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Planning a wedding can be exciting, but costs can add up quickly. Use our free Wedding Budget Calculator to estimate your total wedding costs, organise your expenses and create a realistic budget.

Add your venue, catering, clothing, photography, entertainment, flowers, rings and other expenses to see your estimated total, cost per guest and where most of your wedding budget is going.

Wedding Budget Calculator

woman holding beige-petaled flower bouquet

How to Use the Wedding Budget Calculator

Use the Wedding Budget Calculator to estimate your total wedding costs, compare them with your target budget and see which categories are taking the largest share of your spending.

Step 1: Choose Your Currency

Select the currency you want to use. The calculator supports multiple currencies, so you can use it wherever you are planning your wedding.

Step 2: Add Your Budget and Guest Count

Enter your total wedding budget target if you already have one in mind, then add the number of guests you expect to invite.

Your budget target is optional, but adding one allows the calculator to show whether your estimated wedding cost is currently under or over budget.

Step 3: Enter Your Catering Cost Per Guest

Add the estimated catering cost for each guest. The calculator automatically multiplies this amount by your guest count.

For example:

50 guests × $80 = $4,000
100 guests × $120 = $12,000

The currency shown will depend on the currency you selected in the calculator.

Step 4: Add Your Wedding Expenses

Enter the costs that apply to your wedding, such as your venue, clothing, photography, entertainment, flowers, transport, rings, accommodation and honeymoon.

You do not need to complete every field. Leave any expense that does not apply to your wedding blank.

Step 5: Add a Contingency Allowance

Wedding costs can change as you finalise suppliers and plans. You can add a contingency percentage to give yourself some extra room for unexpected expenses.

The calculator will automatically add this amount to your estimated total.

Step 6: Calculate Your Wedding Budget

Select Calculate Wedding Budget to see:

your estimated wedding cost
contingency amount
total cost including contingency
estimated cost per guest
whether you are under or over your target budget
a breakdown of your largest spending categories

Tips for Staying Within Your Wedding Budget

Decide on your overall budget before making major bookings, then identify the parts of the wedding that matter most to you. Compare prices where possible, keep your guest list realistic and update the calculator as quotes and actual costs change.

Tip: You do not need every category to be perfect at the beginning. Start with rough estimates and update them as your wedding plans become more definite.

Why Use a Wedding Budget Calculator?

A wedding budget calculator can help you turn a long list of wedding expenses into a clearer plan.

Instead of guessing what your wedding may cost, you can enter your expected expenses and see how they add up across different categories.

It can help you:

estimate your total wedding cost
compare your spending with a target budget
calculate your estimated cost per guest
identify which categories are taking the largest share of your budget
allow extra room for unexpected expenses
adjust your plans before making major bookings

Whether you're planning a small ceremony or a larger celebration, having a clear budget can make it easier to decide where you want to spend more, where you can cut back, and what matters most to you.

Tip: Your first estimate does not need to be perfect. Update the calculator as you receive quotes and confirm suppliers so your wedding budget becomes more accurate over time.

gray and beige gazebo near green leafed tree

What Does a Wedding Budget Include?

A wedding budget is more than the cost of the venue. Your total can include dozens of smaller expenses that are easy to overlook when you first start planning.

Common wedding expenses include:

venue and catering
drinks
wedding clothing and accessories
photography and videography
flowers and decorations
entertainment
ceremony costs
invitations and stationery
transport
wedding rings
hair and makeup
accommodation
honeymoon costs
last-minute or unexpected expenses

Not every wedding will include every category. A smaller ceremony may have only a handful of major expenses, while a larger wedding may involve many different suppliers.

The important thing is to build your budget around the wedding you actually want, rather than feeling that you need to spend money on every traditional wedding expense.

elegant table setting with floral centerpiece

How to Set a Realistic Wedding Budget

Before booking suppliers, start with the total amount you are comfortable spending.

Consider how much you already have saved, how much you can realistically save before the wedding, and whether spending more on the wedding would affect your other financial goals.

Once you have a total figure, divide your budget between the parts of the wedding that matter most to you.

For example, you may decide that photography and food are priorities while decorations or wedding transport are less important.

Your budget does not have to match someone else's. The goal is to create a celebration you can afford without putting unnecessary pressure on your finances.

How Much Should You Budget Per Wedding Guest?

Your guest count can have a major impact on the total cost of your wedding because expenses such as catering, drinks, invitations and venue requirements often increase as more guests are added.

For example, if catering costs $100 per guest:

50 guests × $100 = $5,000

100 guests × $100 = $10,000

150 guests × $100 = $15,000

And that is only the catering cost.

Reducing or increasing your guest list can therefore change your wedding budget considerably. Use the cost per guest result in the calculator to compare different wedding plans.

Wedding Budget Example

Suppose you're planning a wedding for 80 guests with a target budget of $25,000.

If you then allow extra room for unexpected expenses, your final estimated wedding cost will increase.

This is where the calculator becomes useful: you can change individual costs and immediately see how those decisions affect your overall budget.

Important: These figures are only an example, not recommended wedding prices. Actual costs vary considerably by location, wedding size, suppliers and personal choices.

Frequently Ask Questions

How much should I budget for a wedding?
There is no single amount that every couple should spend. Your wedding budget should reflect what you can comfortably afford, your priorities, guest count, location and the type of celebration you want.

What is usually the biggest wedding expense?
For many weddings, the venue, food and drinks account for a significant part of the budget. However, this varies depending on the type of wedding and what is included in the venue package.

How do I calculate wedding cost per guest?
Divide your total wedding cost by the number of guests. For example, a $20,000 wedding with 100 guests has an average cost of $200 per guest.

Should I include a contingency in my wedding budget?
Leaving some room for unexpected expenses can help if supplier prices change or additional costs appear during planning.

Does the calculator work for small weddings?
Yes. You can enter only the expenses that apply to your wedding and leave the other fields blank.

Can I use the calculator outside Australia?
Yes. The calculator can be used to plan a wedding budget in different countries. Select your preferred currency and enter costs based on prices in your location.

Should the honeymoon be included in the wedding budget?
That's a personal choice. Some couples include the honeymoon in their overall wedding budget, while others treat it as a separate savings goal.

How often should I update my wedding budget?
Update your budget whenever you receive a new quote, pay a deposit, change your guest count or confirm a supplier. This keeps your estimated total closer to what you are actually likely to spend.