Wedding Season Costs: Save for Your Wedding & Guest Expenses

Part 1: Saving for Your Own Wedding 💒

Summer is wedding season, and while the photos and celebrations are beautiful, the price tags can be jaw-dropping:

• Average UK wedding: ~£25,000
• Average Indian wedding in the UK: £60,000–£150,000

That’s a huge disparity, and a reminder that your financial planning needs to be personal to you. What feels manageable for one couple may not be realistic for another. That’s where Aila Money comes in — helping you map out your life goals, costs, and savings plans personalised, not the average!

Top 3 Things to Do When Saving for a Wedding:

1. Set Your Baseline Budget 📝: Decide what matters most (venue, guest list, dress, food). Everything else comes second.
2. Automate Savings 💷: Set up a direct debit into a dedicated “Wedding Fund” account each month.
3. Match Timeline to Goals ⏳: If you want a £20k wedding in 2 years, that’s £833/month. Knowing your “monthly cost” keeps things realistic....Need help with this, the Aila Money App helps you do this!

Who Pays? Parents vs Self-Funding

Traditionally, parents often contributed significantly to wedding costs. Today, many couples are choosing to self-fund as people are getting married at an older age and also to maintain control and flexibility. Some still receive parental support, but rising costs mean it’s rarely enough to cover the full bill.

Self-Funding?

💡 Start Early! You don’t need to wait until you’re engaged to start saving. Weddings are a life goal you can prepare for years in advance. In fact, our founder Nitika opened a S&S ISA labelled her "wedding fund" back in 2010, knowing she would be self-funding when the day eventually came and the cost of the type of wedding she might want! (As it happens, her wedding S&S ISA has done far better than her search for a partner! )... but that’s the beauty of long-term planning. It gives you flexibility, confidence, and peace of mind when the big day eventually comes. 💛

Best Accounts for Wedding Savings:

• Cash ISA: If the wedding is upcoming soon. Allows tax-free up to £20k a year (this amount maybe reduced in Autumn Budget 2025)
• S&S ISA: If the wedding is a while away, it allows the money to be invested and grow further whilst being able to take short term market drops. Allows tax-free up to £20k a year)
• High-Interest Savings Accounts: Shop around for the best fixed-term or easy-access accounts.

Part 2: The Cost of Being a Guest 👗🎁

Weddings aren’t just expensive for the couple... guests feel the pinch too:

• Average cost to attend a UK wedding: ~£450 (outfit, travel, accommodation, gifts).
• Average cost of a UK Hen/Stag do: ~£780
• Multiple weddings in one year: Often weddings come in burst, with multiple in one year.

Have you ever thought about the amount you need to budget to attend others weddings?

3 Ways to Reduce Costs as a Guest:

1. Plan Ahead🗓️: Allocate expected expenses per wedding and ensure you budget this into your year. Book trains/hotels early or share transport with friends.
2. Gift Smart 🎁: Group up for a meaningful joint gift instead of overspending solo.
3. Wardrobe Strategy 👗: Re-wear, re-mix, or rent outfits... accessories change the look without doubling costs.

💡 Remember: It’s also completely okay to say no. Your friends want you to be part of their big day, but not at the expense of your financial wellbeing. If attending stretches you too thin, explore cheaper options (like joining just the ceremony, or sending a thoughtful but budget-friendly gift). Protecting your finances doesn’t make you a bad friend - it makes you a responsible one.

Time to Toast... 🥂

Whether you’re planning your own big day or attending someone else’s, weddings are a reminder that big financial milestones need personal financial planning. With the right tools and habits, you can celebrate love without financial stress.

💛 Ready to plan for your next life milestone? Explore how Aila Money can help you with your goals.

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