Love is in the air here at WeddingDates HQ as we release our 2019 Ultimate UK Wedding Survey. Is your wedding following the latest trends? Check out some of our key findings below, you might be surprised…
Who did we hear from?
We surveyed 1,200 engaged people all over the UK about their upcoming nuptials, almost two-thirds of whom already had their Venue booked. The vast majority of them fell into the beautiful bride category (92%) aged 25-34. With 80% of these millennial brides in the middle of planning a 2019/2020 Wedding just 9% were still undecided.
When & Where will they say ‘I do’?
Spring Weddings topped the bill last year however this year we see May overtaking September as a favourite with British couples along with August. Saturday remains the most popular day to wed with a whopping 59% of respondents. Most people will still marry at home in the UK but those opting to marry abroad or elope is on the rise. Just over half will have a civil ceremony in a venue with less than a third having the traditional church wedding.
What’s the budget breakdown?
Some traditions still ring true with 65% telling us that their partner picked the ring – 43% will spend less than £2,000 on the bling! With 25% spending more than £15,000 on their wedding, most couples rely on their savings to pay for their big day. When it comes to splashing the cash, the Venue is in the no.1 spot for budget allocation followed Dress & Suits, Food & Drink and Video/Photography. This year we asked the per head cost for the venue and 34% said they’d be spending less than £50. UK Weddings are not as big in size as their Irish Cousins with 4 in 10 having less than 80 guests with evening invites being popular with over 80% of respondents.
What’s The verdict on venues?
Country Houses/Exclusive Use Venues have become more popular than Hotels this year taking a third of all bookings. The UK couple is also booking more Barn weddings and other more alternative venues. Venues certainly need to roll out the red carpet when the happy couple comes to call as 65% will visit just 3 venues or less before making their decision. The traditional sign down meal is still the favourite in the UK but 3 in 10 will do something different like a BBQ or Buffet. Half of the brides we spoke to describe their style as traditional or romantic. No wonder 31% of them will have giant letters and a candy cart! Check out our Infographic for some top facts!
Take a look at our infographic below and see if your wedding is following this year’s latest planning trends!
