Wedding Budget Calculator
Enter what you can spend, customize your vibe, and calculate estimated costs.
We created this tool to take some or most of the guesswork out of your wedding planning. Planning for your perfect day is incredibly exciting, but all the budgeting can be overwhelming. That's why we built the EverlyWeds Budget Calculator. We included everything we thought of to make this useful as possible, but we're always looking to improve. So hit us on [email protected] with any feedback and suggestions.
We use reputable source collected localized data for the US, UK, Canada, and Australia currently(more incoming soon) to give you almost accurate financial picture.
How to Use This Tool:
- Set Your Target: Enter your maximum budget and select your country/currency.
- Customize Your Vibe: Expand the categories below to tweak your guest count (from 20 up to 300), food style, entertainment choices, etc.
- Track Your Progress: Watch the visualizer bar shift and keep an eye on your "Remaining" or "Over Budget" status badge.
This estimated budget is based on 100 guests and average costs. You can toggle the number of guests below and customize other budgets.
Tight squeeze! Your cost-per-guest is very low. Consider a buffet or trimming the guest list.
Where the money goes
Venue & Catering
Space, food, alcohol
Photo & Video
Photographer & Film
Attire & Beauty
Dress, suit, hair, makeup
Music & Ent.
DJ, live band, MC
Planners & Misc
Coordinator, fees, cushion
Florals & Decor
Bouquets, centerpieces, lighting
How Your Choices Impact Your Budget
Our calculator distributes your funds based on industry-standard averages combined with the exact preferences you toggled on the options. Here is how your choices impact the bottom line:
- Venue & Catering (The Biggest Expense): This category scales aggressively with your guest count. Choosing a plated dinner with an open bar quickly eat up over 50% of your budget. To adjust this number you can use the calculator toggles to switch to a buffet style or a beer and wine bar.
- Photo & Video: We start you with a baseline for a professional photographer. Adding a videographer or an engagement shoot will bump this costs up by several thousand dollars, depending on your location.
- Attire & Beauty: Your wedding party size directly impacts your beauty and styling costs. We factor in standard dress/suit costs, plus the option to calculate an additional look if you plan on a reception outfit change.
- Florals & Decor: Are you a minimalist, or do you want a lush, floral-heavy aesthetic? Upgrading your floral vibe or adding custom lighting and draping can shift this from a minor line item to a major expense.
- Music & Entertainment: A DIY Spotify playlist keeps your budget perfectly kinda intact, while hiring a professional DJ adds a moderate cost. Live band is luxurious and will significantly shrink your remaining budget.
- Planners & Misc: We always recommend at least a month-of coordinator to keep it less stressful. If you toggle on a "Full-Service Planner," our calculator automatically sets this to an industry-standard 15% of your total budget.
How "Cost Per Guest" Impacts Your Wedding Budget
Did you trigger the Tight Squeeze warning on our calculator?
The quickest way to blow past your calculated budget is having a guest list that exceeds your target spend. Every single guest can add to the cost of food, alcohol, rentals (chairs, linens, silverware), and invitations. If your target budget is $15,000 but you have the slider set to 150 guests, your cost-per-guest is too low to support traditional plated catering.
How to fix a tight budget:
- Be tactical with the Guest List: Cutting just 20 guests can often save you thousands of dollars instantly.
- Change the Food Style: Use the drop-down menu to switch from "Plated Dinner" to "Casual / Truck."
- The Bar: Switching from an "Open Bar" to "Cash Bar" removes a massive financial burden from your shoulders.