Budgeting for your wedding can appear a daunting task at first. Where does one begin? How much does everything typically cost? How much money do I have to work with?! While we have many blogs that will help you navigate this minefield, such as How to Set a Wedding Budget, 3 Tips to Avoid Overspending on Your Wedding, and How to Stick to Your Wedding Budget, finding vendors and handy tips to help keep the budget low are often tricky to come by.
We are aware everyone has different priorities when it comes to planning a wedding, so the average £30K wedding budget just doesn't suit the majority of couples. Luckily, the team at Guides for Brides have your back! From vendors to nifty money saving tips, we have the knowhow when it comes to planning a wedding under £20,000.
Ceremony Fees and Giving Notice
Budget depends on your preference and will range from £150 - 500.
In order for you to have a legally binding marriage or civil partnership ceremony, you'll need to account for giving notice and any ceremony fees. Giving notice is £35 per person and you'll need to do this at least 29 days in advance of saying "I Do".
If you are getting married in a church or wedding venue, ceremony fees are around £500, but will vary depending on where you are getting married. No matter what size of wedding you choose, you will still pay these ceremony fees.
If you are looking to save some money, there is an alternative option. You can get the legal bit sorted by having your ceremony in a Town Hall or Registry Office. You'll still need to give notice, but you'll find that having your legal ceremony mid-morning, in the middle of the week will be significantly less than the ceremony fees at a church or venue. We advise budgeting about £150-£200 in total if you are opting for this choice.
Venue and Catering
Image courtesy of Kemp & Kemp Catering
We recommend budgeting £8,500, plus approximately £400 for the ceremony fee.
As a general rule of thumb, we recommend that about 45% of your overall budget goes towards your venue and catering. The venue and catering tends to be the largest cost in a wedding, hence this budget recommendation.
With this budget, you can afford to look at stately homes as a potential wedding venue. This is a luxury you definitely wouldn't want to miss! Look out for deals in off-peak months in order to get a better deal on these locations.
With this budget, you will also be able to feed a larger guest list. If you have 60 guests for your wedding breakfast, this will give you a budget for approximately £31 a head. With this budget, it may also give you a cushion in case of additional costs that may spring up due to dietary requirements or additional last minute guests.
Top tip: welcome guests with a champagne cocktail. This will stretch the fizz further!
Ceremony fee: £400-£500. No matter what size your wedding, you will still be paying between £400-£500 for your ceremony fees. If you are having a civil ceremony then this will cover the cost of the registrar and the marriage licence.
Wedding Attire
We recommend budgeting approximately £3,000
Wedding Dress -
Your wedding gown can also be a considerably large cost for something you only wear once! Most bridal shops stock dresses between £900 and £2,000. With a budget of £20,000, this is something you can consider opting for. It is important that you leave aside some of this money in case of alterations. For some much-loved bridal boutiques, check out our Wedding Bridal Wear on the Guides for Brides website.
TDR Bridal - £895 and £1137
The appliquéd bodice, with detachable sleeves, complements a slim skirt. Above, a detachable soft net overskirt and beaded waistband lies elegantly on top of the dress to add extra drama.
This stunning dress is the perfect dress for that whimsical bride. Partnered with a sheer blouson that elegantly covers the bodice of the dress, springs of ivy trail over the fabric creating that perfect pop of detail.
Other highly recommended bridal boutiques we suggest checking out are Sophie Grace Bridal and Olivia George Bridal.
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen -
When choosing your bridesmaids and groomsmen, it is important to keep your wedding budget in the forefront of your mind. The bigger your bridal party, the bigger the cost. With a wedding budget of £20,000, having a total of 3 bridesmaids means a healthy budget of £100 per maid.
Coast - £99 £79.20
This stunning sage green midi dress is the perfect dress for a spring and summer wedding. With the cowl neck and embroidered flowers on the sheer material, this dress will no doubt compliment your wedding dress and make your bridesmaids look effortlessly elegant standing next to you.
Chi Chi London - £75
You can never go wrong with navy. The effortless cut and draped dress flatters any bridesmaid while the sweetheart bardot neckline adds a flirty touch.
However, you shouldn't feel restricted by the number of friends you want with you to celebrate your big day. Therefore, an alternative idea would be matching your bridesmaids dresses through a specific colour to match your wedding colour pallet. This will allow your bridesmaids to wear dresses they already own, thus cutting down costs! With mismatched bridesmaids dresses being a large and popular trend at the moment, this money saving hack will be very effective.
Hiring groomsmen's suits is a possible expense on a £20,000 budget. Renting a suit comes in at around £100, allowing your husband a total of 4 groomsmen with this budget.
Hair and Makeup -
When planning for a £20,000 wedding budget, hiring a professional hair and makeup artist is a luxury you can afford! When budgeting for this, it is important to take into account that you will want a trial or two before the big day. Leaving just enough money in the budget for this will be smart if you don't want to be surprised by additional costs!
Amazingly talented makeup artists are just a click away! For recommended hair and makeup artists, click this link!
Wedding Flowers and Decor
We recommend budgeting approximately £1,300.
In my opinion, wedding flowers adds a very special touch to the day. They photograph beautifully and makes any venue pop. We believe splurging on wedding florals with a budget of £20,000 is a good idea and we actively encourage it!
If you are willing to splash out a little more on florals we have you covered! Check out our florists on the Guides for Brides website for more details.
By deciding to do a bit of DIY when it comes to decorating your venue with florals, you will be able to make your budget stretch even further.
Wedding Cake
We recommend budgeting approximately £450.
The cutting of the cake can be a ceremonial and traditional moment of the wedding day. However, if a tradition feels like an unnecessary expense, do NOT feel pressured into complying with the crowd! A lot of couples are tending to swap out the traditional tiered wedding cake for something less formal, such as cupcakes or brownies! Not only are these sweet treats tasty but they are also considerably cheaper.
However if you love this tradition, you are not restricted by your budget! You can opt for an elegant and beautifully decorated 2 tiered wedding cake. This can add a significant moment to you wedding day that will result in a stunning photo opportunity.
In addition, you can always add artificial tiers to your cake by building some layers out of polystyrene and covering it in frosting. No one will know the difference!
For details on some brilliant cake vendors, click this link!
Wedding Photographer
We recommend budgeting approximately £2,200.
With a £20,000 wedding budget you have a lot of choice when it comes to picking your dream wedding photographer. For details on some talented photographers, clink this link!
With this budget you may seriously consider hiring a videographer for your wedding. Videographers have a brilliant way of capturing the most amazing moments of your day. This would be a modern and memorable addition to your list of wedding vendors. If you have spare money in your budget, we throughly encourage hiring a videographer. You will not regret it! For some recommended videography suppliers, click this link.
Music and Entertainment
We recommend budgeting approximately £1,500.
Having a live band at a wedding adds a unique touch to the day and something that you can consider with a budget of £20,000. To save money, hiring a live band for a few hours is the smart choice. A DJ can then entertain the guests once the band have left! For some music inspiration, click this link that will take you to some recommended bands and DJ's!
If a live band is not something that inspires you, a photo booth is also a great way of entertaining your guests throughout the evening. This will also be a great way of remembering your big day!
To carry on planning your wedding for under £20,000, use our Wedding Budget Calculator to help you prioritise your money and give you a rough guide on how much you should be spending on each supplier.
