Planning your perfect wedding

Here's a big number for you: the UK wedding industry is estimated to be worth - wait for it - £5.5 billion a year. That covers everything from the buttonholes in your groom's outfit to the dream honeymoon on a paradise beach. PLANNING YOUR PERFECT WEDDING Check out our facts and figures to see where we're spending all this money and find out about the latest wedding trends. Planning a wedding online is the new black. Don't be behind the curve. Couples go online to tell everyone their wedding news - and they use budget tools, planning apps and message boards to plan the perfect day. Average cost for a wedding in 2011: (including the honeymoon) £15'000 Source: compareweddinginsurance.com 26% of couples use a department store to set up their wedding gift list The average wish-list adds up to £1470 Average cost of hiring a venue is Your guests would spend on average £53.00 on your wedding gift Trend lip Go GREEN, go seasonal. Look at the "what's in" flower round the way, and ask your florist for a seasonal bouquet. Sources: hitched-wife.co.uk, Hearst & uktv.co.uk (respectively) £2'529 Source: You and Your Wedding The sky is the limit when it comes to hiring out a venue. Remember that it's cheaper midweek, and July & August are the busiest months. If you're thinking of cutting costs, then thínk February or November. A basic CofE church wedding service in 2011 was £321.50. Bells and flowers are extra. (Source: yourchurchwedding.org) There were 266'950 marriages in the UK in 2009. We've done our sums, and we reckon that works out at over 700 weddings per day = 100 Source: ONS One good reason to start planning earl. Clever couples get to work around 15 months ahead of the big day. The best place to start? Find that venue!!! Source: Insights.co.uk Colour your wedding beautiful. And when it comes to themes, well - anything goes. Pink is the most popular colour when it comes to themes. Tuend Tip 15% Work those phones! Get your best man on Twitter to keep everyone up to date on the day, and ask them to upload their smartphone photos onto a photo-sharing site. 10% 7% Source: hitched-wife.org Let's talk about Stag and Hen nights. The following percentages indicate the amount of men and women spend their last nights of freedom abroad rather than the UK. L 4% 11% Source: Hearst Men - Women Looking for the perfect dress? Brides-to-be visit (on average) 4 boutiques before they find it. Source: Hearst And they spend an average of 700 on the dream gown. * And ladies.when looking for a dress, lace is the way to go in 2012. Trend Tip * Source: weddingguideuk.com Kate Middleton famously did her own make-up, but UK brides take no chances. How many people will see you get hitched? The average number of guests is. |= 10 Two-thirds hire professional beauty experts for their big day. 96 and the younger you are, the more people you're likely to invite. But wait for it.the average age of a bride now is 30 and rising Source: Hearst Source: telegraph.co.uk Move closer, because romance still tops the charts. Why do we think this? Because the most popular songs for the first dance are: We've Only Just Begun- The Carpenters Unforgettable - Nat King Cole You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack The Way You Look Tonight– Frank Sinatra Source: iTunes Trend Tip Use facebook to tell everyone you're getting married, and watch the comments pour in. Now let's talk about after the big day. Share the joy - and the woes, then your Over 36% of honeymoons are romantic beach giveaways recently married friends will pile to share their tips. Source: hitched-wife.org And where do all those newly weds fly to? Here are the top honeymoon destinations in 2011 (Courtesy of Kuoni): Trend Tip Worried that your supplier may hit the wall? What if you're taken ill on the day? Take the worry out of your wedding and INSURE IT. Peace of mind doesn't cost a fortune. 47% of couples take out wedding insurance, paying an average premium of £51.55. 1) The Maldives; 2) Sri Lanka; 3) Thailand; 4) Kenya; 5) United Arab Emirates And the average spend on a honeymoon in 2011? £4'063 (Source: travel.aol.co.uk) Source: compareweddinginsurance.org.uk BRIDE Sources www.compareweddinginsurance.co.uk www.insights.org.uk www.hitched-wife.org www.telegraph.co.uk www.itunes.apple.com www.hearst.com www.uktv.co.uk www.weddingguideuk.com www.ons.gov.uk Plan your perfect wedding day www.kuoni.co.uk www.travel.aol.co.uk Bride Book, is a wedding planning website which is easy to úse and fun. your guest list, a qunt and create t,list. seating plan Create a free and lots more. Bride book even ches Infographic designed by Jon Glanville www.jonglanvilledesign.co.uk you with businesses based on your budget and wedding day Get planningl www.bridebook.co.uk