Planning a wedding can be exciting, but it can also be expensive. And it’s not just couples who need to budget – guests can face significant costs too.
According to Bride Book the average cost of a wedding in the UK has decreased to £20,604 in 2026, from £20,822 in 2025.
To add to this guests can expect to pay around £278 per wedding, which equates to around 10% of the average monthly UK salary.
How to Keep Wedding Costs Down
There are several ways you can reduce the overall cost of a wedding:
- Consider a registry office wedding: A registry office wedding can be a more affordable alternative to a traditional ceremony and venue.
- Choose your date carefully: Midweek weddings outside the most popular summer months can help reduce costs.
- Keep your guest list manageable: Fewer guests can mean significant savings on catering, drinks and venue costs.
- Think about your venue: Pubs, restaurants and smaller venues may offer a more affordable alternative to traditional wedding venues.
- Plan ahead: Booking key suppliers early and comparing prices can help you find options that fit your budget.
Planning to Borrow?
If you’re a member of Harp & Crown Credit Union, we have a range of loan options available to help spread the cost of your wedding.
Many of our loan products are based on borrowing up to 5 times your savings balance, but you don’t always need pledged shares to borrow.
Our Signature Loan allows members to borrow between £5,000 and £15,000 at 9.9% APR without the usual initial requirement for 20% pledged shares. This could be an option for members with a smaller savings balance who need to borrow a larger amount.
For smaller amounts, our Flexi-Loan allows members to borrow between £500 and £3,000 at 9.5% APR with no pledged shares required.
*Ts/Cs apply.
Questions? Get in touch today!
- ONLINE BANKING APP **not yet registered? More detail HERE. You must contact us first to activate your online account.
- EMAIL creditunion@harpandcrown.co.uk
- CALL INTO OUR OFFICE at Newforge Sports Complex and Event Hub.
- OR PHONE 028 9068 5198.
The Harp and Crown Credit Union has been providing safe, ethical and flexible finances for the Police and wider Police family in Northern Ireland since 1998.
