How to make a wedding budget you can stick to

Set one total, split it into categories, keep a cushion, and let the guest count drive the rest. Do those four things and you will know where you stand before you sign your first contract.

The free wedding budget calculator does the split for you, adds up to your total exactly, and tracks spending as you go.

Step 1: agree the total

Decide what you can spend before you look at venues. Add up what you will save, and any money from family, and agree who is paying for what. Write down the total as a single number. Everything else in your plan is a share of it.

Step 2: start with a typical split

Venue and catering take the largest share in most weddings, followed by photography, attire, flowers and music. The calculator starts from a common rule of thumb, which you should treat as a first draft. Costs vary a lot by country, city, season and the day of the week, so replace the split with real quotes as you get them.

Step 3: choose your priorities

You cannot spend extra on everything. Pick up to three things that matter most to the two of you, such as food, photography or music, and give them a bigger share. Take it from the things your guests will not remember.

Step 4: let the guest list lead

Catering and venue costs scale with the number of guests more than any other cost. Before you cut a small item, look at the guest list. Ten fewer guests often frees more money than any other single change. The calculator shows what ten more or ten fewer guests would do.

Step 5: keep a cushion

Keep a share of the budget unassigned for things nobody plans for: an extra table, alterations, a late supplier, a change of plan. If you do not use it, you have saved it.

Step 6: track as you pay

Record each deposit and payment against its category as it happens. The point is to see an overspend early, when you can still take it from another category, not at the end.

Once the budget is set, plan the seating chart and keep your guest list and addresses in one place.

Questions

What percentage of the budget should go to the venue?

Venue and catering together are the biggest part of most weddings, but there is no single right share. It depends on where you live and what your guests expect. Start with a typical split, then adjust with quotes.

How do I cut the cost of a wedding?

Reduce the guest list first, then consider a weekday or off-season date, then simplify decor and extras. Keep what matters to the two of you.

Should I include tips and tax?

Yes. Add them to the relevant category or keep them in your cushion. Ask each supplier what is included in the quote.

Should I tell guests my budget?

No. Tell suppliers your budget range when you ask for quotes, so they can show you what is possible.

Is the calculator free?

Yes. It runs in your browser, needs no sign-up and sends nothing anywhere.