How much have Brits spent attending weddings this summer?

Posted by Danielle Harvey on 9 November 2022

group of people taking a selfie We all love a wedding! After two years of covid and postponed big-days, 2022 was a bumper year for nuptials with more taking place than ever! The team at Fenwick has delved into the true cost of attending weddings that aren’t your own. Have you ever wondered how much the average person spends? By surveying 1,000 people, the study reveals how much Brits are spending on each wedding they attend.

graphic of wedding cake breaking down the spending habits per layer The average Brit spends £380 attending a wedding... and this is before buying a prosecco or two while you're there!
The average person will spend £380 on clothes, accommodation, travel, a wedding gift, hair and make-up per wedding that they go to. And, if you're attending on average two weddings a year, over ten years you could spend £7,600 on weddings that aren't your own.

The outfit: £82.53
According to the survey, the majority of women spend between £51-100 on their outfit for each wedding. The overall average spend on outfits is £82.53 per wedding which is split £92.65 for women and £73.17 for men. From dresses to jumpsuits, the options for wedding guest outfits are endless no matter the formality of the occasion.

Hair and make-up: £41.50
When it comes to hair and make-up, people are spending on average £41.50 per wedding. Although some prefer to seek the help of a professional, the abundance of hair and make-up tutorials on social media means people are now able to learn how to create intricate looks at home only needing to buy a couple of extra products.

A wedding gifts: £85.93
Choosing a wedding gift for the happy couple can be tricky, and whether you're going to buy a bottle of champagne, or something for their kitchen, knowing how much to spend can be a challenge. The survey reveals that the average person is spending £85.93 on a wedding gift. When breaking this down by UK city, Leeds is the most generous city in the UK spending £124.91 per wedding on a gift.

Travel and accommodation: £169.72
Some of the most beautiful wedding venues are in the middle of the British countryside, so can be a little remote. Travel and accommodation can make up quite a large proportion of the amount people spend per wedding. According to the findings, the average amount of money spent travelling to weddings is £75.99 per wedding. And, whether it's in the venue itself and sometimes it's a nearby hotel, accommodation is setting the average person back £93.73 per wedding attended.

Manchester has the highest overall spend at £553 per wedding, 167% more than the city of Norwich, who spends the least at £207.

graph of how much brits are happy to spend

If you're planning up your stag or hen celebration, keep the cost in mind. Fenwick's study revealed that Brits are happy to spend on average £143.50 on a stag or hen, with people aged between 25-34 willing to spend the most (£175.86) and half of Brits (50.7%) would refuse to attend an abroad hen or stag.