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Wedding Budget Calculator

Plan your wedding budget with a recommended breakdown by venue, catering, photography and more.

Last reviewed: 3 December 2025Source: ONS — Living Costs and Food Survey
Wedding Budget Calculator · USLifestyle & Everyday

Venue

$6,000.00

Catering

$7,000.00

Photography

$2,000.00

Per Guest (catering)

$87.50

Rates & sources

Indicative UK averages drawn from ONS Living Costs and Food Survey, plus trade body data.

Source: ONS — Living Costs and Food Survey — figures refreshed at the start of each tax year.

When to use this calculator

  • When you need a fast estimate before making a bigger decision.
  • When you want to compare a few scenarios using the same assumptions.
  • When you need a clearer starting point before using a detailed quote or formal document.
  • When you want to sanity-check a figure you have seen elsewhere before you rely on it.
  • When you are preparing for a conversation with an adviser, supplier, or lender and want to arrive with realistic numbers.

A realistic US planning example

Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.

Total Budget ($)

20000

Number of Guests

80

After entering these figures, review venue, catering and photography together rather than in isolation — each metric tells a different part of the story. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted to see which variable has the biggest effect on all three outputs before you settle on a plan.

How to read your results

Venue

Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.

Catering

Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.

Photography

Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.

Per Guest (catering)

Use this metric to compare scenarios side by side and understand how changes in the key inputs drive the final outcome. If the figure surprises you, isolate one variable at a time and rerun the calculation to identify which assumption is responsible.

Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources

This calculator helps couples estimate their total wedding budget by entering costs across all major categories. Figures are based on typical UK supplier pricing structures, including venue hire, catering per head, bar packages, and supplier day rates. You can adjust guest numbers to see how per-head costs affect the overall total.

The calculator does not include honeymoon costs, engagement ring, pre-wedding events such as hen or stag parties, or post-wedding name-change fees. It assumes a single UK ceremony and reception on the same day. All figures are in GBP and are indicative only — always get written quotes from suppliers before budgeting firmly.

Common mistakes

  • !Using optimistic assumptions without testing a more cautious scenario as well.
  • !Comparing outputs from different tools without checking that the inputs match.
  • !Treating the result as a final quote instead of a planning estimate.
  • !Rounding inputs too aggressively, which can produce an output that is noticeably different from your actual situation.
  • !Stopping at a single run of the tool rather than adjusting the key variable up and down to understand the range of plausible outcomes.

What to do next

  • Try at least one more scenario so you can compare a realistic range instead of a single estimate.
  • Use the related calculators below to cross-check the decision from another angle.
  • Open one of the linked guides if you need more context before you act on the result.
  • Write down the key outputs from your best two or three scenarios so you have something concrete to compare when you make the final decision.
  • If the result surprises you, change one input at a time to isolate which variable is driving the outcome before drawing conclusions.

Frequently asked

The average UK wedding costs around £18,000–£25,000 in 2024, including venue, catering, photography, and other suppliers.

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