DeskLark Studio

Free planning tools, plus printables for the parts a calculator can't do alone.

Wedding Budget Calculator

Enter your total budget, guest count, and up to three priorities to get a personalized, category-by-category breakdown -- venue, photography, attire, flowers, and more. Nothing is collected, stored, or sent anywhere; every calculation happens right here in your browser.

Your numbers

Total amount you plan to spend, from every source combined.

Used to estimate your cost per guest -- it does not change the category percentages below.

Priorities (optional -- choose up to 3)

Selected categories get a modest boost, funded by proportionally trimming the rest.

0 of 3 selected

Your personalized breakdown

Wedding budget by category
Category Your split Typical range Amount
Total 100%

How these numbers are calculated

The "typical range" column comes from the same planning guide used in DeskLark Studio's printable Wedding Budget & Planning Tracker. Each category's default split is the middle of its printed range, except Miscellaneous and buffer, which is set to the top of its 5-8% range so the ten categories add up to exactly 100%. If you choose priorities, each one gets a fixed boost and every other category is trimmed proportionally so the total still adds up to 100% of your budget.

Wedding budgeting FAQ

How much should I spend on a wedding?

There is no single right number -- wedding costs vary enormously by region, guest count, season, and what matters most to you as a couple. Rather than aim for a national-average figure, pick a total you and anyone contributing are actually comfortable spending, then use a category guide like this one to split it sensibly.

What percentage of a wedding budget should go to the venue and catering?

Venue and catering is typically the largest line item, commonly landing around 40-50% of the total budget, since it usually bundles the space rental, food, drinks, and often tables, chairs, and linens in one vendor contract.

Does guest count change my budget percentages?

Guest count mostly changes the dollar amount within categories that scale per person -- catering, favors, invitations, rentals -- rather than the overall percentage split. This calculator shows your estimated cost per guest alongside the category breakdown so you can sanity-check the total against your headcount.

What if a category goes over budget?

Look first at the miscellaneous and buffer category -- it exists precisely to absorb overages elsewhere. If that is not enough, revisit lower-priority categories (favors, transportation, stationery are common places to trim) before cutting into the categories you marked as priorities.

Do I have to follow these percentages exactly?

No -- treat this as a starting point, not a rule. Every wedding is different: a destination wedding might shift money toward travel, an at-home ceremony might need almost nothing for venue rental, and a couple who cares most about photography might intentionally overweight that category.

How do priorities change the numbers in this calculator?

Choosing up to three priority categories adds a few percentage points to each one and proportionally trims the remaining categories so the whole budget still adds up to 100%. It is a simple, transparent reallocation -- not a prediction of what you will actually spend.

Want more than a calculator?

This tool covers the numbers. These two go further, if you want them.

Printable · $7 instant download · Coming soon

Wedding Budget & Planning Tracker

The full 10-page system: vendor comparison and shortlist, payment and deposit tracker, guest list and RSVP tracker, day-of timeline, month-by-month countdown checklist, and more. Print at home in US Letter or A4.

In the works

Coming soon

Newly Engaged Planner

A printable for the first few weeks after getting engaged -- before the vendor bookings start, while you're still deciding on a date, a rough guest count, and a realistic budget.

In the works