Wedding Budget Calculator: Split Costs & Cost Per Guest

How the wedding budget split works

On the defaults — a $30,000.00 budget for 120 guests — the venue & catering is $12,000.00, photography & video is $3,600.00, the wedding planner is $3,000.00, the contingency is $1,200.00, and the cost per guest is $250.00. The standard split is venue & catering 40%, photography & video 12%, attire 8%, music & entertainment 8%, flowers & décor 8%, wedding planner 10%, invitations & stationery 3%, cake & desserts 2%, transportation 2%, rings & jewelry 3%, contingency 4% — it adds to 100%, so every dollar of the budget lands in exactly one category.

Five things about the model are worth stating plainly. First, each category is the total budget times its share — 40% of $30,000.00 = $12,000.00 for the venue. Second, the cost per guest is the total budget divided by the guests — $30,000.00 ÷ 120 = $250.00. Third, the guest list, not the budget, decides what each guest costs — the same $30,000.00 for 200 guests is only $150.00 a guest, and for 50 guests it is $600.00 a guest. Fourth, the venue and catering slice grows fastest with every extra guest, because it is 40% of the total and the biggest slice. And fifth, the contingency is 4% — $1,200.00 — and it should stay untouched until the last month; all listed in Accuracy & limitations.

The worked example, line by line

Setup: $30,000.00 total budget, 120 guests.

Line 1 — the venue. The venue & catering is 40% of $30,000.00 = $12,000.00.

Line 2 — photography, planner, contingency. Photography & video is 12% of $30,000.00 = $3,600.00; the wedding planner is 10% = $3,000.00; the contingency is 4% = $1,200.00.

Line 3 — the rest. Attire, music and flowers are 8% each = $2,400.00 each; invitations are 3% = $900.00; cake is 2% = $600.00; transportation is 2% = $600.00; rings are 3% = $900.00.

Line 4 — the cost per guest. The cost per guest is $30,000.00 ÷ 120 = $250.00.

Line 5 — the guest list decides. The same $30,000.00 for 200 guests is $30,000.00 ÷ 200 = $150.00 a guest, and for 50 guests it is $30,000.00 ÷ 50 = $600.00 a guest.

Every branch, checked

$20,000 budget, 120 guests: Venue & catering $8,000.00, Photography & video $2,400.00, Attire $1,600.00, Music & entertainment $1,600.00, Flowers & décor $1,600.00, Wedding planner $2,000.00, Invitations & stationery $600.00, Cake & desserts $400.00, Transportation $400.00, Rings & jewelry $600.00, Contingency $800.00 — cost per guest $166.67 — With a $20,000.00 budget the venue is $8,000.00 and each guest costs $166.67 — the same 120 guests, a third less money.

$50,000 budget, 120 guests: Venue & catering $20,000.00, Photography & video $6,000.00, Attire $4,000.00, Music & entertainment $4,000.00, Flowers & décor $4,000.00, Wedding planner $5,000.00, Invitations & stationery $1,500.00, Cake & desserts $1,000.00, Transportation $1,000.00, Rings & jewelry $1,500.00, Contingency $2,000.00 — cost per guest $416.67 — With a $50,000.00 budget the venue is $20,000.00 and each guest costs $416.67 — the split is the same, the numbers are bigger.

$30,000 budget, 200 guests: Venue & catering $12,000.00, Photography & video $3,600.00, Attire $2,400.00, Music & entertainment $2,400.00, Flowers & décor $2,400.00, Wedding planner $3,000.00, Invitations & stationery $900.00, Cake & desserts $600.00, Transportation $600.00, Rings & jewelry $900.00, Contingency $1,200.00 — cost per guest $150.00 — With 200 guests the venue is unchanged at $12,000.00, but each guest costs only $150.00 — the guest list, not the budget, decides what each guest costs.

$30,000 budget, 50 guests: Venue & catering $12,000.00, Photography & video $3,600.00, Attire $2,400.00, Music & entertainment $2,400.00, Flowers & décor $2,400.00, Wedding planner $3,000.00, Invitations & stationery $900.00, Cake & desserts $600.00, Transportation $600.00, Rings & jewelry $900.00, Contingency $1,200.00 — cost per guest $600.00 — With 50 guests each guest costs $600.00 — a small wedding spends far more per head.

