Free wedding tool
Wedding budget calculator
Enter your total wedding budget and this calculator splits it across every category the way couples actually spend, then lets you adjust each line to fit your priorities. Nothing to sign up for, and your numbers save in your browser.
| Category | Suggested | Your amount |
|---|---|---|
Venue & catering Reception space, food, and bar — usually the biggest line by far. | 45% · $15,390 | $ |
Photography & video The record you keep. Hard to redo, so most couples protect this. | 12% · $4,104 | $ |
Music & entertainment DJ or band, plus ceremony and cocktail-hour music. | 10% · $3,420 | $ |
Flowers & décor Bouquets, centerpieces, ceremony florals, and styling. | 9% · $3,078 | $ |
Attire & beauty Dress, suits, alterations, hair, and makeup. | 7% · $2,394 | $ |
Miscellaneous & buffer A cushion for the things you forget. Keep it — you will use it. | 5% · $1,710 | $ |
Stationery & invitations Save-the-dates, invitations, signage, and postage. | 3% · $1,026 | $ |
Wedding rings The two bands (not the engagement ring). | 3% · $1,026 | $ |
Cake & desserts Cake, dessert table, or late-night treats. | 2% · $684 | $ |
Favors & gifts Guest favors and gifts for the wedding party. | 2% · $684 | $ |
Transportation Getting the couple and guests where they need to be. | 2% · $684 | $ |
| Allocated | $34,200 | |
| Left to allocate | $0 |
Your numbers save automatically in this browser. Print or screenshot this table to share it with your partner or planner.
How to use the calculator
Set your real total at the top. The table fills in a suggested amount for each category using the standard split, then you edit any line and watch the running total and your remaining balance update. When you spend more on one thing, pull it from another rather than from the buffer.
A few budgeting rules that hold up
- Guest count is the real lever. Fewer guests means a smaller venue, less catering, less of almost everything. Cutting the list does more than cutting any vendor.
- Protect the things you cannot redo. Photography and the venue are hard to fix after the fact; favors and extras are easy to trim.
- Keep the buffer. The couples who go over are usually the ones who allocated to zero and left nothing for surprises.
See your wedding aesthetic in 60 seconds
Take the quiz and get a full pack of Pinterest-ready visuals — mood board, palette, florals, and an invitation card — built around your style.
Frequently asked questions
- How should I split my wedding budget?
- A common split puts about 45% toward venue and catering, 12% toward photography and video, 10% toward music, 9% toward flowers and décor, 7% toward attire and beauty, and the rest across stationery, rings, cake, favors, transportation, and a buffer. This calculator starts from that split and lets you adjust.
- What is the average cost of a wedding?
- The Knot's 2026 study put the average US wedding at around $34,200, though it varies widely by region and guest count. This tool defaults to that figure, but you should set your own real number.
- What is the biggest wedding expense?
- Venue and catering, almost always. Together they typically take 40 to 50 percent of the whole budget, which is why guest count drives cost more than any single vendor choice.
- How much should I keep as a buffer?
- Around 5 percent. Small overages and forgotten costs (postage, alterations, vendor tips, day-of extras) add up, and a buffer keeps them from breaking the rest of your plan.