Cost of engagement in the UK reaches £3k, research reveals

Weddings may have been put on hold for the past few months due to the coronavirus epidemic, but that hasn’t stopped couples getting engaged.

Ten years ago an engagement would have been just a proposal and a ring, but the pressures of social media and over-the-top celebrity celebrations have changed this, meaning expectations of brides and grooms are now a lot higher.

Photography platform, the Shoot, looked at a number of service providers for engagement rings, photographers and party venues - which revealed that the average cost of an engagement in the UK is £3,104.68.

The main focus of an engagement is of course the ring, with the average cost of an engagement ring is £1,458.83. The ‘three months salary’ used to be the rule of thumb when it came to budgeting for a ring, however people have become more wary of splurging on a ring and the jewellery market has become more competitive, so price ranges have diversified.

Platforms like Instagram have played a significant role in the boom of engagement photoshoots, with couples wanting professional-grade and high-quality shots to share on social media - however this will set you back an average of £125 per hour.

Social media has also turned engagement parties into more extravagant affairs, with venue hire for 50 guests, catering equipment and alcohol costing an average of £1,520.75.

Fiona MacDougall, co-founder of the Shoot said: “Our research has shown that people are now spending more money than ever to make sure they have the perfect engagement and the photos to match.

"We have seen a definite increase in the number of bookings for surprise proposal photoshoots in London. With customers travelling near and far for that picture-perfect moment, it's no surprise that the cost of an engagement is increasing as a result.”