Photo (above, from left to right): Catering: Very Food Catering - Photographer: Isabeau Reynvoet / Wedding Planner: Art of Events - Photographer: Jeroen Noordzij Photography / Party room & Photo: Geuzenhof
Who participated in the survey?
The survey was distributed via House of Weddings channels and external advertisements to reach couples who were not (yet) familiar with the platform, ensuring a broad and varied picture of wedding plans in Belgium. These are the 1,000 respondents who completed the National Wedding Survey 2025:
More than 80% of respondents are women, more than half of whom (52%) are between 25 and 34 years old. Only 11% are younger than 25.
72.8% live in Flanders. 87% already live with their partner before getting married.
22.6% already have children together before marriage and 7.8% have one or more children from a previous relationship.
More than four out of five respondents (85.7%) have a higher education degree.
56.7% of respondents were engaged at the time of participation, while 43.3% were already married, most of whom had married recently (2023-2025).
Noteworthy: while in 2022, 19% of couples met online, by 2025, this figure will rise to 29%. Online dating has thus become the most popular way to meet someone, followed by friends or family (20%) and school (15%).
The marriage proposal
The most popular month for marriage proposals is May, with December and September close behind. In 41% of cases, the proposal happened on holiday, and in 27% of cases, it was simply “because it felt right”. A symbolic date, a birthday or a public holiday are other popular moments.
In 85% of cases, the partner got down on one knee. However, almost 1 in 10 couples decide to get married together. Although the classic proposal is usually made by men (87%), we are seeing a steady increase in the number of women proposing marriage. In this survey, almost 1 in 13 women (approximately 7 to 8%) said that they had proposed themselves.
Immediately after the proposal, most couples take the time to enjoy the moment together, and only 2% post the news on social media first. The traditional “asking for the hand” from the parents was done by 45% in 2022, and among couples getting married in 2025, this is still 43% on average.
An engagement ring is a must for 95% of couples. It is usually chosen by the partner and purchased from a jeweller or designer. Diamonds remain by far the most popular gemstone.
How much does it cost to get married in 2025?
According to the national wedding survey conducted by House of Weddings in 2022, the average wedding budget in Belgium was still 21.339 euros. Today, that average for couples who have since married has risen to between 25,500 and 27,000 euros.
For engaged couples getting married this year and in the coming years, the amount will continue to rise, with the estimated wedding budget in 2025 averaging around 31.750 euros. More than 40% of engaged couples are planning a budget of over 25.000 euros, and 34% (1 in 3) are planning over 30.000 euros, with almost 10% even planning 50.000 euros or more.
That is an increase of around 10,000 euros in three to five years. The increase not only reflects macroeconomic trendssuch as inflation, but also the growing focus on experience, atmosphere and personalisation during the wedding. Wedding planner Sophie Ickmans from Art of Events explains these macroeconomic influences: "I have been working as a wedding planner for almost 20 years now, and what strikes me most is how much prices have risen over the past six to seven years. Since Covid-19, everything has become more expensive at once: flowers have risen by more than 30% for us, transport has become more expensive due to mileage charges, among other things, and wage indexation has had a major impact. At the same time, it is much more difficult today to find motivated people who are willing to work at the weekend. Of course, you have to pay those you do find properly. What makes it extra challenging is that we often sell wedding parties two years in advance. The price we promise in our quote remains valid – even if our costs increase in the meantime. We don't raise prices halfway through. For me, that's a matter of integrity. This does put pressure on margins. And yet, I'm noticing that things are gradually stabilising. For the parties in 2027, the prices we are setting seem to be comparable to this year for the time being."
Party venue Geuzenhof in Massemen has also felt the effects of inflation, according to manager Sylvie Van Hootegem: "Our prices rise by an average of around 3% each year, with a stronger increase since 2021 due to the extreme rises in energy, food costs and services. Think of waste disposal or a maintenance technician for machine maintenance at 160 euros per hour excluding VAT – that's no longer an exception today. However, we don't pass all of this on to our customers. We deliberately take smaller marginsto keep our formula affordable. And it works: our diary is full and our customers continue to opt for a wedding with all the trimmings – reception, sit-down dinner, dance party. There are always people who want something different, but we find that there is still budget for those who want a classic, high-quality celebration."
Finally, manager Niki Claes of catering company Very Food Catering confirms the macroeconomic trends and growing focus on personalisation: "Life has become more expensive in general, and we are also feeling this in the catering sector. Due to Corona and the war in Ukraine, the prices of many raw materials have risen sharply and have remained high ever since. In 2023, there was an additional wage increase of 11% for employees in our sector. We are also seeing trendsthat are having an impact on costs: long snake-shaped tables, for example, require different table linen, and popular concepts such as food sharing require more crockery and cutlery than a buffet. But what we notice most of all is that couples today are very conscious of choosing a celebration that suits them. They no longer invite “everyone” as they used to, and are less inclined to opt for a traditional reception with lots of people they hardly know. Instead, the general trend now is smaller and more personal weddings. This gives couples the freedom to really choose what they want – because regardless of your budget or choices, getting married remains one of the most beautiful things you can do.”
