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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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À propos de 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.

Comment l'utiliser

  1. Enter your total wedding budget.
  2. See the recommended allocation across venue, catering, photography, music, flowers, attire, and 9 other categories.
  3. Adjust any category to lock it, and watch the remaining budget redistribute.
  4. Add a guest count to calculate per-head cost for catering and invitations.

Formule et méthodologie

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.

Cas d'usage courants

  • 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

Questions fréquentes

Venue and catering combined: 35–50% of the total budget. This is why the guest count is the most powerful lever — every additional guest adds $75–250 in catering cost plus proportional venue sizing costs. Cutting the guest list by 20 people can save $2,000–5,000. The second-biggest cost is photography, which is harder to cut post-event since you cannot recreate the photos.
Financial advisors generally advise against it. Starting a marriage with significant debt is a leading stressor for new couples. Alternatives: longer engagement to save more, smaller guest list, off-peak date (Friday/Sunday, November–March), DIY elements, or destination wedding (smaller guest list naturally). If you must finance, use a 0% APR credit card promotion and pay it off within the promo period.

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