It is no secret that every detail of a wedding is maliciously planned and the finer the details, the higher the cost.
Luckily, Scotland has been named among the most affordable regions in the UK to plan a ceremony.
Last year, the average price of a UK wedding came to £17,300.
With an estimated 350,000 UK weddings due to take place this year, Forbes Advisor uncovered the regions in Great Britain which are the most expensive to wed.
Findings were concluded by analysing over 7,500 listings from UK wedding directory data.
Forbes awarded points to venues on factors including costs of venue hire, wedding planners, car hire, music hire, cake prices, menu prices, as well as florist costs.
Points were also awarded to costs of hair prices, with the locations scoring highest out of 100 coming out as the most expensive.
Most affordable UK wedding locations
North East England
Residents in the North East will be happy to know that with an overall cost score of just 27 out of 100, it is the cheapest region in Great Britain to get married.
Always wanted to get married in a castle? Newcastle Castle has got you covered, with space for up to 50 guests, you can enjoy an intimate event fit for royalty from just £750.
Durham’s stunning and world-leading university also doubles as a wedding venue for up to 200 guests.
It may come as no surprise that as the most affordable region, the North East has the lowest average pricing for car hire (£201), cake price (£98), florist hire (£57), and music hire (£450).
Scotland
Scotland is the second most affordable region, with a score of 38/100 for overall wedding costs.
For romance on a smaller scale, Winton is a Renaissance castle available in the Scottish countryside; a mere stones throw from the country's capital.
A smaller venue generally means smaller price tag, however, the menu price for this region came in at £76 the highest of all analysed.
Other supplier costs land at the lower end on the scale, with a wedding planner averaging at £593, music at £500, cars at £218, and cakes costing roughly £167.
Yorkshire and the Humber
The third most affordable region in Britain for wedding costs is Yorkshire and the Humber, with a score of 41/100.
Here, there are over nine possible locations to enjoy your countryside wedding and a starting price of just £495.
Car hire in this region averages at £241 and hiring music for the big day comes in at roughly £472.
The most expensive wedding location in the UK
London
It may come as no surprise that London is the region with the most expensive wedding costs with a score of 96 out of 100.
Wedding planners (£1,253) and wedding cakes (£227) in London are the most expensive of all the regions analysed.
The region scores highest in six of the eight data variables overall.
South East England
The second most expensive region to get married is the South East, with a score of 92/100.
Stately homes like the Georgian mansion at Hedsor House are a classic wedding go-to.
Starting at £5,950, it hosts 150 guests and boasts lavish gardens and luxury suites.
Venue hire in the area is on average £2,819. Wedding features such as menu price and florist supplies are on average £66 and £308, respectively.
How to cut wedding costs
For anyone looking to shave costs off their wedding, Forbes Advisor's Linda Howard has some top budgeting tips
Linda Explained: “According to a recent survey carried out by wedding planning website Hitched, the average bill for a wedding in the UK last year stood at a whacking £17,300.
“But, especially in light of the soaring cost of living, many couples will be unwilling or simply unable to spend anything like that amount.
"The good news is, there are many ways to cut the cost of a wedding without losing out.”
Reduce guest numbers
Howard said: "One of the most effective is to simply whittle down the number of guests. And the Covid pandemic – which essentially restricted guest numbers to just immediate family – has arguably made this job a lot easier.
"Just as remote working has prompted a shift in the way many employers view working from home, smaller ‘Covid-sized’ weddings have become much more acceptable.
"No longer is an ‘explanation’ required for not inviting your cousin’s children – or even your cousin for that matter."
Howard suggested opening out celebrations by organising a get together in a local pub for family and friends.
Ordering some finger foods and drinks 'on you' can hack thousands of pounds from your wedding bill.
Say no to the dress
Howard suggested: "Top-end brand new wedding dresses can literally cost hundreds of pounds an hour to wear. A pre-worn dress will cost considerably less and look no different – after all, it’s also only been worn once."
Go digital on invites
According to Howard, these days, e-mail invites are perfectly acceptable and better value for money than embossed hard copies.
Avoid expensive florists
Instead of forking out for a traditional wedding bouquet, Howard suggests gathering simple sprigs of wild flowers.
Go for volume of photographs
"The latest smartphones take fantastic pictures so, unless you are after more traditional staged wedding shots, asking your guests to share their own snaps after the event can form the basis of a perfect collage from different perspectives – all for free."
Ask for gifts you really need
If you are looking to plan a luxury honeymoon, "consider asking for vouchers towards it as a wedding gift," explained Howard
She argues that doing so is cost-effective and far more useful than a toaster or a dinner service.
Get a loan
Howard concluded: "If you can, it’s always best to avoid borrowing to fund what is essentially one day of your life.
"But if you do need some ready cash, a personal loan can provide a lump sum from £1,000 up to £25,000 or more.
"Interest rates and monthly repayments are fixed while repayment terms range between 12 months and seven years."
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