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Wedding cost per guest calculator

The single most important number in your budget. Enter your total spend and guest count to see what each guest actually costs — and where trimming the list saves you the most.

Total budget

$40,000

Guests

Cost per guest

$333

  • Catering (plate)$117
  • Bar & beverage$50
  • Rentals (chair, place setting)$27
  • Florals & décor (per centerpiece share)$33
  • Stationery & favors$13
  • Overhead (venue, photo, music amortized)$93

Cut 10 guests and you save ~$3,330.

Wedding cost per guest — what to expect

Typical US per-guest spend runs $200–$500 depending on region and style. NYC/SF/LA weddings routinely hit $600+ per guest. Rural and small-town weddings often land under $200.

Cutting 10 guests almost always saves more than any other line item — it compounds across catering, bar, rentals, stationery, and favors.

See average wedding cost by year · Full budget calculator