$35,000 budget, 120 guests: Venue & catering $14,000.00, Photography & video $4,200.00, Attire $2,800.00, Music & entertainment $2,800.00, Flowers & décor $2,800.00, Wedding planner $3,500.00, Invitations & stationery $1,050.00, Cake & desserts $700.00, Transportation $700.00, Rings & jewelry $1,050.00, Contingency $1,400.00 — cost per guest $291.67 — With a $35,000.00 budget the photo is $4,200.00, the venue is $14,000.00 and each guest costs $291.67.

$25,000 budget, 120 guests: Venue & catering $10,000.00, Photography & video $3,000.00, Attire $2,000.00, Music & entertainment $2,000.00, Flowers & décor $2,000.00, Wedding planner $2,500.00, Invitations & stationery $750.00, Cake & desserts $500.00, Transportation $500.00, Rings & jewelry $750.00, Contingency $1,000.00 — cost per guest $208.33 — With a $25,000.00 budget the planner is $2,500.00, the contingency is $1,000.00 and each guest costs $208.33.

$40,000 budget, 150 guests: Venue & catering $16,000.00, Photography & video $4,800.00, Attire $3,200.00, Music & entertainment $3,200.00, Flowers & décor $3,200.00, Wedding planner $4,000.00, Invitations & stationery $1,200.00, Cake & desserts $800.00, Transportation $800.00, Rings & jewelry $1,200.00, Contingency $1,600.00 — cost per guest $266.67 — With a $40,000.00 budget for 150 guests the venue is $16,000.00 and each guest costs $266.67.

The reverses, worked backwards

Smallest budget whose DISPLAYED venue reaches $15,000: The smallest budget whose DISPLAYED venue reaches $15,000.00 is $37,499.99 — the exact root is $37,500.00, but at $37,499.99 the venue already displays as $15,000.00 (40% of $37,499.99 is $14,999.996, which rounds to $15,000.00). At $37,499.98 the venue is $14,999.99 — below $15,000.00. So the displayed-value answer is one cent lower than the exact root; state both.

Budget for exactly $200.00 per guest at 120 guests: The budget for exactly $200.00 per guest at 120 guests is $24,000.00 (exact: 120 × $200.00). At $24,000.00 the cost per guest is $200.00.

Guests for exactly $300.00 per guest at $30,000: The guest count for exactly $300.00 per guest at $30,000.00 is 100 guests (exact: $30,000.00 ÷ $300.00). At 100 guests the cost per guest is $300.00; at 99 guests it is $303.03, and at 101 guests it is $297.03.

Smallest budget whose DISPLAYED photography reaches $5,000: The smallest budget whose DISPLAYED photography reaches $5,000.00 is $41,666.63 — the exact root is $41,666.67, but at $41,666.63 the photo already displays as $5,000.00 (12% of $41,666.63 is $4,999.9956, which rounds to $5,000.00). At $41,666.62 the photo is $4,999.99 — below $5,000.00. So the displayed-value answer is four cents lower than the exact root; state both.

Budget for exactly $2,000.00 contingency: The budget for exactly $2,000.00 of contingency is $50,000.00 (exact: $2,000.00 ÷ 4%). At $50,000.00 the contingency is $2,000.00.

Guests for exactly $175.00 per guest at $35,000: The guest count for exactly $175.00 per guest at $35,000.00 is 200 guests (exact: $35,000.00 ÷ $175.00). At 200 guests the cost per guest is $175.00; at 199 guests it is $175.88, and at 201 guests it is $174.13.

