Wedding Budget Calculator
See what your wedding will really cost — itemised, realistic, and yours to adjust. Free, no sign-up, nothing saved to our servers.
Tell us about your wedding
Leave budget blank to use the typical spend for your inputs ($292/guest, adjusted for region and style). Enter your own number to plan against it.
Your working budget
$34,164
Typical for your inputs · $292/guest
Typical (national avg)
$34,200
The Knot 2026, 117 guests
Balanced
$0
Every dollar has a job
Your itemised budget
Venue & rentals
Biggest line item. Range 24–29% across sources.
Catering (food)
~$80/guest (The Knot). Scales with guest count.
Bar & beverages
Disputed: 6% (alcohol only) to 15% (full bar service). Often bundled into catering.
Photography
Videography
Florals & decor
Disputed: 9% (The Knot) to 18% (Zola). We use the larger dataset.
Music & entertainment
DJ ~$1,800 or live band ~$4,500.
Attire (dress + suit)
Hair & makeup
Wedding planner / coordinator
Stationery & invitations
Cake & desserts
Wedding bands
Wedding bands only — engagement ring is a separate add-on below.
Transportation
Officiant
Favors & gifts
Misc & contingency
A buffer of 5–10% is wise; bump this up if you can.
Optional extras
Most couples budget these separately from the wedding itself, so they sit outside the total above.
Want to make every dollar count?
Read our money-saving guides — where to splurge, where to save, and how to avoid the hidden costs that push 3 in 4 couples over budget.
Browse budget & finance guidesHow we calculate this
Figures are anchored to The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study (10,474 US couples): a $34,200 average at $292 per guest. We start from guests × $292, adjust for region and style, then split across categories using The Knot’s published allocation.
These are planning estimates, not quotes. Two figures vary by source: bar/beverages (6–15% depending on whether bartending is bundled) and florals (9–18%) — we use The Knot’s larger dataset. The high-cost-metro and luxury multipliers are estimates extrapolated from regional and luxury spend ranges. Always confirm real prices with local vendors.
Wedding budget questions, answered
How much does a wedding cost in 2026?
The average US wedding costs about $34,200, or roughly $292 per guest, according to The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study of over 10,000 couples. Your actual cost depends heavily on guest count, region and style — a budget wedding can come in near $15,000, while luxury or big-city weddings often exceed $60,000.
What percentage of the wedding budget goes to the venue?
The venue and rentals are the single biggest line item, typically 24–29% of the total budget. Together, venue, catering and bar usually account for about 45–50% of everything you spend.
How much should I budget per guest?
Plan for about $292 per guest as an all-in average. Catering and bar are the costs that scale most directly with headcount, so trimming the guest list is the fastest way to lower the total.
What are the most common hidden wedding costs?
Tips and service charges, vendor overtime, dress alterations, taxes, postage, and day-of details add up fast. Keep a 5–10% contingency buffer — these are why about 3 in 4 couples go over budget.
Is the engagement ring part of the wedding budget?
Usually not. The engagement ring (about $4,600 on average) is typically bought before planning begins and budgeted separately, as is the honeymoon. We list both as optional extras outside the core total.
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