9th August 2024
Gone are the days where the bride’s family are automatically expected to pay for a wedding, but with the average cost of a UK wedding now nearing £25,000 according to moneyhelper.org, it raises the question of whether parents should be helping with the cost.
Just over half of the parents surveyed last month are willing to help their children by making a contribution towards the wedding costs. Just 4% of parents intend to split the wedding costs equally between both sets of parents, without expecting the couple to contribute.
Another 16% of respondents take a more balanced approach, planning to split the cost equally between both sets of parents and the couple, while a further 16% believe that it’s entirely the couple’s responsibility to plan an event they can afford.
For the final 12% of respondents, financial assistance isn’t feasible, but these parents plan to support their children in other meaningful ways, such as helping with the planning or offering emotional and logistical support.
| Would you help your children with the cost of the wedding, or expect help from your parents? | Results |
We’d help our child with a contribution | 52% |
Yes, we plan to split the cost equally between both sets of parents and the couple | 16% |
No, it’s the couple’s responsibility to plan an event they can afford | 16% |
We can’t or won’t help financially, but we’ll support our child in other ways | 12% |
Yes, we plan to split the cost equally between both sets of parents | 4% |
This time we’re asking whether you’ve ever attempted a “no spend month”, let us know here.
*https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/blog/life-events/how-much-does-an-average-wedding-cost