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Wedding Budget Calculator

Enter your total budget and guest count. See industry-standard category allocations instantly. Math runs in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere, nothing is saved.

Category%Amount
Per-guest spend (venue + catering): $. Industry rule of thumb: per-guest catering+venue typically falls in the $80–$200 range depending on region and style.
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How the percentages work

The calculator uses commonly-cited industry-standard wedding budget breakdowns. These are starting points, not rules — adjust to your priorities. A couple who cares more about photography than flowers can move money from one to the other. The percentages should add to ~100% (we leave a 5% buffer at the end for the things you don't see coming).

Category-by-category

Venue + catering (~48%)

By far the biggest line item. Includes the location rental, food, beverages, service staff, and rentals (tables, chairs, linens). Per-guest cost varies wildly by region and style — buffet vs plated, beer-and-wine vs full bar, peak season vs off-season.

Photography + videography (~10%)

The thing you'll actually have decades after the day. Worth investing in a photographer whose work you've physically seen and like.

Attire (~8%)

Dress / suit / tux + alterations + accessories. Alterations can run $300–$800; budget for them.

Flowers + decor (~8%)

Bouquets, boutonnières, ceremony arrangements, centerpieces, signage. The biggest variable expense — flowers can be $1,500 or $15,000 for the same wedding depending on choices.

Entertainment (~8%)

DJ or live band + ceremony music. Live bands run 2–4× the cost of a DJ. Both can deliver a great party.

Rings (~3%)

Wedding bands. (Engagement ring is typically purchased before wedding planning starts and isn't part of the wedding budget.)

Stationery (~2%)

Save-the-dates, invitations, programs, menus, place cards, thank you cards.

Hair + makeup (~2%)

For the couple and (sometimes) the wedding party. Trial sessions add to the cost.

Transportation (~1%)

Limo / shuttle / vintage car for the couple and/or guest shuttles.

Officiant + license (~1%)

Officiant fee + marriage license + (optional) ceremony program designer.

Buffer / miscellaneous (~5%)

Alterations, weather contingency, last-minute additions, tips, gifts for parents/wedding party. Always include this — real weddings always have surprises.

What this calculator doesn't do

It's a starting-point breakdown. It doesn't:

For the full plan, that's what WeddingDay does — on your phone, with no vendor spam, no account, no data leaving your device.

What WeddingDay (the iOS app) adds

FAQ

What's the average wedding cost?US averages have ranged roughly $28K–$35K in recent years with massive regional variance. The average isn't a target — your number is the right number.
How much should I budget per guest?For venue + catering combined, $80–$200/guest is typical, with high-end coastal cities running $250–$400/guest. Use the calculator above to see what your per-guest spend would be.
Should I include a buffer?Yes — 5–10% for surprises. Real weddings always run over the initial estimate.
What gets cut first if I'm over budget?Most planners recommend cutting flowers, stationery, and entertainment in that order — they have the biggest range between cheap and expensive. Photography is usually the wrong thing to cut (you keep the photos forever).
Does this save my budget?No — refresh and it's gone. WeddingDay (the app) saves everything locally on your phone.

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