Wedding Budget
The average US wedding costs $29,000 — but that average masks enormous variation from $5,000 backyard weddings to $100,000+ destination events. Our calculator allocates your total budget across 14 traditional wedding expense categories using industry-standard percentages, and lets you adjust individual items to see how cuts in one area can fund upgrades in another.
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About the Wedding Budget Calculator
The average US wedding costs $29,000 — but that average masks enormous variation from $5,000 backyard weddings to $100,000+ destination events. Our calculator allocates your total budget across 14 traditional wedding expense categories using industry-standard percentages, and lets you adjust individual items to see how cuts in one area can fund upgrades in another.
How to use it
- Enter your total wedding budget.
- See the recommended allocation across venue, catering, photography, music, flowers, attire, and 9 other categories.
- Adjust any category to lock it, and watch the remaining budget redistribute.
- Add a guest count to calculate per-head cost for catering and invitations.
Formula & methodology
Industry-standard allocations: Venue & catering: 35–50%. Photography & video: 10–12%. Flowers & décor: 8–10%. Music (band/DJ): 5–10%. Attire (dress, tux): 5–10%. Officiant & ceremony: 3–5%. Invitations & stationery: 2–3%. Transportation: 2–3%. Cake: 2–3%. Honeymoon: separate budget.
Common use cases
- Setting a realistic budget before vendor conversations
- Understanding where the money actually goes
- Comparing venue quotes against the recommended allocation
- Deciding where to splurge (what matters most to you) vs cut
- Creating a joint financial plan with a partner for the wedding
Frequently asked questions
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