A wedding is a celebration, but it is also a bill — and for families planning a UK or USA wedding, the bill can look very different on either side of the Atlantic. Guest lists, venues, food, clothes, and family expectations all shape the final number, and Pakistani and South Asian weddings often add extra events: the mehndi, the baraat, the walima, and sometimes several days of celebrations. Before you set a date, it helps to know what weddings actually cost in each country, where the money goes, and how to plan without starting married life in debt.
The figures in this guide are averages from large wedding surveys, and they are labelled as approximate. An average is not a price quote and not a target — it is a starting point for your own budget. Your wedding may cost far less, or far more, depending on your guest list, your city, and your choices.
What Does a Wedding Cost on Average?
In the UK, the Hitched 2026 Wedding Industry Report — based on a survey of 2,020 couples who married in 2025 — puts the average wedding at £21,990, with an average cost of £272 per guest. That figure covers the venue, food, outfits, décor, photography, entertainment, stationery, and transport, but excludes the honeymoon. A separate UK survey by Bridebook, covering more than 7,000 couples, gives a slightly lower average of £20,604. The range between the two surveys tells you something useful: the “average” depends on who was asked, so treat these numbers as a guide, not a fixed price.
In the USA, The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study — based on 10,474 couples who married in 2025 — puts the average wedding at $34,000 for the ceremony and reception, with a median of $24,000 and an average of $292 per guest. The gap between the average and the median matters: a small number of very expensive weddings pulls the average up, so the typical wedding cost less than the headline figure. The same study found that weddings with 1–50 guests averaged $17,100, those with 51–100 guests averaged $27,200, and those with more than 100 guests averaged $43,300. Location matters enormously too: the study puts New Jersey at around $57,000 and Utah at around $18,000.
You cannot compare £21,990 with $34,000 directly without thinking about what each figure includes and what life costs in each country. But the pattern is clear: American weddings, on average, cost more in cash terms — partly because guest lists are often larger, venues are pricier in major cities, and the wedding industry is bigger. British weddings are, on average, smaller and less expensive, though London weddings can cost far more than the national average.
Where the Money Goes
In both countries, the same three things eat most of the budget: the venue, the food, and the guest list. Everything else — photography, clothes, décor, music — matters, but it is the number of guests that moves the total more than any single supplier.
A useful way to think about it is cost per guest. In the UK, Hitched reports about £272 per guest; in the USA, The Knot reports about $292 per guest. That means every ten extra guests add roughly £2,700 in the UK or $2,900 in the USA. For South Asian families, where guest lists can run to several hundred people, this is the single most important number in the whole budget. Cutting the list by fifty people can save more than any amount of bargain-hunting on décor.
The venue is usually the largest single cost. In the UK, popular venues — hotels, country houses, and banqueting halls — often charge per person for food and drink, with a minimum guest number. In the USA, venues often charge a rental fee plus catering per person, and the total varies hugely by state. A banqueting hall in Birmingham and a hotel ballroom in New Jersey are not the same purchase, even if they look similar in photographs.
Food is where cultural expectations add cost. A South Asian wedding menu — with multiple dishes, live cooking stations, desserts, and late-night food — costs more per person than a standard three-course meal. In both countries, catering for 300 guests at a South Asian wedding is a major line in the budget, and it is worth getting detailed quotes from at least three caterers before you commit.
The Extra Events: Mehndi, Baraat, and Walima
A Pakistani wedding is rarely one event. The mehndi, the baraat, the nikah, and the walima each carry their own costs — venue, food, outfits, décor, music, and photography — and together they can double the cost of a single-day wedding. This is true in both the UK and the USA, but the way families handle it differs.
In the UK, many families hold the mehndi at home or in a community hall, which keeps costs down, and put the main spending into the baraat and walima. In the USA, where homes and halls are often further apart and venues are pricier, families sometimes combine events — for example, holding the mehndi and nikah on the same weekend at one venue — to save on hire and catering. Neither approach is right or wrong; the point is to plan the whole set of events as one budget, not to budget for the main day and then be surprised by the rest.
Clothing is another cost that adds up across events. A bride may need separate outfits for the mehndi, baraat, and walima, and outfits bought in Pakistan are often far cheaper than the same work bought abroad. Many families buy outfits during a trip to Pakistan, or order from trusted tailors there — a sensible saving, as long as you allow enough time for delivery and fitting.
UK Wedding Costs in More Detail
The UK average of £21,990 hides a wide range. Hitched’s survey found that a quarter of couples married for £10,000 or less, while weddings in London averaged around £35,500. The difference is mostly location and guest numbers: a weekday wedding in a northern city with 80 guests can cost a fraction of a Saturday wedding in London with 300 guests.
The legal minimum in the UK is small. Giving notice of marriage at a register office costs £46.50 per person (or £63 if subject to immigration control, according to local council fee lists), and a basic register office ceremony is inexpensive. A couple could marry legally for a few hundred pounds. Everything above that is celebration, not law — which is a helpful thought when the budget starts to grow. For the legal steps, see our guide to Marriage Registration in the UK and USA.
If you are planning a UK wedding, our UK Wedding Planning Guide walks through the timeline, suppliers, and family expectations in detail.
USA Wedding Costs in More Detail
The USA average of $34,000 also hides a wide range. The Knot’s study found the middle half of couples spent between $12,000 and $41,000, and the median of $24,000 is a better guide to a typical wedding than the average. Small weddings are common and affordable: couples with 1–50 guests averaged $17,100. Large weddings are where the numbers climb steeply, with more than 100 guests averaging $43,300.
