💍 Wedding Budget Calculator

Allocate, track, and print your complete wedding budget — free, no sign-up
Your Wedding Setup
Budget Allocation
Total Budget $25,000
Allocated $25,000
Remaining $0
Per Guest $250
Category Allocation

Default percentages reflect common allocation patterns used as editorial guidance — not market data. Actual costs vary widely by location, vendor, and season. Lock 🔒 a category to prevent redistribution when others change.

Track quotes, deposits, and balances for each vendor. Data saves automatically in your browser.

Category Vendor Name Quote ($) Deposit Paid ($) Balance Due ($) Due Date Paid ✓
TOTALS

How to Allocate Your Wedding Budget

Wedding budgets vary enormously based on location, guest count, style preferences, and what matters most to each couple. There are no universal "rules" — only common allocation patterns that have emerged from millions of weddings. Use these as a starting point, then adjust to reflect your own priorities.

Common Allocation Patterns by Category

Category Common Range Notes
Venue & Rental20–30%Includes ceremony + reception space, tables, chairs
Catering & Bar25–35%Largest variable — depends heavily on guest count
Photography & Video8–15%Many couples prioritize here; lasting memories
Music / Entertainment5–10%DJ tends to cost less than live band
Flowers & Décor6–10%Seasonality and local supply affect prices
Wedding Attire5–8%Dress, suit, accessories — wide price range
Hair & Makeup2–4%Trial sessions add to the total
Invitations & Stationery1–3%Digital invites can reduce this to near zero
Transport & Accommodation2–5%Couple's transport; sometimes hotel block
Miscellaneous / Buffer5–10%Tips, extras, emergencies — never skip this!

These ranges reflect common patterns across many weddings, presented as editorial guidance only — not market data for any specific region or year. Get actual quotes from local vendors before making financial commitments.

How the Budget Allocator Works

Each category has a percentage slider linked bidirectionally to a dollar amount. Drag the slider or type a dollar amount — the other updates automatically. Categories you've locked stay fixed while the remaining balance redistributes across unlocked categories (respecting their relative proportions).

The allocation always aims to sum to 100%. If you manually push over 100%, a warning banner appears. Use the buffer category to absorb small overages.

Vendor Tracker Tips

Use the vendor tracker to record each vendor's quote, deposit, and balance. Mark vendors as "Paid" to track progress. All data is saved in your browser and persists across page reloads — export to CSV anytime to share with a spreadsheet or partner.

FAQ

Venue and catering combined often represent the largest share of a wedding budget — a common allocation pattern is 40–50% when both are at the same location. Some couples separate these and allocate 20–30% to venue rental and 25–35% to catering and bar separately.
Photography and videography typically accounts for 8–15% of the total wedding budget in common allocation patterns. Many couples prioritize this category because the photos and video are lasting memories, so some choose to allocate toward the higher end.
Financial planners commonly suggest keeping 5–10% of your total budget as a miscellaneous buffer. Unexpected costs — final headcount adjustments, tips for vendors, last-minute flowers — are nearly universal. Locking in at least 5% for buffer is a common best practice.
Expand the Vendor Tracker section to add details for each category: vendor name, quoted amount, deposit paid, balance due, and due date. Mark vendors as paid with the checkbox. The tracker saves automatically in your browser and can be exported as a CSV file.
Yes. Click the 'Print Budget & Checklist' button at the bottom of the page. A print-optimized view will open showing your budget summary, vendor tracker, and timeline checklist. Use your browser's print dialog to save as PDF or send to a printer.
Enter your guest count in the setup section to see a cost-per-head figure based on your current budget allocation. This helps you understand roughly how much each guest costs across catering, venue, and related expenses. The per-head figure updates live as you adjust sliders.