How the calculator works
Enter your total budget and the calculator splits it across the usual wedding categories using standard percentages — so you can see, in dollars, what each part of the day can cost. Add your guest count and it also shows your cost per guest, the single most useful number for keeping a wedding on budget.
Most of your spend rides on the guest count, because catering, rentals and drinks are all per-person. Watch the cost-per-guest figure move as you change the numbers — trimming the list is usually the biggest lever you have.
Tick include a wedding planner and a planner slice is added and the other categories rebalance around it.
What does a wedding cost?
There's no single right number. In the US the average wedding lands somewhere around $30,000–$35,000, but that hides a huge range — an intimate wedding can cost a few thousand, while a large city celebration runs well past six figures. Region, season, guest count and style move it more than anything.
Rather than chasing an average, set a total you're genuinely comfortable spending and work backwards. As a rough guide, all-in costs often land around $200–$400 per guest.
A typical budget breakdown
Applied to your total, a common split looks like this (without a separate planner):
| Category | Share of budget |
|---|---|
| Venue, catering & rentals | ~44% |
| Photography & video | ~13% |
| Flowers & décor | ~9% |
| Music & entertainment | ~9% |
| Attire & beauty | ~8% |
| Rings | ~3% |
| Stationery & seating | ~3% |
| Cake, transport, favors & buffer | ~11% |
- Venue + catering is usually ~40% of the whole budget.
- Photography and video together are often the next biggest slice.
- Seating charts and place cards fall under stationery — a small line.
- Always keep a buffer for the surprises that come up.
Your seating chart, place cards and invitations sit in the stationery slice — small in the budget, but the part guests actually touch on the day. You can do all of it free in Lovely Seating.
Where to save (and where not to)
- Trim the guest list — the single biggest saving, since so much cost is per head.
- Pick an off-peak date — a Friday, Sunday or winter date can cut venue and vendor prices sharply.
- Choose an all-in venue — bundling catering, tables and chairs often beats hiring each separately.
- Don't skimp on photography — it's what you keep, and it's hard to redo.
Building the guest list is where the budget really takes shape — see our guide to making a wedding guest list.
From budget to seating
Once your budget and guest count are set, the planning gets practical — building the guest list and seating everyone. Hit Plan your seating above and Lovely Seating starts you off with your guest count, ready to add names and arrange tables.
Seat your guests free
Bring in your guest list, arrange your tables to scale, seat everyone, and print a beautiful chart and place cards — the parts of the budget your guests actually see, done for free.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the average wedding cost?+
In the US, the average wedding costs somewhere around $30,000–$35,000, though it varies enormously by region, guest count and style. What matters more than the average is your own number: set a total you're comfortable with, then use the breakdown to see what each part can be.
How much should I budget per wedding guest?+
Guests are the biggest driver of cost, mostly through catering and rentals. A rough figure is $200–$400 per guest all-in, but it depends heavily on your venue and menu. The calculator shows your exact cost per guest as you change the numbers — a fast way to see how the guest list moves the budget.
How should I split my wedding budget?+
A common split is around 40% venue and catering, 12% photography and video, 8–10% each for flowers, music and attire, and smaller slices for rings, stationery, cake, transport and favors — plus a buffer. The calculator applies these percentages to your budget so you can see the dollar amounts.
How do I lower my wedding budget?+
The two biggest levers are the guest count and the venue/catering choice, since most of the budget rides on them. Trimming the guest list, choosing an off-peak date, or picking an all-in venue usually saves far more than cutting small line items.
Are these percentages exact?+
No — they're a sensible starting framework. Your priorities (say, splurging on photography) and your region will shift the mix. Use the breakdown as a plan to adjust, not a rule.
Plan your seating free
Your seating chart and place cards are the part of the budget guests actually touch — and they're free. Start with your guest count already set.
Start with your guest count