The legal minimum in the USA is also small. A marriage licence from the county clerk typically costs between $35 and $150 depending on the state and county, and a courthouse ceremony is inexpensive. As in the UK, everything above that is celebration. The licence rules vary by state — some states have a waiting period of one to three days, and licences usually expire within 30 to 90 days — so check your county clerk’s office before you plan. Our USA Wedding Planning Guide covers the American side in detail.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| UK (approximate) | USA (approximate) | |
|---|---|---|
| Average wedding cost | £21,990 (Hitched, 2025 weddings) | $34,000 (The Knot, 2025 weddings) |
| Median wedding cost | Not published in the same way; a quarter of couples spent £10,000 or less | $24,000 |
| Average cost per guest | £272 | $292 |
| Small wedding (under 50 guests) | Often under £10,000 | Around $17,100 on average |
| Large wedding (100+ guests) | Varies widely; London averages £35,500 | Around $43,300 on average |
| Marriage licence / notice | Notice fee £46.50 per person | Licence typically $35–$150 |
| Honeymoon | Excluded from the averages above | Excluded from the averages above |
These are survey averages, not quotes. Your own costs will depend on your city, your guest list, and your choices.
How to Keep Costs Under Control
First, fix the guest list before you book anything. Every supplier quote depends on it, and it is far easier to agree the list early than to cut people after invitations have gone out. Be honest with both families about the number you can afford.
Second, consider a weekday or off-peak date. Venues and suppliers in both countries often charge much less on a weekday or outside the summer season. A Thursday wedding can cost far less than a Saturday one, and your guests will still come.
Third, get at least three written quotes for the venue, catering, and photography. Prices for the same service can vary by thousands, and a written quote lets you compare properly. Do not pay a large deposit until you have read the contract, checked what is included, and confirmed the cancellation terms.
Fourth, decide what matters most to your family and spend there. If food is the heart of your celebration, spend on the caterer and save on décor. If photography matters most, hire the photographer you love and simplify the flowers. A wedding where the family chose its priorities feels better than one where money was spread thinly everywhere.
Fifth, plan the visa and travel costs separately from the wedding budget. If one partner is travelling from Pakistan, flights, the visa fee, and the first months of settling are real costs that should not be hidden inside the wedding budget. The UK spouse visa fee is £2,064 plus the health surcharge; the USA CR-1 route costs roughly $1,355 in government fees. Check the official website for the current requirement, and read our visa comparison in UK Spouse Visa vs USA CR-1.
Common Mistakes Families Make
The most common mistake is booking the venue before agreeing the budget. A beautiful hall with a minimum spend can lock a family into a guest list and a catering bill they cannot afford. Agree the total budget first, then find a venue that fits it — not the other way around.
Another mistake is forgetting the small costs. Outfits for several events, travel for relatives, gifts, mehndi artists, dhol players, photography for each event, and tips all add up. Keep a list of every cost, however small, and add ten per cent as a buffer for surprises.
A third mistake is borrowing to pay for the wedding. A wedding is one day; debt can last years. If the budget does not stretch to the wedding you imagined, a smaller celebration with the people who matter most is a better start to a marriage than a large one paid for on credit. Your guests will remember the warmth, not the price of the centrepieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an average wedding cost in the UK?
According to Hitched’s 2026 report, based on 2,020 couples who married in 2025, the average UK wedding costs £21,990, or about £272 per guest, excluding the honeymoon. A quarter of couples spent £10,000 or less, and London weddings averaged around £35,500. Treat these as approximate guides, not quotes.
How much does an average wedding cost in the USA?
According to The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study, based on 10,474 couples who married in 2025, the average US wedding costs $34,000 for the ceremony and reception, with a median of $24,000 and about $292 per guest. Small weddings averaged $17,100 and large weddings averaged $43,300.
Which is cheaper, a UK or a USA wedding?
On average, UK weddings cost less than USA weddings in cash terms, but the difference depends on the city and the guest list. A large wedding in London can cost more than a small wedding in Texas. Compare costs for your specific city and guest numbers, not the national averages alone.
What is the biggest cost in a wedding?
The venue and catering, driven by the guest list, are usually the biggest costs in both countries. At roughly £272 per guest in the UK and $292 per guest in the USA, every extra ten guests adds thousands to the total. Fix the guest list before booking anything.
How much does a marriage licence or notice cost?
In the UK, giving notice of marriage costs £46.50 per person at the register office. In the USA, a marriage licence from the county clerk typically costs between $35 and $150 depending on the state and county. The legal cost is small; the celebration is where the money goes.
How can South Asian families save on wedding costs?
Hold the mehndi at home or in a community hall, consider a weekday or off-peak date, combine events where it suits your family, buy outfits in Pakistan where they are often cheaper, and get three written quotes for every major supplier. Above all, agree the guest list and the total budget before booking the venue.
Conclusion
Weddings in the UK and the USA both cost real money, and the averages — about £21,990 in the UK and $34,000 in the USA — are only a starting point. What matters is your guest list, your city, and the choices your family makes together. Plan the whole celebration, including the mehndi, baraat, and walima, as one budget. Get written quotes, agree the guest list early, and do not borrow for a single day.
A wedding is the beginning of a marriage, not the measure of it. The families who enjoy their weddings most are rarely the ones who spent the most — they are the ones who planned honestly, chose what mattered, and celebrated without starting married life in debt. For help with the wider picture, read our guide to UK vs USA Rishta: Which Is Better for Your Family? and our planning guides for UK weddings and USA weddings.
