Wedding planning guides
The numbers, questions and scripts we wish every couple had before they booked anything. Written for weddings in the UK.
Money
How much does a wedding cost in the UK in 2026?
Realistic UK wedding costs for 2026: the true average, a full supplier-by-supplier breakdown, how guest count and region change the number, and where couples overspend.
Wedding budget breakdown: where the money actually goes
How to split a wedding budget by percentage, with worked examples at £15,000, £25,000 and £40,000, typical deposit schedules, and the contingency most couples forget.
Wedding insurance in the UK: what it covers and what it costs
What wedding insurance actually pays out for, what every policy excludes, typical UK prices by cover level, and the week you should buy it.
Venues
25 questions to ask a wedding venue before you book
The questions that surface hidden costs, curfews, supplier restrictions and cancellation traps before you sign a venue contract, grouped so you can bring them to a viewing.
12 wedding venue red flags to spot before you sign
Vague pricing, pressure tactics, buried curfews and one-sided contracts: the warning signs that a wedding venue will cost you more than the brochure says.
Planning
Wedding planning timeline: what to book and when
A month-by-month wedding planning timeline for the UK, from setting the budget 12 months out to giving notice at the register office and final supplier payments.
Giving notice for a wedding: how it works across the UK
The legal steps before you can marry in the UK: the 29 day rule in England and Wales, what giving notice costs, what to bring, and how Scotland and Northern Ireland differ.
How to cut your wedding guest list without falling out
Every guest costs £180 to £280, so the list is where budgets are won. A tier method that makes cuts consistent, rules for plus-ones and children, and scripts for the awkward conversations.
Suppliers
How to email wedding venues: templates that get replies
What to put in a venue enquiry so you get a real price back, copy-paste templates for first contact, pricing and viewings, and when to follow up.
20 questions to ask a wedding photographer before you book
The questions that separate a safe booking from an expensive gamble: full galleries, backup plans, insurance, image counts, delivery times and what happens if they fall ill.
Abroad
Getting married in Spain from the UK: cost, legal steps and timeline
What a Spain wedding costs a UK couple for 70 guests, why a civil ceremony needs Spanish residency, the Catholic and celebrant routes, and a 12-month timeline.
Getting married in Italy from the UK: cost, legal steps and timeline
A 70 guest wedding in Italy costs £28,000 to £60,000 in 2026. The CNI and apostille route to a legal comune ceremony, regional prices, and what guests pay.
Getting married in France from the UK: cost, legal steps and timeline
What a French château wedding costs for 80 guests in 2026, why most UK couples cannot marry at the mairie, the paperwork if you can, and a 12 to 18 month plan.