Weddings

SAVILLS INSIGHT

“In 2024, wedding venues faced challenges in securing new sales. Venues we work with across the UK reported lower sales figures compared to targets and the previous year. This decline is attributed to the lingering effects of Covid-19 on new relationships, causing fewer engagements. This is likely to be a short-term challenge, and 2025 has started stronger in terms of new sales.

“Venues are facing rising costs along with concerns about sales performance. The Consumer Price Index reports a 13% increase in the cost of alcoholic beverages and an 18% rise in food prices since 2022. In an industry with event pricing set years in advance, it is crucial to adapt pricing strategies to future cost increases. With recent changes in National Insurance and the minimum wage, we have assisted venues in reforecasting and adjusting their pricing. Simple annual price hikes of 3–5% are not sufficient.

“Sadly, some well-established operators have ceased trading recently. However, the wedding venue sector remains resilient and adaptable. Many venues are creating new income streams by offering pop-up festivals, wellness retreats and ticketed events such as seasonal parties or live sports broadcasts. It is crucial for venues to ensure they have the necessary permissions, licensing and insurance for these activities.”

Industry Insight

“In 2024, we continued to see the impact of a general lack of consumer confidence on forward bookings. Whilst there is always variation by venue, booking volumes across the industry were down, and we needed to work smarter and harder to maintain our forward order book.

“In 2025, we are not predicting a return to pre-pandemic levels of consumer spend – but at Artemis, we feel very positive and excited about the future. The market is competitive, but discounting to maintain market share is a race to the bottom. It’s about offering excellence across every element of the customer experience and being able to articulate those strengths to prospective couples. We want to help our couples create truly memorable weddings by adding value at every stage of the day. Our aim is for all our customers, our wedding couples and also their guests, to enjoy the best possible experience; positive word of mouth remains the most valuable marketing asset for wedding venues.”

Angus Hastie, Executive Chairman, Artemis

2024 IN NUMBERS

Communication

• 34% of engaged couples are Gen Z.⁵
  
• Venues must adapt their communication style when liaising with couples who have grown up with mobiles, apps and social media. Interestingly, this generation is most likely to desire genuine, unplugged weddings.
• 46% of couples now use Instagram to research venues.⁵
  
• Venues must ensure a strong online and social media presence by creating an engaging website and digital brochure.

Product

• Price, exclusive use and on-site accommodation continue to be the most popular search requirements.
• The importance of good food and drink is increasing when selecting a venue, and 20% of weddings now feature a signature cocktail.⁴
  
• Nearly 21% of Gen Z couples will include pets on their guest list, and around a third are planning multi-day weddings.⁵

Pricing

• The average total cost of weddings has increased, with Bridebook reporting it to be £20,822 and Hitched reporting £23,250 – which is a 12% increase compared to last year.
• The average venue cost has risen and is now between £9,000 and £11,000.⁵
  
• Couples expect clear and easily accessible pricing to be available online. According to Bridebook, three out of five couples will not contact a venue that does not share its pricing.

Seasonality

• While the ‘Summer Saturday’ is still a popular choice, engaged couples are now considering a wider range of options for their wedding day. According to Bridebook, 51% of weddings occur on a Saturday, 25% between Monday and Thursday and 15% on Friday.
• August continues to be the most popular month for weddings, followed by September and then October.

⁴Hitched 2025 Report, ⁵Bridebook 2025 Report

_{Read the articles within Spotlight: Tourism, leisure and events market below.}