UK Wedding Statistics 2026
Real data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Hitched 2026 Wedding Industry Report. Every figure on this page is sourced and cited — no made-up stats.
Last updated: April 2026
Average Wedding Cost
£21,990
Source: Hitched 2026 Report
Marriages in England & Wales (2023)
231,949
Source: ONS, Nov 2025
Most Popular Day
Saturday
41.9% of all marriages
Source: ONS 2023
Median Age (Women)
33.0 years
Men: 34.8 years
Source: ONS 2023
Average UK Wedding Cost Over Time
Based on the annual Hitched National Wedding Survey (2,000+ couples surveyed each year). The 2024 peak of £23,250 reflected high inflation; 2025 saw a 4% dip to £21,990 as couples opted for smaller, higher-quality celebrations.
Source: Hitched National Wedding Survey / 2026 Wedding Industry Report
Average Wedding Cost by Region
London weddings cost £24,662 on average — 12% above the national average of £21,990. The South East and East of England also sit above average.
Source: Hitched 2026 Wedding Industry Report
Wedding Cost Breakdown by Category
Where the money goes: venue hire is by far the biggest expense, accounting for nearly half the total budget. Based on the most recent detailed breakdown available (Hitched 2022 survey of 2,457 couples).
Source: Hitched National Wedding Survey 2022 (2,457 respondents)
Marriages & Civil Partnerships (ONS 2023)
Official data from the Office for National Statistics, published November 2025. There were 231,949 marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales in 2023 — an 8.6% decrease from 253,776 in 2022.
Partnership Types (2023)
Source: ONS, Marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales: 2023
Key ONS Findings
- 231,949 total marriages and civil partnerships in 2023 (down 8.6% from 2022)
- Opposite-sex marriages accounted for 93.5% of all legal partnerships
- The South East had the highest number of marriages (16.1% of all marriages)
- Saturday 2 September 2023 was the single most popular wedding date (3,227 marriages)
- August was the most popular month for weddings (14.3%)
- Median age at marriage: men 34.8 years, women 33.0 years — among the highest on record
- Men and women aged 30–34 had the highest number of marriages
- London was the most popular area for civil partnership formations (24.5%)
Source: ONS, published 18 November 2025
UK Wedding Industry at a Glance
Key industry figures from the Hitched survey and ONS data.
£272
Average cost per wedding guest (2025)
Source: Hitched 2026
61%
Couples who received family financial help
Source: Hitched 2026
10
Average number of vendors per wedding
Source: Hitched 2022/2023
47%
Couples who exceeded their initial budget (2022)
Source: Hitched 2022
81
Average number of wedding guests (2022)
Source: Hitched 2022
20 months
Average length of engagement
Source: Industry surveys
Data Sources & Methodology
All statistics on this page come from two primary sources:
- Office for National Statistics (ONS) — "Marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales: 2023", published 18 November 2025. This is accredited official statistics covering all legally registered marriages and civil partnerships. View on ONS →
- Hitched 2026 Wedding Industry Report — Survey of over 2,000 UK couples who married in 2025. Distributed via email and Hitched social channels. Previously known as the "National Wedding Survey". View on Hitched →
We do not fabricate or extrapolate statistics. Where specific years or survey editions are cited, we state the exact source and date. Cost figures from Hitched are survey-based and may not represent all UK weddings.
Ready to Start Planning?
Use our free tools to find trusted vendors, compare venues, and plan your budget — all in one place.
Are you a wedding vendor?
Get listed in our directory and reach thousands of couples planning their wedding.
Page sponsored by Propagate Media