Wedding budget calculator

How to set a wedding budget in 4 steps

1. 1

   Agree on a number. Start with what you can comfortably spend, together, before you look at venues. Not sure yet? Use Help me estimate, or skip the total and just track.

2. 2

   Count your guests, roughly. Guests move the budget more than anything else. Catering and drinks are priced per guest, so you can see what 10 fewer would save.

3. 3

   Split it, then make it yours. We suggest a split you can change. Rename, remove or add any line. Lines you type or lock stay put when the total changes.

4. 4

   Track what's booked and paid. Add deposits and balances with their due dates. They go on your checklist, and you can see who's paying for what.

A typical split

Venue and food take the biggest share almost everywhere. This is where the calculator starts, and every line can change.

Line	Share
Venue and rentals	28%
Catering and drinks	23%
Cake and desserts	1%
Photography	6%
Videography	4%
Music and entertainment	8%
Flowers and decor	8%
Dress, tux or suit	4%
Hair and makeup	1%
Wedding rings	5%
Invitations and paper	1%
Officiant and marriage license	1%
Transportation	2%
Wedding planner	4%
Favors and gifts	1%
Tips	3%

What a wedding for 100 or 150 guests costs

Guests move the budget more than anything else.

Guests	At $292 a guest (The Knot 2026)	Merriwell estimate
50	$14,600	$24,000$19,200 to $28,700
100	$29,200	$31,500$25,200 to $37,700
150	$43,800	$39,000$31,200 to $46,700

The free spreadsheet

Prefer a spreadsheet? It has the same three parts: the budget, the payments and who's paying.

Download the free wedding budget spreadsheet (Excel or a printable PDF, no email needed).

Frequently asked questions

How much should a wedding cost?

There's no right number. Couples married in 2025 spent $34,000 on average, with 117 guests, about $292 a guest (The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study). Zola puts the average at $36,000 (Zola Wedding Cost Index, March 2026). Start from what you can comfortably spend, then shape the wedding to fit it.

How do we set a wedding budget?

Agree on a total you're both happy with, count your guests roughly, then split the money by what matters most to you. Our calculator suggests a split you can change, and keeps track of what's booked, paid and still to pay.

What percentage goes to the venue?

The Knot's 2026 figures put the venue and rentals at about 29% of the budget, and catering, cake and drinks at about 24%. Our starting split gives the venue 28% and catering and drinks 23%, after setting a little aside for surprises. Change any line to suit you.

How much does a wedding for 100 guests cost?

At The Knot's average of $292 a guest (2026 study), 100 guests comes to about $29,200. Our own estimate for 100 guests is about $31,500 ($16,450 plus $150 a guest), and it moves with the state you marry in.

Who pays for what?

There's no fixed rule any more. Many couples share the cost with their families. Add each person under Who's paying, with what they've offered and what it's for, and you'll see what's been given and what's still to come.

Should we budget for tips and tax, and how much do we tip?

Yes. Quotes often leave out sales tax and a service charge, so switch them on for any line and they're added for you. For tips, Zola's 2026 guide suggests 16-20% of the food and drink bill for catering staff when gratuity isn't included, and $50-100 for an officiant. The tips line is a suggestion you can change or remove.

How much should we keep back for surprises?

We set aside 6% on budgets under $20,000, 5% up to $35,000, 4% up to $60,000 and 3% above that. It's a line like any other, so you can change it.

What is the 50/30/20 rule, and does it work for a wedding?

It's a household rule of thumb: about half of take-home pay for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for saving. A wedding usually comes from the saving part, so it helps you decide how much to put aside each month, not how to split the wedding itself.

Is there a free wedding budget spreadsheet?

Yes. Download our blank spreadsheet as Excel or a printable PDF, with no email needed. Or keep your budget here and download it as a CSV whenever you like.

Is it free, and is our budget private?

The calculator, the tracker, payments and who's paying are free, with no account to start. With a free account your budget is private to the two of you: family or a planner you invite see nothing unless you choose to share it.