Wedding Budget Calculator

Plan your wedding budget with smart category allocations. Calculate venue, catering, photography, flowers, and more. Compare with average costs.

Category Allocation
Venue & Rentals
40%$12,000
Catering & Bar
20%$6,000
Photography & Video
12%$3,600
Flowers & Decor
8%$2,400
Music & Entertainment
8%$2,400
Attire & Beauty
5%$1,500
Stationery & Favors
4%$1,200
Other & Contingency
3%$900
Total100%
Per-Guest Cost
$250.00
$30,000 budget for 120 guests
On Budget
Budget Allocation
Budget
$30,000
Venue & Rentals$12,000
Catering & Bar$6,000
Photography & Video$3,600
Flowers & Decor$2,400
Music & Entertainment$2,400
Attire & Beauty$1,500
Stationery & Favors$1,200
Other & Contingency$900
vs. National Average (National Average)
Venue & Rentals-4%
Your: $12,000Avg: $12,500
Catering & Bar-29%
Your: $6,000Avg: $8,500
Photography & Video-10%
Your: $3,600Avg: $4,000
Flowers & Decor-14%
Your: $2,400Avg: $2,800
Music & Entertainment-4%
Your: $2,400Avg: $2,500
Attire & Beauty-25%
Your: $1,500Avg: $2,000
Stationery & Favors+0%
Your: $1,200Avg: $1,200
Other & Contingency-40%
Your: $900Avg: $1,500
Total
$30,000avg $35,000
Per-Guest Cost Breakdown
CategoryTotalPer GuestShare
Venue & Rentals
$12,000$100.0040%
Catering & Bar
$6,000$50.0020%
Photography & Video
$3,600$30.0012%
Flowers & Decor
$2,400$20.008%
Music & Entertainment
$2,400$20.008%
Attire & Beauty
$1,500$12.505%
Stationery & Favors
$1,200$10.004%
Other & Contingency
$900$7.503%
Total$30,000$250.00100%
Vendor Payment Schedule
12 mo
before
Venue Booking
50% deposit of $12,000
$6,000
10 mo
before
Photographer Booking
30% deposit of $3,600
$1,080
8 mo
before
Catering Deposit
30% deposit of $6,000
$1,800
6 mo
before
Music / DJ Booking
25% deposit of $2,400
$600
4 mo
before
Florist Deposit
50% deposit of $2,400
$1,200
2 mo
before
Attire Final Payment
100% deposit of $1,500
$1,500
2 wk
before
All Remaining Balances
Final payments to all vendors
$17,820
Total deposits: $12,180 | Remaining balance: $17,820
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on national wedding cost averages. Actual costs vary significantly by location, season, vendor selection, and personal preferences. National averages are approximate and sourced from industry surveys. Use this as a planning starting point and get actual quotes from vendors in your area.

How to Use Wedding Budget Calculator

  1. 1Enter your total wedding budget
  2. 2Set the number of guests
  3. 3Choose your venue style
  4. 4Adjust category allocations as needed
  5. 5Review per-guest costs and totals

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average wedding cost?

The average US wedding costs about $30,000, though this varies significantly by location, guest count, and personal preferences.

What percentage should I spend on the venue?

The venue and catering typically account for 40-50% of the total wedding budget. Our calculator defaults to 40% for venue alone.

How do I create a realistic wedding budget?

Start with your total budget, then use the category percentages as a guide. Adjust based on your priorities — if photography matters most, increase that allocation and decrease others.

About Wedding Budget Calculator

Plan your wedding budget with smart category allocations. Calculate venue, catering, photography, flowers, and more. Compare with average costs.

NexTool's Wedding Budget Calculator is completely free to use with no sign-up required. Your data is processed directly in your browser and never sent to our servers, ensuring complete privacy and instant results.

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