Our free wedding budget calculator helps you plan every aspect of your wedding budget. Enter your total budget and guest count to get a recommended breakdown across all major wedding categories — venue, catering, photography, videography, flowers, attire, music, and more. Adjust each category to match your priorities.
Wedding Budget: $25,000 / 100 Guests
Keep a 5-10% contingency buffer for unexpected expenses. Get 3 quotes from each vendor.
Input your total available wedding budget.
Enter how many guests you're planning to invite.
Get a recommended budget allocation by category.
Fine-tune percentages to match what matters most to you.
Wedding budget allocation follows industry guidelines: venue + catering typically take 45–50% of the budget, photography/videography 10–12%, flowers/decor 8–10%, attire 8–10%, music/entertainment 5–8%, and the remainder split across invitations, hair/makeup, transport, and contingency.
Category Budget = Total Budget × Category Percentage
Allocate 5–10% as a contingency buffer for unexpected costs
Venue and catering typically consume 45–50% of the total budget
Off-peak dates (weekdays, winter) can reduce venue costs by 20–40%
Digital RSVPs and invitations can save $500–$1,500 vs. printed
Prioritize categories that matter most to you — cut from less important ones
Get 3 quotes from each vendor before signing any contracts
Plan your wedding budget with our free wedding budget calculator. Enter your total budget and guest count to get a detailed breakdown by category — venue, catering, photography, flowers, attire, and more. Adjust each category to match your priorities.
Industry guidelines suggest: Venue (25%), Catering & Bar (22%), Photography/Videography (11%), Flowers & Décor (8%), Attire & Beauty (9%), Music/Entertainment (6%), Invitations (3%), Transportation (3%), Officiant/Ceremony (3%), Contingency (10%). Our calculator applies these defaults to your total budget automatically.
Divide your total wedding budget by your guest count to find your per-person cost. The US average is $200–$300 per guest. This includes venue per-head, catering, drinks, and service. For budget weddings, aim for $75–$150 per guest.
Cut costs by limiting the guest list (the biggest driver of cost), choosing an off-season date, selecting a non-traditional venue, DIYing decorations, using a single photographer instead of photo+video, and sending digital invitations. A meaningful wedding can be beautiful on a $10,000–$15,000 budget.
Data sourced from trusted institutions
All formulas verified against official standards.