Wedding Budget Calculator
Plan a realistic wedding budget with a category-by-category breakdown — venue, catering, photography, florals, attire — scaled by city cost level, guest count, and quality tier.
Your Wedding Parameters
Budget Breakdown
How It Works
Enter your expected guest count and select your city cost tier and quality tier. The calculator derives a total budget from a national per-guest baseline ($180 for a mid-range mid-size metro wedding), applies a city cost multiplier and a quality multiplier, then splits the total into category budgets using industry-standard percentages with a 10% contingency buffer.
Use the category figures as envelope budgets, then refine with real quotes from local vendors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average wedding budget in the US?▼
The national average is roughly $33,000-$35,000 for 100-150 guests. Costs range from under $10,000 for a small wedding in a low-cost area to $60,000+ in major coastal metros, driven mostly by venue and catering costs per guest.
What percentage of a wedding budget goes to venue and catering?▼
Typically 38-42% of the total budget. This calculator assumes 40% for venue and catering, then allocates the remaining budget proportionally across photography, music, florals, attire, rings, stationery, other costs, and a 10% contingency.
How much does the guest count matter?▼
Guest count is the single biggest cost lever: dropping from 150 to 100 guests typically reduces total cost by 20-30% because venue and catering scale directly with per-guest cost.
Why do weddings cost more in big cities?▼
Venue cost per person drives the gap: major metro venues run $280+ per guest all-in versus $130 per guest in small towns. Higher labor and demand also raise catering, florals, and staffing prices.