stonewaller · run 01

input {
  "topic": "wedding-stats-2026"
}

output {
  "topic": "wedding-stats-2026",
  "content": "# 2026 UK Wedding Stats (Coach Reference)\n\nQuick-reference current UK figures for grounding advice and reassurance. From\nBridebook's 2026 UK Wedding Report (7,000 UK couples). Use these to normalise\n(\"most couples...\"), reality-check, and answer \"what's typical?\" — not to lecture.\n\n## Headline numbers\n\n- **Average spend: £20,604** (excl. honeymoon & rings); **£25,815** including them.\n  ~25% spend under £10k, ~25% over £26k, 10% over £35k.\n- **Average reception guests: 80** (74 at ceremony, +~21 evening-only). Couples\n  invite ~11% fewer than in 2024.\n- **Average age: 34.8** (39% under 30, 20% over 40).\n- **Average engagement: 23.8 months** (down from 31.2 in 2022). 20% under 12\n  months, 68% under 24.\n- **Peak month: August (17%)**, then May (13%), September (12%).\n- **Peak day: Saturday (47%)**; Mon–Thu 27%, Friday 17%.\n- Gen Z spend ~12% less (£18,485 vs £21,016), mainly via midweek dates.\n\n## Venue & ceremony\n\n- 71% hold the ceremony at the venue; 12% place of worship; 20% outdoor.\n- Top venue types: Hotels 22%, Barns 22%, Country Houses 14%, Pubs/Restaurants 8%.\n- Combined venue + catering median: **£117.10 per head** (up 23% YoY).\n- 1 in 8 couples did *not* have their legal ceremony on the wedding day.\n\n## Per-supplier average spend\n\nVenue hire £6,040 · reception catering £5,406 · evening catering £2,002 · marquee/\ntipi £4,633 · dress £1,532 · planner £1,543 · videographer £1,514 · photographer\n£1,484 · decoration £1,404 · florist £1,187 · reception music £1,061 · rings\n£1,057 · menswear £859 · ceremony music £845 · other entertainment £844 ·\ntransport £593 · toastmaster £514 · celebrant £504 · accessories £449 · hair £417\n· make-up £394 · stationery £378 · cake £360.\n\nPhotographer by duration: <half day £519, half day £911, full day £2,024 (68%\nbook full day), more than full day £1,780.\n\n## How couples plan (relevant to an AI coach)\n\n- **92% use Bridebook**; Hitched second (~45–48%). Social media ~48% (Instagram\n  dominant ~75–83%, TikTok skews Gen Z, Facebook skews older).\n- Research-heavy: view ~13.9 venues digitally, visit ~3.5, read ~6.9 reviews per\n  venue, and **79% book within 4 weeks of first venue contact**.\n- **81% felt frustrated with venue responses early on** — slow/generic replies\n  lose couples fast.\n- **47% create a wedding website.** **57%** leave guest accommodation to guests.\n- **29% of total spend comes from family contributions.**\n\n## AI attitudes (why this product exists)\n\n- **68% would trust AI for part of their planning**; only ~29–32% wouldn't.\n- Most-trusted AI tasks: writing drafts — speeches/vows/invitations (40–42%);\n  wedding-day schedule (19–21%); finding venues (18–24%); finding suppliers\n  (16–19%); comparing vendors (13–15%); seating plans (14%); building a budget\n  (12–13%); honeymoon itineraries (12–13%).\n- Couples want AI to **save time and feel in control** — practical, not gimmick.\n  They still lean on trusted wedding brands, so a coach grounded in real data and\n  their own plan beats a generic assistant.\n\n## What couples value / are shifting toward\n\n- Pricing transparency before contact; prompt clear communication over sales.\n- **Flexibility as the financial lever** — off-peak dates, midweek, fewer guests\n  — rather than scaling back the vision.\n- **Personal meaning over performative tradition.** Following: first dance,\n  speeches, cultural traditions, cake cutting, walking down the aisle. Dropping:\n  religious rituals, gender/role conventions, bouquet toss, some reception\n  traditions. (Speeches appear on both lists — divisive.)\n\n## Sources\n\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/reports/` — especially `report-2026-key-themes-summary.md`,\n`report-2026-wedding-costs-breakdown.md`, `report-2026-planning-behaviors.md`.\n",
  "articles": [
    {
      "slug": "report-2026-wedding-costs-breakdown",
      "title": "2026 UK Wedding Report: Wedding Costs and Budget Breakdown"
    },
    {
      "slug": "report-2026-key-themes-summary",
      "title": "2026 UK Wedding Report: Key Themes and Insights"
    },
    {
      "slug": "report-2026-planning-behaviors",
      "title": "2026 UK Wedding Report: How Couples Plan Their Wedding"
    }
  ]
}