What the defaults assume

The defaults are a $30,000.00 budget for 120 guests — Venue & catering $12,000.00, Photography & video $3,600.00, Attire $2,400.00, Music & entertainment $2,400.00, Flowers & décor $2,400.00, Wedding planner $3,000.00, Invitations & stationery $900.00, Cake & desserts $600.00, Transportation $600.00, Rings & jewelry $900.00, Contingency $1,200.00 — cost per guest $250.00. With $20,000 budget, 120 guests, Venue & catering $8,000.00, Photography & video $2,400.00, Attire $1,600.00, Music & entertainment $1,600.00, Flowers & décor $1,600.00, Wedding planner $2,000.00, Invitations & stationery $600.00, Cake & desserts $400.00, Transportation $400.00, Rings & jewelry $600.00, Contingency $800.00 — cost per guest $166.67 — With a $20,000.00 budget the venue is $8,000.00 and each guest costs $166.67 — the same 120 guests, a third less money. With $50,000 budget, 120 guests, Venue & catering $20,000.00, Photography & video $6,000.00, Attire $4,000.00, Music & entertainment $4,000.00, Flowers & décor $4,000.00, Wedding planner $5,000.00, Invitations & stationery $1,500.00, Cake & desserts $1,000.00, Transportation $1,000.00, Rings & jewelry $1,500.00, Contingency $2,000.00 — cost per guest $416.67 — With a $50,000.00 budget the venue is $20,000.00 and each guest costs $416.67 — the split is the same, the numbers are bigger. With $30,000 budget, 200 guests, Venue & catering $12,000.00, Photography & video $3,600.00, Attire $2,400.00, Music & entertainment $2,400.00, Flowers & décor $2,400.00, Wedding planner $3,000.00, Invitations & stationery $900.00, Cake & desserts $600.00, Transportation $600.00, Rings & jewelry $900.00, Contingency $1,200.00 — cost per guest $150.00 — With 200 guests the venue is unchanged at $12,000.00, but each guest costs only $150.00 — the guest list, not the budget, decides what each guest costs. With $30,000 budget, 50 guests, Venue & catering $12,000.00, Photography & video $3,600.00, Attire $2,400.00, Music & entertainment $2,400.00, Flowers & décor $2,400.00, Wedding planner $3,000.00, Invitations & stationery $900.00, Cake & desserts $600.00, Transportation $600.00, Rings & jewelry $900.00, Contingency $1,200.00 — cost per guest $600.00 — With 50 guests each guest costs $600.00 — a small wedding spends far more per head. With $35,000 budget, 120 guests, Venue & catering $14,000.00, Photography & video $4,200.00, Attire $2,800.00, Music & entertainment $2,800.00, Flowers & décor $2,800.00, Wedding planner $3,500.00, Invitations & stationery $1,050.00, Cake & desserts $700.00, Transportation $700.00, Rings & jewelry $1,050.00, Contingency $1,400.00 — cost per guest $291.67 — With a $35,000.00 budget the photo is $4,200.00, the venue is $14,000.00 and each guest costs $291.67. With $25,000 budget, 120 guests, Venue & catering $10,000.00, Photography & video $3,000.00, Attire $2,000.00, Music & entertainment $2,000.00, Flowers & décor $2,000.00, Wedding planner $2,500.00, Invitations & stationery $750.00, Cake & desserts $500.00, Transportation $500.00, Rings & jewelry $750.00, Contingency $1,000.00 — cost per guest $208.33 — With a $25,000.00 budget the planner is $2,500.00, the contingency is $1,000.00 and each guest costs $208.33. With $40,000 budget, 150 guests, Venue & catering $16,000.00, Photography & video $4,800.00, Attire $3,200.00, Music & entertainment $3,200.00, Flowers & décor $3,200.00, Wedding planner $4,000.00, Invitations & stationery $1,200.00, Cake & desserts $800.00, Transportation $800.00, Rings & jewelry $1,200.00, Contingency $1,600.00 — cost per guest $266.67 — With a $40,000.00 budget for 150 guests the venue is $16,000.00 and each guest costs $266.67. With smallest budget whose DISPLAYED venue reaches $15,000, $37,499.99 (exact 37500.0000) — at $37,499.99 the figures are Venue & catering $15,000.00, Photography & video $4,500.00, Attire $3,000.00, Music & entertainment $3,000.00, Flowers & décor $3,000.00, Wedding planner $3,750.00, Invitations & stationery $1,125.00, Cake & desserts $750.00, Transportation $750.00, Rings & jewelry $1,125.00, Contingency $1,500.00 — cost per guest $312.50; at the lower neighbor the figures are Venue & catering $14,999.99, Photography & video $4,500.00, Attire $3,000.00, Music & entertainment $3,000.00, Flowers & décor $3,000.00, Wedding planner $3,750.00, Invitations & stationery $1,125.00, Cake & desserts $750.00, Transportation $750.00, Rings & jewelry $1,125.00, Contingency $1,500.00 — cost per guest $312.50 With budget for exactly $200.00 per guest at 120 guests, $24,000.00 (exact 24000.0000) — at $24,000.00 the figures are Venue & catering $9,600.00, Photography & video $2,880.00, Attire $1,920.00, Music & entertainment $1,920.00, Flowers & décor $1,920.00, Wedding planner $2,400.00, Invitations & stationery $720.00, Cake & desserts $480.00, Transportation $480.00, Rings & jewelry $720.00, Contingency $960.00 — cost per guest $200.00; at the lower neighbor the figures are Venue & catering $9,600.00, Photography & video $2,880.00, Attire $1,920.00, Music & entertainment $1,920.00, Flowers & décor $1,920.00, Wedding planner $2,400.00, Invitations & stationery $720.00, Cake & desserts $480.00, Transportation $480.00, Rings & jewelry $720.00, Contingency $960.00 — cost per guest $200.00 With guests for exactly $300.00 per guest at $30,000, 100 guests (exact 100) — at 100 guests the figures are Venue & catering $12,000.00, Photography & video $3,600.00, Attire $2,400.00, Music & entertainment $2,400.00, Flowers & décor $2,400.00, Wedding planner $3,000.00, Invitations & stationery $900.00, Cake & desserts $600.00, Transportation $600.00, Rings & jewelry $900.00, Contingency $1,200.00 — cost per guest $300.00; at the lower neighbor the figures are Venue & catering $12,000.00, Photography & video $3,600.00, Attire $2,400.00, Music & entertainment $2,400.00, Flowers & décor $2,400.00, Wedding planner $3,000.00, Invitations & stationery $900.00, Cake & desserts $600.00, Transportation $600.00, Rings & jewelry $900.00, Contingency $1,200.00 — cost per guest $303.03 With smallest budget whose DISPLAYED photography reaches $5,000, $41,666.63 (exact 41666.6667) — at $41,666.63 the figures are Venue & catering $16,666.65, Photography & video $5,000.00, Attire $3,333.33, Music & entertainment $3,333.33, Flowers & décor $3,333.33, Wedding planner $4,166.66, Invitations & stationery $1,250.00, Cake & desserts $833.33, Transportation $833.33, Rings & jewelry $1,250.00, Contingency $1,666.67 — cost per guest $347.22; at the lower neighbor the figures are Venue & catering $16,666.65, Photography & video $4,999.99, Attire $3,333.33, Music & entertainment $3,333.33, Flowers & décor $3,333.33, Wedding planner $4,166.66, Invitations & stationery $1,250.00, Cake & desserts $833.33, Transportation $833.33, Rings & jewelry $1,250.00, Contingency $1,666.66 — cost per guest $347.22 With budget for exactly $2,000.00 contingency, $50,000.00 (exact 50000.0000) — at $50,000.00 the figures are Venue & catering $20,000.00, Photography & video $6,000.00, Attire $4,000.00, Music & entertainment $4,000.00, Flowers & décor $4,000.00, Wedding planner $5,000.00, Invitations & stationery $1,500.00, Cake & desserts $1,000.00, Transportation $1,000.00, Rings & jewelry $1,500.00, Contingency $2,000.00 — cost per guest $416.67; at the lower neighbor the figures are Venue & catering $20,000.00, Photography & video $6,000.00, Attire $4,000.00, Music & entertainment $4,000.00, Flowers & décor $4,000.00, Wedding planner $5,000.00, Invitations & stationery $1,500.00, Cake & desserts $1,000.00, Transportation $1,000.00, Rings & jewelry $1,500.00, Contingency $2,000.00 — cost per guest $416.67 With guests for exactly $175.00 per guest at $35,000, 200 guests (exact 200) — at 200 guests the figures are Venue & catering $14,000.00, Photography & video $4,200.00, Attire $2,800.00, Music & entertainment $2,800.00, Flowers & décor $2,800.00, Wedding planner $3,500.00, Invitations & stationery $1,050.00, Cake & desserts $700.00, Transportation $700.00, Rings & jewelry $1,050.00, Contingency $1,400.00 — cost per guest $175.00; at the lower neighbor the figures are Venue & catering $14,000.00, Photography & video $4,200.00, Attire $2,800.00, Music & entertainment $2,800.00, Flowers & décor $2,800.00, Wedding planner $3,500.00, Invitations & stationery $1,050.00, Cake & desserts $700.00, Transportation $700.00, Rings & jewelry $1,050.00, Contingency $1,400.00 — cost per guest $175.88 With $0 budget, 120 guests, Venue & catering $0.00, Photography & video $0.00, Attire $0.00, Music & entertainment $0.00, Flowers & décor $0.00, Wedding planner $0.00, Invitations & stationery $0.00, Cake & desserts $0.00, Transportation $0.00, Rings & jewelry $0.00, Contingency $0.00 — cost per guest $0.00 — With a $0.00 budget every category is $0.00 and the cost per guest is $0.00 — nothing to split. With $30,000 budget, 1 guest, Venue & catering $12,000.00, Photography & video $3,600.00, Attire $2,400.00, Music & entertainment $2,400.00, Flowers & décor $2,400.00, Wedding planner $3,000.00, Invitations & stationery $900.00, Cake & desserts $600.00, Transportation $600.00, Rings & jewelry $900.00, Contingency $1,200.00 — cost per guest $30,000.00 — With 1 guest the whole $30,000.00 falls on one person — $30,000.00 a guest. With $100,000 budget, 120 guests, Venue & catering $40,000.00, Photography & video $12,000.00, Attire $8,000.00, Music & entertainment $8,000.00, Flowers & décor $8,000.00, Wedding planner $10,000.00, Invitations & stationery $3,000.00, Cake & desserts $2,000.00, Transportation $2,000.00, Rings & jewelry $3,000.00, Contingency $4,000.00 — cost per guest $833.33 — With a $100,000.00 budget the venue is $40,000.00 and each guest costs $833.33. With $30,000 budget, 300 guests, Venue & catering $12,000.00, Photography & video $3,600.00, Attire $2,400.00, Music & entertainment $2,400.00, Flowers & décor $2,400.00, Wedding planner $3,000.00, Invitations & stationery $900.00, Cake & desserts $600.00, Transportation $600.00, Rings & jewelry $900.00, Contingency $1,200.00 — cost per guest $100.00 — With 300 guests each guest costs $100.00 — the venue is still $12,000.00. With $10,000 budget, 120 guests, Venue & catering $4,000.00, Photography & video $1,200.00, Attire $800.00, Music & entertainment $800.00, Flowers & décor $800.00, Wedding planner $1,000.00, Invitations & stationery $300.00, Cake & desserts $200.00, Transportation $200.00, Rings & jewelry $300.00, Contingency $400.00 — cost per guest $83.33 — With a $10,000.00 budget the venue is $4,000.00, the photo is $1,200.00 and each guest costs $83.33. With $30,000 budget, 0 guests, input error — enter at least 1 guest — With 0 guests the calculator shows an input error — enter at least 1 guest — not a result. With $1,000,000 budget, 120 guests, Venue & catering $400,000.00, Photography & video $120,000.00, Attire $80,000.00, Music & entertainment $80,000.00, Flowers & décor $80,000.00, Wedding planner $100,000.00, Invitations & stationery $30,000.00, Cake & desserts $20,000.00, Transportation $20,000.00, Rings & jewelry $30,000.00, Contingency $40,000.00 — cost per guest $8,333.33 — With a $1,000,000.00 budget the venue is $400,000.00 and each guest costs $8,333.33.

