Wedding budget calculator

Your wedding. Your numbers.

A judgment-free budget breakdown built around what you actually have — not what magazines say you should spend.

Build my budget → See money tips
$29k
Average US wedding cost
43%
Couples go over budget
$8k
Average overspend
Scroll to build
Budget calculator

Where should my money go?

Adjust the sliders to your situation. The breakdown updates in real time — no spreadsheet needed.

Your wedding

Move the sliders. Everything else is handled for you.

Total budget $25,000
$5k$25k$50k$100k
Guest count 80 guests
1075150300+
Style
Season
Simple style: put your money into food and venue. Guests remember how the night felt — not the centerpieces.

Your breakdown

$25,000
Smart move Book your venue first — it sets your guest count, which determines everything else.
Planning checklist

What to do, and when.

Click items to check them off. Your progress saves in your browser — come back anytime.

12+ months out

0 of 6 done
  • ✓
    Set your total budget and guest count
  • ✓
    Decide on wedding style and vibe
  • ✓
    Research and book your venue
  • ✓
    Lock in your wedding date
  • ✓
    Book photographer and videographer
  • ✓
    Start dress or suit shopping

6–12 months out

0 of 6 done
  • ✓
    Book caterer or confirm venue catering
  • ✓
    Book your officiant
  • ✓
    Book florist
  • ✓
    Send save-the-dates
  • ✓
    Book hair and makeup
  • ✓
    Create your wedding registry

Under 3 months

0 of 6 done
  • ✓
    Confirm all vendor details in writing
  • ✓
    Finalize seating chart
  • ✓
    Send final guest count to caterer
  • ✓
    Get wedding insurance
  • ✓
    Write your vows
  • ✓
    Prepare vendor payments and tip envelopes
Honest advice

Where to save. Where to splurge.

The decisions that actually move the needle — no filler.

Save here
Florals & centerpieces
Guests barely notice centerpieces. Dried florals, greenery, and candlelight create atmosphere for a fraction of fresh-flower costs.
Worth every cent
Photography
Your photos outlast everything else about the day. If you overspend anywhere, make it here. Good photographers book 12–18 months out.
Save here
Invitations & paper
Digital invites are fully normalized now. Canva plus a local printer beats a stationer by $600–1,200. Nobody keeps the envelope.
Common mistake
Unlimited open bar
Beer and wine only — or a signature cocktail plus beer and wine — cuts your bar bill 30–40% with zero guest complaints.
Worth every cent
Catering quality
Food is the #1 thing guests talk about afterward. If the budget is tight, reduce guest count first — quality beats quantity every time.
Save here
Day-of transport
A decorated personal car, a vintage rental, or rideshare accounts for the wedding party saves hundreds with zero impact on memories.
Resources

Tools worth your time.

Genuinely useful services for keeping your wedding beautiful and on budget.

Registry
Zola Registry
The cleanest registry experience. Add items from any store, manage cash funds, and track every gift in one place.
Create your registry →
Insurance
WedSafe
Wedding insurance covering cancellations, vendor no-shows, and liability. Usually $150–400. Worth every penny.
Get a quote →
Honeymoon
Booking.com
Best rates on honeymoon hotels. Book early — popular destinations fill up fast around peak wedding season.
Find honeymoon hotels →
Décor & DIY
Amazon Wedding
Favors, décor, and supplies for a fraction of boutique prices. Filter by Prime for guaranteed pre-wedding delivery.
Shop wedding supplies →
Invitations
Canva
Design beautiful invitations yourself for free. Print locally. Saves $400–1,200 versus a traditional stationer.
Design free invitations →
Find vendors
The Knot
Compare local photographers, caterers, florists, and officiants with real couple reviews before booking anyone.
Find local vendors →
Budget guides

From the blog.

Honest, practical wedding budget advice — written for real couples with real budgets.

♡
Wedding Budget
Wedding Food Alternatives to a Sit-Down Dinner (And What They Cost)
Ditch the traditional plated dinner. These wedding food alternatives are often cheaper, more memorable, and guests actually love…
Mar 22, 2026 6 min read
Read more →
♡
Wedding Budget
Off-Peak Wedding Dates: How Much Can You Actually Save?
Off-peak wedding dates can save $2,000 to $8,000+ on venues and vendors. Here's exactly what discounts to expect…
Mar 22, 2026 6 min read
Read more →
♡
Wedding Budget
How to Build a Wedding Budget From Scratch: Step-by-Step Guide
A clear, step-by-step framework for building a real wedding budget — including how to allocate across categories and…
Mar 22, 2026 6 min read
Read more →
Free guide

The complete budget PDF.

A printable wedding budget spreadsheet, vendor negotiation scripts, and our full "where to save" checklist. One email. Free forever.

  • Printable budget spreadsheet by category
  • Vendor negotiation scripts that actually work
  • The "where to cut" checklist without the guilt
  • Off-peak date savings calculator
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