Going over budget & financing
84% of couples go over their initial budget. More than 1 in 3 couples even spend 3,000 euros or more than originally planned. The main reasons? Higher prices than they expected, concessions they make for the sake of the experience and unexpected additional costs. The price of flowers, catering, photography and clothing are often underestimated.
48.5% of couples pay for the wedding entirely themselves. One in three received and continues to receive (significant) support from their parents, and in 10% of cases, the wedding was entirely financed by the parents.
Four in ten couples actively count on envelopes or gifts to cover (part of) the costs. When they give a gift at a wedding, most people spend between 75 and 150 euros per person.
Time for wedding planning
Two out of three couples start planning their wedding immediately after the proposal. In 63% of cases, one of the partners (usually the woman in heterosexual couples) is the driving force behind the organisation. In 26.2% of cases, both partners do roughly the same amount. In only 10.2% of cases, the man is mainly responsible for the planning.
Most couples spend 1 to 2 hours a day planning their wedding, for an average of 15.5 months. That amounts to approximately 200 to 400 hours of planning for a wedding party. Striking: almost 1 in 5 couples even start planning before the proposal.
The most popular months to get married in 2025 and 2026 are May, June and September.
The checklist from House of Weddings is the most popular planning tool. Pinterest (used by 65.3% of couples), wedding platform House of Weddings (64.7%) and Instagram (56%) are the main sources of inspiration. More than half of couples already used mood boards for the proposal. The use of AI for wedding planning is also gradually gaining ground: 12% of engaged couples have already experimented with it.
How long are couples engaged?
The average length of an engagement today is 15.5 months, which is just over a year. The results show a clear shift: while couples who are already married were engaged for an average of 13.4 months, couples who are currently planning their wedding are engaged for 17.7 months.
These figures show that couples in 2025 are more conscious planners and are taking more time for their wedding preparations. Almost one in three engaged couples even plan to be engaged for two years or more before getting married. Short engagements are becoming increasingly rare: only a small minority (8.5%) still get married within six months of the proposal.
The guests
Most couples who completed our national wedding survey marry with 80 to 120 guests. On average, 54 guests attend the ceremony, 84 attend the dinner and 97 attend the dance.
Children are less often invited by young couples: 59% of engaged couples do not invite children.
Traditions & symbolism
Symbolism is gaining ground over religion: 47% of respondents opt for a symbolic ceremony alongside a civil wedding, while only 32% choose a church wedding.
An opening dance remains popular (72%), often to songs by Ed Sheeran (Perfect), Calum Scott (You are the reason) or Ben E. King (Stand by me). More than half of the couples took dancing lessons.
The father remains the most popular person to accompany the bride to the altar (61%), although one in six opt for both parents or an alternative. 54% deliberately plan a “first look” moment before the ceremony. Almost two out of three couples sleep together the night before their wedding.
Atmosphere & experience
The atmosphere chosen is usually warm and intimate (41%) or festive and relaxed (33%). Pink, green, beige and gold remain the favourite colours. 63% of couples use a recognisable colour theme.
Noteworthy: 1 in 5 couples opt for a wedding weekend instead of a traditional day-long celebration. Live music, food trucks or a personalised ceremony are often added as a personal touch.
Destination weddings are also gaining popularity: 9.8% of engaged couples want to get married abroad, compared to 4.3% of married couples who have already done so.
What do couples value?
Open responses reveal what couples considered important or regrettable in retrospect:
Photography is the most frequently mentioned item that people would rather not have skimped on.
Music, entertainment and atmosphere also proved to be decisive factors in the success of the party.
Wedding planners and day coordinators are often mentioned as valuable afterwards, even by couples who did not initially want to hire them.
Couples prefer peace of mind and experience over the cheapest solution.
Honeymoon
The most popular honeymoon destinations are Bali, Italy, Mexico, South Africa and Japan. 34.6% leave immediately after the wedding party. 60% organise the trip themselves, 40% do so through a travel agency.
Most couples spend between 2.000 and 5.000 euros, and 1 in 10 couples spend more than 8,000 euro on this unique trip. Romance, relaxation and adventure are the top three requirements for a honeymoon.
Key takeaways
Marriage in 2025 is more personal, more conscious and more digital than ever before. Couples plan thoroughly and start early, use online tools, want a celebration that suits them and combine traditions with their own choices. The classic wedding reception is increasingly giving way to tailor-made wedding weekends full of experiences and symbolism.
Online meetings, symbolic ceremonies and visual themes characterise this generation of wedding couples. House of Weddings remains a trusted guide, from initial inspiration to finding reliable vendors from engagement to honeymoon. One thing is certain: getting married in 2025 is not just another day, it is a story that is perfect in every detail.
Read more about this topic via these links:
The 15 hottest wedding dress trends for 2026, straight from Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week!
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