Wedding budget calculator
Plug in your region and guest count. Get an honest, region-adjusted budget split across venue, catering, photography, attire, flowers, and more. Adjust any line. Save as PDF.
Median spend in this region: $520 per guest
Suggested: $52,000 for 100 guests in US — major metro (NYC, LA, SF, etc). Change the number to plan against a different total — categories scale automatically.
Recommended allocation
Where the numbers come from
Region defaults are anchored on the median values from three of the largest wedding industry datasets: The Knot Real Weddings (US), Hitched (UK), and Bridebook (EU). We use the median rather than the mean because a few $500K celebrity weddings skew the average dramatically.
The category split (35% venue, 22% catering, etc) is the standard allocation reported by both planners and couples post-event. It reflects what people *actually* spend, not what idealized planner spreadsheets suggest.
Real budgets vary 20–40% from the median in both directions. Use the tool as a starting point, then override the total or any category to match your priorities.
The four most-common budget mistakes
1. Forgetting the buffer
Every wedding has overruns — the cake costs more than the quote, the photographer adds an hour, the flowers expand. Reserve 5–10% of total budget as buffer. We default to 2% in the table above because most couples won't reserve more even when we tell them to.
2. Underestimating per-guest cost
Each guest adds $200–500 in food, drink, chair rental, favors, and a slice of the photographer's time. Cutting the list by 20 guests saves $4–10K — usually the largest single lever in the whole budget.
3. Overpaying on attire, underpaying on photo
Dress: worn once, photographed for 8 hours. Photos: looked at forever. Couples consistently regret spending more on the dress than on photo/video. If the budget is tight, flip the priority.
4. Treating Saturday as the only option
Saturday is the most expensive day of the week. Thursday and Sunday venues run 25–40% cheaper. If your guests can travel for your wedding, they can travel for a Friday wedding.
FAQ
How much does a wedding cost in 2026?
The median 2026 wedding costs around $30,000–$35,000 in the US (higher in NYC/LA at $55K+, lower in small-city US at $20K), £30,000 in the UK, €25,000 in Western Europe, and €15,000 in Eastern Europe. These figures include venue, catering, photography, attire, flowers, music, stationery, and rings. Real budgets vary widely with guest count and venue choice.
What percentage of the budget should go to each category?
Industry-standard split: venue + rentals 35%, catering + bar 22%, photography + video 12%, attire + beauty 8%, flowers + decor 8%, music + entertainment 6%, stationery 3%, rings 3%, officiant + license 1%, buffer 2%. The buffer is non-negotiable — every wedding has overruns; reserve at least 2%.
Is 8% really enough for flowers?
Depends on your vision. 8% covers a moderate floral palette (bouquets, 8–10 table centerpieces, a ceremony arch). Lush installations with floral chandeliers and aisle-lined arrangements push to 12–15% — which means cutting elsewhere. We anchor on the median; adjust if flowers matter more to you.
Should I really budget 12% for photography?
Yes, and arguably more. Photography is the only thing you take home from the wedding besides memory — everything else is consumed during the event. Couples consistently report wishing they'd spent more on photo/video, not less. 12% is the median; 15% is reasonable; 8% is the risk zone where you'll regret it.
How can I cut wedding costs without it feeling cheap?
Three highest-ROI cuts: reduce the guest count (every guest costs $200–500 in food + drink + flowers + favors), have it on a Thursday/Friday/Sunday (venue rates drop 25–40%), and skip the wedding favors (90% are thrown out). These three together can cut 25–35% off a budget without anyone noticing.
Why does region matter so much?
Venue and labor costs vary 3–5x by region. The same wedding that costs $55,000 in NYC costs $20,000 in rural Pennsylvania — same flowers, same dress, same photographer-friend rate. The big variable is the venue: New York reception sites start at $30K minimum, while a barn in upstate runs $5–8K.