wedding reception, including £2,529 on venue hire, £3,497 on catering, £1,242 on drinks and £456 on entertainment.
The second highest cost is the honeymoon, with the average post-wedding holiday costing £3,220. While the third most costly item is your engagement ring, with the average groom shelling out £1,412 for his proposal.
With celebrity brides such as Coleen McLoughlin allegedly spending £100,000 on the wedding dress alone, grooms can be thankful that the average bride will spend just £977 on a frock. Add on top the price of cosmetic treatments, gym memberships, shoes, veil, lingerie, jewellery and accessories, and the total for making a bride look her best on the big day is £1,927.
You & Your Wedding's editor Colette Harris says: 'There's no doubt that big celebrity events inspire Britain's brides to think about creating unforgettable weddings where they can be the star for the day. The items on a bride's shopping list have definitely changed over the years and now more women than ever earn their own money, and choose to spend it on their dream dresses, that pair of Jimmy Choos or a fabulous hen weekend away.
'But let's not forget this is an average cost - and that means some people spend lots more and some people spend lots less - and you can have a fabulous, memorable day however much you choose to spend. We wouldn't encourage anyone to get into debt to ape a celebrity lifestyle, especially when many celebrities are given huge discounts or freebies in exchange for the publicity their weddings will bring. We say go your own way and create a day that's really personal to you.'
To read more about Coleen and Wayne's wedding preparations, click here
On a budget? Share money-saving ideas with other budget-conscious brides2b in our Best Buys Forum.
Need to keep track of your wedding finances? Our fab budgeter will do the sums for you, click here!