Output · formula · meaning

Who uses this

• The couple setting their first budget: they learn a $30,000.00 wedding for 120 guests is $250.00 a guest — and they check the $20,000.00 branch to see what a smaller budget buys.
• The couple trimming the guest list: they learn the same $30,000.00 for 200 guests is only $150.00 a guest — and they check the 100-guest reverse to see what $300.00 a guest allows.
• The couple negotiating the venue: they learn the smallest budget for a $15,000.00 venue is $37,499.99 — and they check the $41,666.63 reverse to see what a $5,000.00 photo budget needs.
• The couple keeping a contingency: they learn $50,000.00 buys exactly $2,000.00 of contingency — and they check the $25,000.00 branch to see the planner and contingency at a smaller budget.

Accuracy & limitations

The split is the standard published wedding-budget split: venue & catering 40%, photography & video 12%, attire 8%, music & entertainment 8%, flowers & décor 8%, wedding planner 10%, invitations & stationery 3%, cake & desserts 2%, transportation 2%, rings & jewelry 3%, contingency 4% — it adds to 100%. Each category is the total budget times its share, shown to the cent, and the cost per guest is the total budget divided by the guests. What the calculator cannot do is price your wedding: the exact split moves with region and priorities — a backyard wedding spends almost nothing on venue and far more on rentals, a city wedding is the reverse — and real vendor quotes beat any percentage split. Get three quotes for the venue and the photographer before you lock the numbers, keep the contingency untouched until the last month, and treat the cost per guest as the number that decides the guest list.

Frequently asked questions