The standard UK wedding-party cost in 2026 is somewhere between £600 and £1,500, depending on who's organising the hen/stag and whether the dress is paid for. That's a meaningful chunk of money to spend on someone else's wedding - and it's one of the most common sources of group-chat awkwardness. Below is the honest breakdown of what you're typically committing to, plus the etiquette for the bits that are negotiable.
The dress or suit (£0-400)
Varies hugely. The most generous couples buy bridesmaid dresses outright (£0 to you). Most pick a colour or style and ask bridesmaids to source their own - typically £80-150 from Coast, Reformation, or ASOS Edition. The expensive end is bespoke or tailored (£250-400). Groomsmen rentals (Moss Bros, ASOS Marketplace) are £80-120; buying a suit you'll wear again is £150-300. Tactic: if you're going to buy, pick something you'd genuinely wear to other events.
The hen or stag (£150-800)
The biggest variable. A UK weekend in Brighton or Edinburgh is £150-300 per attendee. A European city break (Lisbon, Krakow, Budapest) is £300-500. A more extravagant trip (Ibiza villa, Marrakech) can run £600-800+. Bridesmaids and groomsmen typically also chip in for the bride or groom's share - which is fair, but should be flagged early. If you can't afford the proposed trip, the honest move is to say so in week one, not week four.
Hair, makeup, and the trials (£80-250)
Most bridesmaids end up paying for their own hair and makeup on the wedding day (~£80-150 for both, more in London). Some brides cover this; ask early. If there's a hair or makeup trial in advance (the trial is usually an evening at the bride's flat), that's another £40-80 you didn't see coming. Groomsmen typically dodge this entirely.
Gifts: from the wedding party (£100-300)
On top of your individual gift, wedding parties often pool a group gift for the couple - a piece of art, a honeymoon contribution, a custom photo book. £30-60 per person for a group gift of 4-6 wedding-party members lands somewhere generous. The maid of honour or best man typically coordinates; if you're the coordinator, set up a EvenRound group, log the receipts, and collect from everyone in one round.
Travel, hotel, day-of extras (£100-300)
Bridesmaids and groomsmen usually spend the night before the wedding at a venue hotel or nearby Airbnb - call it £100-150 per night. If the wedding is at a destination venue (a Welsh manor, a Scottish estate), there's the drive or train up the day before and the cab home. Plus the on-the-day extras every wedding guest pays. Budget £150 buffer.
Total realistic ranges
Local UK wedding, bride buys the dress, low-key hen in Brighton: ~£600 all-in. Mid-tier with self-paid bridesmaid dress and a Lisbon hen: ~£1,000. Destination wedding party with full bespoke and a long-haul stag: ~£1,500+. The honest pre-wedding conversation isn't 'how much will this cost' - it's 'here's roughly what each line item will be; flag now if anything's a stretch.' Most couples would much rather you said something in February than seethed about it in July.
Being in a wedding party is a meaningful commitment of both time and money. The cleanest pattern is: track everything in a EvenRound group from the moment you're asked, settle hen costs immediately after the trip, and have one honest conversation about anything you can't afford before it gets booked.
Common questions
Should the bride pay for the bridesmaids' dresses?
There's no rule. In the UK, the most common pattern in 2026 is the bride picks the style and the bridesmaids buy it themselves (£80-150). Generous couples buy outright; budget-conscious couples often offer to cover the most expensive bridesmaid's dress so nobody's priced out. The honest conversation happens in month one of planning, not month six.
Do bridesmaids and groomsmen pay for the bride's or groom's hen/stag share?
Yes, traditionally - the wedding party splits the bride or groom's costs equally between them, so the rest of the group covers their accommodation and activities. It's part of the role. If the proposed trip is so expensive that subsidising the bride or groom feels unmanageable, that's a flag for an earlier conversation with the maid of honour or best man.
How do I tell the bride the hen is too expensive without ruining the friendship?
Say it early, say it directly, and offer an alternative. 'I'm so excited to be a bridesmaid, but the Ibiza weekend is a stretch for me this year. Could we do a one-night UK trip instead, or is there a way I can join just the Saturday?' Most brides would rather know in week one than have a resentful bridesmaid in month six. Don't let it fester into a no-show.
What's a fair group gift from the bridal party?
£30-60 per wedding-party member is the typical range, pooled into one gift (a piece of art, a honeymoon contribution, a custom photo book). For a wedding party of 6, that's £180-360 - enough for something memorable without anyone feeling stretched. The maid of honour or best man usually coordinates; log it in a EvenRound group so collecting is one round, not a chasing exercise.