WEDDING COSTS GENDER GAP: WHO SPENDS THE MOST?
Wedding planning has a funny habit of turning every little purchase into another line on the spreadsheet.
The groom’s suit. The shoes. The bride’s wedding dress. The beauty appointments. The accessories. The gifts. And, of course, that one purchase that makes almost everything else look relatively reasonable: the engagement ring.
But who actually spends more getting ready for the big day? We’ve crunched the numbers to compare the average UK costs for brides and grooms…and the results aren't quite as straightforward as you might expect.
Who bears the brunt when it comes to average wedding costs?
According to our research, brides spend an average of £5,506 across the wedding-related items analysed, compared with £4,795 for grooms. That's a difference of £711, with brides spending around 14.8% more overall.
But here's the twist: the groom has the biggest individual expense.
The average engagement ring comes in at £2,250, while the bride's wedding dress averages £1,750. So, before we've even got to the wedding day itself, there's already an interesting difference in how the money is being spent.
And when you take the engagement ring out of the equation, the groom's total drops to just £2,545.
So, what's really driving the difference?
Here's where things get interesting. The groom's spending is much more concentrated. The research covers 18 individual costs, compared with 30 for the bride.
What about the cost of a groom wedding suit?
While the engagement ring takes the top spot at an average of £2,250, the groom’s wedding suit is the biggest personal expense once the ring is out of the picture.
Our research reveals the average three-piece wedding suit costs around £800 on average, though House of Cavani’s men’s wedding suit collections include a vast selection of budget-friendly options in a variety of styles, designs, cuts and colours to match your preferences and the theme of the day. This is followed by:
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It's a useful reminder that the groom's outfit isn't simply a case of buying a suit and calling it a day. Once you've added the shirt, shoes, tailoring and accessories, the cost of creating a complete wedding look can quickly climb.
If you're looking for the main event, check out our three-piece wedding suit collection. A three-piece suit gives you the jacket, waistcoat, and trousers as one coordinated look. It’s ideal if you want to look sharp without having to overthink every individual element.
The bride's wedding costs: Lots of extras add up
It's easy to look at the £1,750 average wedding dress price and assume that's where most of the bride's spending goes. But the dress is just the beginning.
Our research covers 30 separate bride-related average costs, ranging from major purchases to smaller finishing touches. Alongside the dress, some of the biggest expenses include:
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And then there are all those smaller purchases that can be surprisingly easy to overlook. A veil costs an average of £80, while hair and makeup trials each come in at £75. There's also an average of £50 for a handbag or clutch, £40 for bridal underwear, £35 for tanning, £30 for hair accessories, £29 for a manicure and £26 for a pedicure.
None of these expenses rival a wedding dress on its own. But add enough of them together and suddenly that wedding budget is looking rather different.
The £800 groom wedding suit: Is it really worth it?
Splashing out £800 on a wedding suit sounds like a serious investment for something you'll wear for one day. But there's a bigger question worth asking: Does your wedding suit really have to be a one-day outfit?
A well-chosen wedding suit can earn its place in your wardrobe long after the confetti has been swept away. Think future weddings, race days, formal dinners, Christmas parties, milestone birthdays and those occasions when a smart suit is simply the right answer.
And unlike some wedding purchases, there's plenty of opportunity to make a suit feel like you.
Prefer classic and understated? Navy, grey or black suits are safe bets.
Want something with more personality? Tweed, checks, sage, beige and richer tones can make a statement without looking out of place at a wedding.
There are many ways to repurpose your three-piece wedding suit for everyday use, so you get maximum value for your investment. Our men’s wedding suit collection includes options for grooms, best men and guests, from classic formal styles to contemporary colours.
Additional wedding costs: Getting the suit fit right
The suit itself is only part of the equation. Our research puts the average cost of tailoring or alterations at £100 for the groom. And while it might be tempting to save money here, fit is one area where cutting corners can make a noticeable difference.
