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Wedding Budget Calculator: How To Split Your Budget
A simple starting split is 45% for venue and catering, 12% for photos and video, 9% for flowers and decor, 8% for attire, 7% for music and 2% for the cake, with 6% kept aside for surprises. For a $20,000 wedding, that is $9,000 for venue and catering and $400 for the cake.
How does the wedding budget calculator work?
The percentages are a common planning starting point, not a rule. Change them to fit what matters to you: if photos come first, move money there from flowers. The per-guest line helps when you compare caterers.
Questions people ask
What takes up most of a wedding budget?
Venue and catering usually take the largest share, close to half, because they grow with every guest. Cutting the guest list is often the biggest saving you can make.
How much should a wedding cake cost in a budget?
Around 2% of the budget is a common starting point. Use the cake size calculator on this site to see how many slices you need, then ask your baker for a price per slice.
Why keep money aside for surprises?
Tips, delivery fees, service charges and last-minute changes add up. Keeping about 6% aside means they will not take money from something you care about.