Free Wedding Budget Calculator: Split by Category + Cost per Guest
A total budget is easier to stick to once every category has a number. Enter what you can spend on the wedding (or a party, shower or reunion) and the guest count, and see a starting split by category and what it all costs per guest. Change any percentage to fit what matters to you.
It runs in your browser. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere. The budget, guest count and percentages filled in below are a made-up example; change them to yours.
The starting percentages are a common rule of thumb, not a standard or a survey result. Real splits vary a lot by city, season and what you care about most. Rename categories or use the blank row for your own.
| Category (editable) | Share of budget, % |
|---|---|
How the math works
- Amount per category = total budget × that category's percent.
- Per guest = that amount ÷ number of guests. The whole budget per guest = total budget ÷ guests.
- If the percentages don't add up to 100%, it shows how much is left unassigned or how much you're over.
Example (made up): a $20,000 budget for 100 guests is $200 per guest. With the starting split, venue and rentals (25%) get $5,000, food and drink (25%) $5,000 or $50 a guest, photos and video (12%) $2,400, attire and beauty, music and flowers (8% each) $1,600 each, invitations and favors (3%) $600, transportation and other (5%) $1,000, and a 6% cushion for surprises $1,200.
Food and drink usually grow with every guest, so trimming the guest list is often the biggest lever. Get real quotes before you commit, and remember tips, taxes and service fees can add a lot to a vendor's price. It's an estimate for planning, not financial advice.
Track what each vendor actually costs
The Wedding & Event Budget Planner ($7) is a spreadsheet with a budget tab for estimated vs. actual cost, what's paid and what's still due (balances due within 30 days highlighted), a guest list with RSVPs and a dashboard with cost per expected guest. It doesn't book vendors or send reminders. Works in Excel and Google Sheets.
Get the spreadsheet on Gumroad – $7
This template is also in the Complete Household Money Bundle (what's inside): all 13 home money spreadsheets for $29 (about $69 if bought one by one).
We make this template, so take that into account. The calculator above is free to use either way.
Related free guides
- How to Budget for a Wedding (Without the Surprise Bills)
- How to Plan a Party Budget (Birthdays, Showers, Holidays)
- How to Save for Several Goals at Once (Example Numbers)
More free tools: all calculators.
See all Cedar & Ledger templates