
Not so long ago, a couple would celebrate their nuptials with a glass of sherry and a ham sandwich, and it would all be over by mid-afternoon. Now, festivities can last all day and half of the night, while hen and stag dos are often multi-night breaks.
Little wonder, then, that the average cost of a UK wedding has almost doubled over the past decade, according to Compare Wedding Insurance, from £11,441 in 2012, to £21,725 by 2023.
A wedding list is now longer than Princess Diana’s train, and the expense mounts up faster than confetti on church steps. Costs are even more eye-watering on top of the current cost-of-living crisis. A 2022 survey on wedding site Hitched revealed that 59% of UK couples went over budget with their weddings. ‘Guest experience’ was their top priority, but with many still paying off student loans and saving for a house, is it bonkers to carry the cost of friends and family drinking fizz and generally having a hoot?
Some parents cringe at the amount of money their children are prepared to spend on a wedding, while others simply put the increase down to changing times. Either way, one thing’s certain: behind the woman saying ‘I do’, delicately dabbing their eyes before they ruin their make-up will be the mother of the bride.
Here, we talk to two women whose daughters did it their way.
THE HOMEMADE CELEBRATION Total cost: Under £9,000
Maxine Morgan, 56, helped her daughter Molly achieve the rustic wedding of her dreams.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 2024-Ausgabe von Woman & Home UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 2024-Ausgabe von Woman & Home UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN...You quit dairy
Your body might thank you, although your taste buds could struggle at first

Secret signs YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE
Could your body be showing the telltale hints of a hidden condition?

Tasty CHICKEN MAINS
Ramp up your weekend menu with our delicious ideas

Take control of JEALOUSY for GOOD
Does it sting when others have it all? Here's how to conquer the secret green-eyed monster lurking inside

They say NEVER WORK WITH ANIMALS...
From managing a rebel penguin to training cats for the big screen, furry, feathered colleagues can be somewhat unpredictable

Get ready to LIVE TO
It’s not just our minds and bodies that need to be prepped, it’s our bank balances too, says Faith Archer

In conversation with HEIDI PERKS
The thriller writer on how her fears influence her books and the joy of writing courses

Get back in SEXUAL SYNC
Having mismatched sex drives is very common – but help is at hand

'I've no intention of GROWING UP'
Stepping back from her show, following in the footsteps of Marian Keyes and embracing her new role as Granny Smith, Queen of Daytime and author Lorraine Kelly is entering a whole new chapter

MULTI gen LIVING Success or stress?
Kids, parents and grandparents all under one roof is on the rise, but it's not without complications, as Kim Willis explains