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Wedding Budget Allocator

Split a wedding budget by category.

Per guest
$292

Standard allocation (The Knot 2024 averages)

  • 35%Venue$12,250
  • 28%Catering & bar$9,800
  • 12%Photography & video$4,200
  • 8%Attire (dress, suit, shoes)$2,800
  • 8%Flowers & decor$2,800
  • 7%Music / DJ / band$2,450
  • 3%Stationery & invites$1,050
  • 3%Transportation$1,050
  • 2%Officiant & ceremony fees$700
  • 3%Hair & makeup$1,050
  • 2%Cake$700
  • 2%Favors & gifts$700

Allocations are starting points based on The Knot's 2024 averages. Real-world spending varies a lot - some couples skip the cake to upgrade the photographer. Add a 5-10 percent contingency for surprises.

About

Enter total budget and guest count. The tool allocates by The Knot 2024 averages: 35% venue, 28% catering, 12% photography, plus the rest in smaller buckets.

How to use

  1. Enter total budget and guests.

FAQ

What about the venue cost?+

Venue + catering is usually 60-65% of total. If you skip catering or pick a non-traditional venue, the percentages shift hard. The numbers here are averages, not rules.