How much should I budget for a wedding?

Average U.S. weddings run $30,000–$45,000 for ~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 budget, with catering and bar another 22%.

Is this wedding budget calculator really free?

Yes — no signup required. Save your numbers permanently by creating a free Wedding Planner Central account.

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Wedding Budget Calculator

Drag the sliders to see a realistic budget broken down by category and per guest — in US dollars, pounds, euros or Australian dollars, built with public wedding cost benchmarks and planner best practices.

Quick answer

How much should you budget for a wedding in 2026?

A 120-guest US wedding runs about $30,000–$45,000 in 2026, or roughly $250–$400 per guest all-in. The UK average is about £21,500 for 80 guests and Australia about A$36,000 for 100 guests. Venue and rentals take ~30% of the total and catering and bar another 22%, so those two lines are usually half the budget.

US average (120 guests): $30,000–$45,000
UK average (80 guests): About £21,500
Australia average (100 guests): About A$36,000
Cost per guest: $250–$400
Venue & rentals: 30% of total
Catering & bar: 22% of total
Photography & video: 12% of total
Contingency buffer: 4–5% of total

Source: Wedding Planner Central — 2026 planner-verified benchmarks. Free to cite with a link.

Currency

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%)

Country benchmarks: US · UK · Australia

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Wedding budget FAQs

How much should I budget for a wedding?: 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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