The Wedding Vendor Capitals of the UK

Alex Miles 27 June 2024 minute read

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Weddings are a year-round celebration, and vendors all over the country must be prepared for the bustling peak periods filled with ample business opportunities. From beautiful floral arrangements to photo booths that capture important moments, there are plenty of opportunities for small businesses to make an impact on anyone’s special day.

We've looked at popular wedding spots across the UK to find out where vendors have the most potential customers, based on how many places couples can choose to have a civil service or get married.

A closer look at the wedding vendor capitals of the UK

To discover the best UK cities for wedding-related businesses and budding entrepreneurs, we considered each metric to calculate a final ranking:

Rank	Location	Number of locations for ceremonies	Number of ceremony locations per vendor
1	Carmarthen	438	19.0
2	London	4,405	11.3
3	St Ives	627	10.5
4	Swansea	264	10.2
5	Grassington	622	7.9
6	Preston	805	5.3
7	Keswick	189	5.3
8	Blyth	276	3.8
9	Cirencester	426	3.0
10	Cardiff	238	2.9

Camarthen

Our research found that the best location to be a wedding vendor in the UK is Carmethen, nestled in the heart of South Wales.

Carmarthen is home to a total of 438 wedding locations, meaning that there are 19 locations available per vendor. The town's rich history and charming venues are a magnet for couples looking to celebrate their special day.
This establishes a solid foundation for new wedding vendors to establish themselves in the market, capitalising on the existing popularity and demand for the location.

London

In second place is London. It boasts the largest number of locations for ceremonies, at an impressive 4,405, however it seems there is not enough vendors to potentially keep up with this demand, with there being a ratio of 11.3 locations to each vendor.

St Ives

Claiming third spot is the picturesque coastal town in Cornwall, St Ives.

St Ives offers a total of 627 locations for wedding-related ceremonies providing a total of 10.5 locations per vendor. Renowned for its beautiful beachside ceremonies, the high number of locations per vendor highlights the potential for new businesses to thrive on the town's charm and popularity as a wedding destination.

The UK’s best cities for wedding entertainment vendors

After our research revealed the UK's leading wedding business hubs, we decided to break this down further and look into the different types of vendors that each location offers, including wedding entertainment vendors. These could be anything from a DJ or singer, to a magician or mini golf hire - anything to help make the day even more memorable.

Ranking	Location	Number of locations for ceremonies	Number of ceremony locations per vendor
1	Carmarthen	438	219.0
2	Swansea	264	132.0
3	Grassington	622	124.4
4	St Ives	627	104.5
5	Keswick	400	80.0
6	Cardiff	238	79.3
7	Blyth	276	69.0
8	London	4,405	66.7
9	Plymouth	130	65.0
10	Oxford	390	48.8

Taking the crown for the best location in the UK to become a wedding entertainment vendor is Carmarthen.

The Welsh town has a whopping 438 wedding locations, our research showing there is a staggering average of 219 locations per vendor. This presents good opportunities for new entertainment vendors to establish themselves and fill the existing market gap.

The UK's wedding photographer capitals

Rank	Location	Number of locations for ceremonies	Number of ceremony locations per vendor
1	Carmarthen	438	43.8
3	London	4,405	35.0
3	Swansea	264	18.9
4	St Ives	627	18.4
5	Grassington	622	11.7
6	Preston	805	9.1
7	Keswick	189	7.9
8	Blyth	276	6.3
9	Cirencester	426	5.5
10	Birmingham	717	4.6

Carmarthen is again revealed as the best location to set up a wedding photography business when considering the supply and demand.

Of the 438 wedding locations on offer to those celebrating the big day, the Welsh location offers an average of 43.8 locations per vendor.

Northern locations seem to offer the best opportunities for these vendors, with Grassington, Preston, Kewsick and Blyth all making the top 10.

Keswick, St Ives, Carmarthen and Grassington also make up the top three places for wedding florists, caterers and cake specialists. These locations all boast a large number of locations where couples can choose to hold their civil service or wedding, with low numbers of suppliers across these offerings, meaning they could be perfect locations for wedding vendors to expand into, or set up a business in.

How to succeed as a small wedding business owner

Starting and growing a wedding business can be a rewarding yet challenging venture. Seasonal demand, competition, and financial management are all obstacles that business owners might face.

To help navigate these challenges, Alex Miles, COO at Capital on Tap has shared some insights on how wedding business owners can succeed, along with top tips on financial management.

Financial management

Speaking of seasonal trends, they can sometimes make financial management tricky. To help overcome this, it’s essential to have a financial plan and to forecast for the year ahead.

Alex adds, "Maintaining a healthy cash flow during off-peak seasons is something all business owners strive for. Consider setting aside a portion of your peak season earnings to cover expenses during slower months.

“Forecasting a financial plan for the year ahead is a vital tool for shaping your business’s strategy. The most successful forecasts look at ingoings, outgoings, and potential changes in the industry landscape and help a business to prepare accordingly. A thorough plan gives a thorough overview of where your money has been spent in the past, and how you’ll use this knowledge to plan where to allocate funds in the future.

“However, as we all know, as much as you can plan things can always go a bit awry. A business credit card can help in situations such as this, giving you a bit more financial wiggle room and can help with cash flow."

Capitalising on peak seasons

As mentioned, the wedding industry does see significant increases in demand during certain times of the year. Leveraging these can help to boost your business and income.

Alex from Capital on Tap adds, "Maximise your efforts during peak wedding seasons by offering attractive packages and promotions. Collaborate with other vendors to provide comprehensive services, making your offerings more appealing to potential clients."

Effective marketing strategies

A strong marketing strategy is important to help you stand out in the competitive wedding market. Utilise social media, wedding fairs, and online advertising to reach your target audience.

"Showcase your work through high-quality visuals and client testimonials. Engaging content and a professional online presence can significantly boost your brand visibility and attract more clients."

Continuous learning and adaptation

The wedding industry is constantly evolving, with new trends and preferences emerging regularly. It’s important to stay up-to-date and ahead of the curve and to be able to adapt to these changes.

Alex summarises, "Invest in continuous learning by attending industry workshops, webinars, and networking events. Keeping up with the latest industry trends and best practices will help you stay competitive and meet the changing needs of your clients."