A suit that fits properly will sit better across the shoulders, fall more cleanly through the trousers and generally look more polished.
For the groom, this is especially important. You'll be photographed from every possible angle on your wedding day, often while standing, sitting, dancing and being hugged by relatives you've never met before.
So yes, fit really matters. Luckily, respected wedding suit outlets usually offer a bespoke, made-to-measure service, giving you the opportunity to create a suit around your preferred fit, fabric and styling.
Accessories can make a big difference
Once you've chosen the suit, it's time for the fun part. Wedding accessories might not be the biggest expense on the list, but they're one of the easiest ways to personalise a wedding outfit.
The research puts the average cost of a tie or cravat and pocket square at £30 each, while cufflinks average £35. That might not sound like much next to a £2,250 ring, but the right accessories can completely change the feel of a suit.
A simple navy three-piece suit can look traditional with a crisp white shirt and classic tie. Switch the tie for something bolder, add a patterned pocket square or introduce a different colour and you've got a completely different look.
Include footwear in your wedding costs
Wedding footwear is another area where the groom actually comes out ahead of the bride in our research. The average groom spends around £150 on wedding shoes, compared with £120 for the bride.
And there's a good reason not to treat them as an afterthought. Your wedding shoes need to work with the colour and style of your suit but ideally, they're also something you'll want to wear again.
Classic black or brown leather can work beautifully with traditional suits, while loafers and more contemporary styles can give a modern wedding look a little extra personality.
Brides spend more on wedding costs, but grooms don’t get off lightly
So, after all that, who wins the wedding spending battle? Well… it depends how you look at it. The difference is really about how the money is spent.
For brides, the costs are spread across 30 different purchases. For grooms, spending is concentrated around a handful of bigger-ticket items, particularly the engagement ring and wedding outfit.
That said, there are a few areas where they're perfectly matched, with both spending an average of £400 on teeth whitening, plus £125 each towards bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts. So perhaps wedding spending isn't quite the battle of the sexes after all.
The groom's wedding outfit: where should you spend?
If you're trying to keep the wedding budget under control, the groom's outfit is an area where it's worth thinking beyond the initial price tag.
Instead of asking simply, “How much should I spend on a wedding suit?”, think about:
Will I wear it again?
A versatile suit can become part of your wider wardrobe rather than being confined to the back of the wardrobe after the big day.
Does it fit properly?
A great suit that doesn't fit well won't look great in photographs. Factor alterations or tailoring into your budget.
Can I personalise it?
Your suit doesn't have to look like every other groom's. Think about colour, fabric, waistcoat, tie, pocket square and shoes.
Does it work with the wedding party?
Your outfit should complement the overall wedding style without making you look like you've wandered into someone else's ceremony.
Are the accessories doing enough?
The details matter. A pocket square, cufflinks, tie and shoes can take a good suit and turn it into a properly finished wedding look.
For grooms who want something more personal, House of Cavani also offers custom-made services at selected flagship stores, giving you the opportunity to create a suit around your preferred fit, fabric and styling.
Ultimately, there's no clear winner in the wedding costs gender stakes: brides spend more overall, but grooms have the biggest single expense.
The bride's £5,506 total is built from dozens of purchases, from the dress and beauty treatments to shoes, accessories and all those little finishing touches.
The groom's £4,795 is much more concentrated, with the engagement ring making up almost half the total and the wedding outfit accounting for another significant chunk.
But perhaps the most useful takeaway for grooms is this: your wedding suit is one of the biggest purchases you'll make for the big day, so make it count.
Choose a style you genuinely love, get the fit right and invest in the details. But, most importantly, pick something you'll be happy to wear again. After all, the wedding might last a day. Your suit doesn't have to.
Need some men’s wedding suit inspiration?
Our guide to the best wedding suits for the groom covers everything from classic tuxedos and statement styles to accessories and footwear.
Want something that's completely your own? Our custom custom-made service lets you create a suit tailored to your individual style, fit and proportions.