The average Hong Kong wedding costs HK$480,000, study finds

On average, newlyweds spent as much as HK$480,000 on wedding-related products and services last year.Hong Kong-based online wedding planning and verified review platform Bespoke Wedding has conducted a survey on local wedding trends. According to the survey, wedding banquets were the largest expense with couples on average putting down HK$230,000.Wedding-related jewellery and honeymoon trips were ranked second and third respectively, as couples usually spent HK$85,000 and HK$60,000 on these items. Couples also usually spent about HK$60,000 on photography services – the fourth most expensive item on the list.When it comes to the services couples were paying the greatest attention to, 95% of respondents said they looked for information regarding wedding banquets, and 90% needed photography services. Make-up for brides (85%), and wedding dresses and groom attire (83%) were ranked third and fourth respectively.The study has also unveiled the factors that couples were considering before purchasing any services. Costs were a major concern, while reviews and reputations of merchants came second and third. Couples also looked for shopping rewards and rebates, checked service availability, and rated the responsiveness of merchants.Though 80% of respondents said they looked for information on the internet, only 15% of them resorted to wedding planning apps, and 14% of them planned their weddings through online platforms. However, only 10% sent digital wedding cards to relatives and friends via smartphone or emails.When asked about what factors have impacted their marriage plans, 84% of the respondents said the price of residential properties influenced their marriage plans. 72% of respondents said their financial status was the second major concern – as they prefer having a sound financial foundation before getting married.