Free tool
Wedding budget calculator
Enter your total budget and guest count to see a realistic breakdown by category — based on how real couples actually allocate their spending.
That works out to $300 per guest — a useful sanity check when comparing venues and caterers.
Venue & catering (40%)
Reception venue, food, and service — usually the single biggest line.
$12,000
Photography & video (12%)
Photographer, second shooter, videography.
$3,600
Music & entertainment (8%)
Band or DJ, ceremony musicians.
$2,400
Flowers & decor (8%)
Bouquets, centerpieces, ceremony decor, rentals.
$2,400
Attire & beauty (8%)
Outfits, alterations, hair, and makeup.
$2,400
Invitations & stationery (3%)
Save the dates, invitations, day-of signage.
$900
Rings (3%)
Wedding bands for both partners.
$900
Transportation (3%)
Couple and guest shuttles.
$900
Cake & desserts (2%)
Cake, dessert table, or alternatives.
$600
Favors & gifts (2%)
Guest favors, wedding party gifts.
$600
Officiant & ceremony (2%)
Officiant fee, marriage license, ceremony extras.
$600
Contingency (9%)
Keep ~10% unallocated — something always comes up.
$2,700
How to use this budget breakdown
These percentages are a starting point, not a rulebook. Couples who care deeply about photography often move budget from flowers and favors; couples hosting at a family property can shift venue budget into catering and rentals. The one line we recommend never cutting is the contingency — roughly 10% of weddings run over in ways nobody predicted.
Guest count changes everything
Per-guest cost is the most honest number in wedding planning. Venue, catering, bar, rentals, invitations, and favors all scale with the guest list, so trimming 20 guests often saves more than negotiating every vendor contract combined. If you are still building your list, start with our free guest list template and use the 12-month planning checklist to time your budget decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average wedding budget?
Most US couples spend between $25,000 and $40,000, but budgets vary widely by city and guest count. Guest count is the biggest driver: venue and catering typically consume around 40% of the total, and both scale per head.
How much of a wedding budget goes to the venue?
Venue and catering together usually take 40-50% of the total budget. If a venue quote exceeds half your budget, you will feel the squeeze everywhere else.
How much should I keep as a contingency?
Plan to keep about 10% unallocated. Overtime fees, alterations, last-minute rentals, and vendor meals are the most common surprises.
Track your real wedding budget, not a spreadsheet
Tesserae keeps your budget, vendor quotes, payments, and guest list in one place — so the numbers in this calculator become a plan you can actually follow.