While Pippa Middleton and James Matthews’s wedding featured exquisite detail, millennials are turning their backs on extravagance
The average wedding in 2016 reached an average of £27,000 outside London and £38,000 inside the capital, according to wedding planning site Bridebook. But some couples - millennials in particular - are only spending a fraction of that amount.
According to Priceline’s Bridal Season Travel Survey, 81% of millennials were not surprised by just how pricey weddings can be and need to spend months saving for the event, whether it’s their big day or a wedding they’re attending as a guest.
Online fashion retailer, Lyst, has revealed that the average cost of a wedding dress has fallen 25% year-on-year from £1,329 to £832, and according to insurer, Protect Your Bubble, engagement rings have also fallen to £1,080.
2017 has similarly seen high street stores emerging that offer off-the-peg gowns at a low cost, and online sales have posed a threat to bridal boutiques as women look for a cheaper alternative.
However, for many women, wedding dress shopping still remains a highlight of being engaged. So it’s not surprising that some brides-to-be are opting for DIY details to cut costs in order to afford the dress of their dreams from a specialist bridal store.
There are also, of course, brides who have the budget to begin with - or are having help to fund their wedding - and are more than willing to spend on their dream day. These are the brides who will walk in to a boutique happy to part with their cash in order to receive the excellent service and high quality products that bricks and mortar bridal boutiques are known for.