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Prefilled with a round United States planning figure, not a statistic. Actual costs vary widely, use it as a starting point.
| Category | % of budget | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Venue & Catering | 45% | $13,500 |
| Photography & Video | 10% | $3,000 |
| Attire & Beauty | 10% | $3,000 |
| Flowers & Decor | 8% | $2,400 |
| Music & Entertainment | 8% | $2,400 |
| Rings | 3% | $900 |
| Stationery | 2% | $600 |
| Favors & Gifts | 2% | $600 |
| Transportation | 2% | $600 |
| Miscellaneous / Buffer | 10% | $3,000 |
| Total | 100% | $30,000 |
How much does a wedding cost in the United States?
This calculator starts from a round planning budget of $30,000 for a wedding in the United States, a starting point and not a measured average. On a typical split, venue and catering take $13,500 (45%), photography and attire about $3,000 each, flowers and music about $2,400 each, and a 10% buffer of $3,000 covers overruns. Guest count is the biggest lever, because it drives the venue and catering share.
Typical United States wedding budget split
At a round planning budget of $30,000 (our starting figure, not a statistic), here is how the standard rule-of-thumb percentages break down. Actual costs vary widely by region, guest count, and vendor choice, treat this as a starting point.
- Venue & Catering: $13,500 (45%)
- Photography & Video: $3,000 (10%)
- Attire & Beauty: $3,000 (10%)
- Flowers & Decor: $2,400 (8%)
- Music & Entertainment: $2,400 (8%)
- Rings: $900 (3%)
- Stationery: $600 (2%)
- Favors & Gifts: $600 (2%)
- Transportation: $600 (2%)
- Miscellaneous / Buffer: $3,000 (10%)
The same split at a smaller or larger wedding budget
The percentages stay the same when the total moves. Half the reference budget is $15,000 and one and a half times it is $45,000; each line below scales with it.
| Category | 50% of reference | 100% of reference | 150% of reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue & Catering (45%) | $6,750 | $13,500 | $20,250 |
| Photography & Video (10%) | $1,500 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Attire & Beauty (10%) | $1,500 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Flowers & Decor (8%) | $1,200 | $2,400 | $3,600 |
| Music & Entertainment (8%) | $1,200 | $2,400 | $3,600 |
| Rings (3%) | $450 | $900 | $1,350 |
| Stationery (2%) | $300 | $600 | $900 |
| Favors & Gifts (2%) | $300 | $600 | $900 |
| Transportation (2%) | $300 | $600 | $900 |
| Miscellaneous / Buffer (10%) | $1,500 | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Total | $15,000 | $30,000 | $45,000 |
Venue and catering per guest
Venue and catering is the largest line, $13,500 at the reference budget. Because it is spread over your guest list, a longer list leaves less for each guest unless the total grows with it:
- 50 guests: $270 each for venue and catering.
- 100 guests: $135 each for venue and catering.
- 150 guests: $90 each for venue and catering.
Frequently asked questions
The calculator starts from a round planning figure of $30,000 that we chose as a starting point. It is not a survey average, and actual spending varies enormously by region, guest count, and venue choice. Published wedding surveys report their own averages, so check the latest one for your country before relying on a number.
By a standard rule-of-thumb percentage breakdown (venue and catering typically take the largest share), applied to whatever total you enter, not a fixed dollar figure.
Yes, the total budget field is editable. Enter your own number and every category recalculates instantly.
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser.
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Reviewed by Raja Jahangir · Last reviewed: October 7, 2026