More Australian couples are opting for registry weddings to avoid the soaring costs of traditional ceremonies, with the average wedding now costing £17,500 (AU$35,315) in 2025, according to industry directory Easy Weddings. The number of weddings performed by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages surged 32% from 2,500 in 2023 to 3,306 in 2024, following an 87% increase between 2021 and 2024.
Registry offices are adapting to demand by offering themed services, such as Halloween weddings. Sydney couple Liana and Tim, who did not want their surnames published, will marry at the NSW registry on 31 October, with the groom wearing Dracula fangs. Their registry ceremony and lunch for 20 guests will cost around £1,500 (AU$3,000), a fraction of the national average. The couple budgeted £25,000 (AU$50,000) for their wedding and are on track to spend £23,500 (AU$47,000) across two days, with the main celebration for 110 guests accounting for most of the cost.
Easy Weddings' 2025 survey of 4,200 couples found that two-thirds received financial help from family and friends, and 90% preferred cash gifts over traditional presents. Venue hire was the biggest expense at an average of £8,000 (AU$15,987), followed by catering at £3,150 (AU$6,308), photography at £1,695 (AU$3,389), and videography at £1,490 (AU$2,977). The average wedding cake cost £325 (AU$650), but many couples are skipping dessert or opting for alternatives like tiramisu towers.
In Victoria, the government is the largest wedding provider, with 4,566 ceremonies in 2023 and 3,634 in 2024. Queensland's registry, offering weekday weddings for £200 (AU$397.20), married 2,243 couples last year. A complete registry wedding in NSW can cost as little as £240 (AU$480).
Despite the trend, some couples still spend heavily. Sydney bride Lara, who did not want her surname published, said her 70-guest wedding in August 2025 cost about £33,500 (AU$67,000). Easy Weddings' general manager Darcy Allen noted that many couples are cutting costs by reducing guest numbers or forgoing traditional elements like cakes and desserts.
