Drag the sliders to see a realistic budget broken down by category and per guest — built with public wedding cost benchmarks, planner best practices, and structured planning workflows.
Total budget
$45,000
Guests
≈ $375/guest
Style
Your breakdown
$45,000
Venue & rentals$13,500 (30%)
Catering & bar$9,900 (22%)
Photography & video$5,400 (12%)
Florals & décor$4,500 (10%)
Attire & beauty$3,600 (8%)
Music & entertainment$3,150 (7%)
Stationery & favors$1,800 (4%)
Cake & desserts$1,350 (3%)
Buffer (smart!)$1,800 (4%)
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The average U.S. wedding runs $30,000–$45,000 for around 120 guests. Per-guest cost is usually $250–$400 once you factor venue, catering, and bar.
What percentage of a wedding budget goes to the venue?
Venue and rentals typically take ~30% of the total, with catering and bar another 22%. Those two line items often make up half your wedding spend.
How do I lower my wedding budget without it feeling cheap?
Shrink the guest list first — every cut compounds across catering, rentals, florals, and stationery. Then switch to an off-peak day (Friday or Sunday) and a non-May/September month.
Is this calculator really free?
Yes. No signup, no email gate. Make a free account only if you want to save the numbers and add vendors, deposits, and a guest list.
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