Wedding Budget Calculator
Enter your total budget and guest count to get a recommended spend breakdown across every wedding category: venue, catering, photography, music, flowers, attire, stationery, transport, and contingency. Every figure is shown as both an amount and a percentage.
Explain like I'm 5 (how does a wedding budget work?)
A wedding budget is just your total money divided up into piles, one for each thing you need to pay for. The tricky part is that most couples have never planned a wedding before, so they do not know how much each pile should be. This calculator uses the typical proportions that experienced wedding planners use as a starting point: the venue and catering together take about two thirds of the budget, because those are the biggest costs. Everything else, photographer, flowers, band, dress, sits in the remaining third. You can move money between piles once you start getting real quotes, but this gives you a sensible starting point before you talk to anyone.
Calculate
Enter your budget and guest count, then press Calculate breakdown.
Recommended spend by category
Per-head cost
- Per guest (total budget ÷ guests)–
Prove it
Each category amount = total budget × category percentage ÷ 100. Percentages used: venue 30%, catering and drink 35%, photography and videography 10%, music and entertainment 5%, flowers and decoration 7%, attire and beauty 8%, stationery and invitations 1%, transport 2%, contingency 2%. These are widely used planning benchmarks, not guarantees. Your actual quotes will differ. Per-head cost = total budget ÷ guest count.
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How to use this breakdown
These percentages are starting points, not rules. They reflect what couples typically spend when they have not yet made firm decisions. Once you start getting quotes, you will almost certainly want to shift money between categories: perhaps your priority is the photographer, in which case you might take a percentage point or two from flowers or stationery to put towards it.
The breakdown is most useful for identifying which categories to research first. The venue and catering together account for 65% of the budget in this model. Those are the decisions that set the ceiling for everything else, so they are the right place to start.
The biggest factors in wedding cost
Guest count
Guest count is the single most powerful lever in a wedding budget. Catering is almost always priced per head. Venue capacity affects hire cost. Stationery (invitations, place settings, orders of service) scales directly with guest count. A wedding for 60 people will cost significantly less than a wedding for 120 people at the same quality level, even before the venue size difference is considered.
Day of the week
Most venues charge a premium for Saturdays, which are the most in-demand day. Friday and Sunday weddings can cost 20–30% less at the same venue. Midweek weddings are cheaper still, though they impose more on guests who need to take annual leave.
Time of year
Peak wedding season in the UK runs from May to September. Venues, photographers, and many other suppliers charge more during this period. Winter weddings (November to February) are typically cheaper, though you are more exposed to weather affecting outdoor photography and travel.
Location
London and the South East are the most expensive regions for weddings in the UK. The same venue specification in Yorkshire, Scotland, or Wales will usually cost less. If you are flexible on location and your guest base is spread across the country, it is worth comparing prices in different regions before committing.
What this calculator does not account for
The percentages reflect a full-day wedding with a sit-down meal, evening reception, and the full range of suppliers. They may not fit:
- Micro-weddings or elopements, where photography tends to take a larger share of a smaller total
- Weddings where catering is included in the venue hire (as at many hotels)
- Destination weddings, where travel and accommodation add significant cost categories not shown here
- Weddings where one partner or family is contributing specific items in kind (a family member doing the flowers, for example)
Related calculators
Budget is the backbone. These are the specific line items.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a UK wedding cost?
The average UK wedding costs around £25,000–£30,000, though the range is enormous. Guest count, day of the week, time of year, and location all have a significant effect. This calculator helps you see how a given total breaks down, whatever that total is.
What percentage should go on the venue?
A commonly cited guide is 25–35%. This calculator uses 30%. Note that some venues include catering in their hire fee; others are dry-hire. Make sure you are comparing like for like when using venue quotes alongside this breakdown.
What percentage should go on catering?
Catering and drink typically takes 30–40% of a wedding budget. This calculator uses 35%. It is the category most directly driven by guest count.
What is a contingency fund?
A buffer for unexpected costs: last-minute extras, supplier price increases, or things forgotten in planning. Two to five percent is a common guide; this calculator uses 2%. If you are planning more than 12 months ahead, consider holding back closer to 5%.
How do I cut costs without it being obvious?
The biggest levers are guest count (fewer guests lowers catering, venue, and stationery costs), day of the week (Friday and Sunday weddings cost less), and time of year (winter weddings are cheaper at most venues). Within the budget, flowers and stationery tend to offer the most flexibility without affecting the guest experience.