Wedding budget calculator
Enter what you can spend and each cost you know. See what is left, your cost per guest, and which costs are still unknown.
Build your wedding budget
Your plan Calculated
Left to assign$2,800.00
| Working budget money minus cushion | $28,800.00 |
|---|---|
| Planned costs | $26,000.00 |
| Signed contracts | $14,000.00 |
| Your estimates | $12,000.00 |
| Planned cost per guest | $260.00 |
Still unknown (3): Photography, Attire, Flowers.
Your plan isn't complete until these have amounts. They are not counted as $0.
Share of your planned costs
Your entries stay in this browser tab. They are not saved or sent to VowMath.
The calculation method
Three steps, all shown.
- Working budget = money you can spend − the cushion you keep aside.
- Planned costs = every total you entered + (each price per guest × guests).
- Left to assign = working budget − planned costs.
In the example, $32,000 minus a $3,200 cushion leaves $28,800. The planned costs are $14,000 signed, $90 × 100 guests for catering and bar, and $3,000 for rentals: $26,000 in all. That leaves $2,800, with 3 costs still unknown. These are made-up amounts.
A cost with no amount stays unknown. It is never counted as $0, because a missing price makes a total look more certain than it is. The plan counts as complete only when every cost on your list has an amount and you are not over budget.
Why there are no preset percentages
Some budget tools split your total into preset shares, such as a set percentage for the venue. A preset share can hide a real quote that is higher or lower, so this calculator starts from your own quotes. The share bars show how your plan divides, after you enter it.
Averages, kept separate
The Wedding Report models a 2025 US average of $32,899 and a median of $18,231. They describe weddings in general, not yours, so the calculator does not use them.
Read how to build a budget you can check, compare venue quotes, or estimate the alcohol to buy.
Questions about wedding budgets
How do I make a wedding budget?
Start with the money you and anyone helping have agreed to spend, not with an average. Set aside a cushion you won't plan to spend. Then list each cost: a total for things like the venue and photographer, and a price per guest for things like catering. The calculator adds them up, shows what is left, and keeps every cost you don't know yet on the list.
What percentage of a wedding budget should go to the venue?
We don't give a set percentage. A fixed share can hide a real quote that is higher or lower, so this calculator starts from your own quotes instead. After you enter them, it shows each cost's share of your plan, so you can see where your money goes.
How big should the cushion be?
That is your call. The example on this page keeps $3,200 of $32,000, a made-up amount. Pick a number you will protect on purpose, and change it on purpose too, instead of letting new costs use it up.
How do I work out the cost per guest?
Divide your planned costs by your guest count. In the example, $26,000 for 100 guests is $260 per guest. That number includes fixed costs, so it falls as you add guests. Costs priced per guest, like catering, stay the same for each guest.
What is the average cost of a wedding?
The Wedding Report models a 2025 US average of $32,899 and a median of $18,231. A median is lower than an average when a few very expensive weddings pull the average up. Neither number is used in this calculator. Your budget should start from the money you have.
Is my budget saved?
No. Your entries stay in this browser tab and are not sent to VowMath. Use Copy this plan to keep a text copy, or print the page.
Method updated October 13, 2026. Report a calculation problem.