Wedding Budget Calculator
How much does a wedding cost? Enter your guest count and region for a realistic range — then see exactly where the money goes, category by category. Based on The Knot's 2026 study of 10,474 real weddings (national average: $34,200).
Your wedding
Your estimated budget
Where the money goes
Default splits follow national averages. Edit any percentage — results scale to 100% automatically.
| Category | % of budget | Est. cost |
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Wedding cost guides
Frequently asked questions
How much does a wedding cost on average?
About $34,200 in the US, per The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study (10,474 couples married in 2025) — roughly $292 per guest. The median is lower, around $18,200, because luxury weddings pull the average up.
What is the biggest wedding expense?
Venue plus catering, typically 45–55% of the budget. Venue and rentals alone average 29%; catering and bar add another 24%.
How does guest count affect wedding cost?
It's the biggest lever you control. Weddings with 1–50 guests average ~$17,000; 100+ guests average ~$43,000. Cutting 25 guests can save $6,000+.
Does region really change the cost that much?
Yes — more than almost anything else. The same wedding costs about $57,000 in New Jersey and $17,000 in Wyoming, per The Knot's 2026 study.
How accurate is this calculator?
It's a planning range, not a quote. Pricing is hyperlocal and vendor-dependent. Use the range to set expectations, then get at least three real quotes per category.
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Get local vendor quotes
Compare 3+ quotes per category before booking — caterers and photographers especially vary by 2–3× for the same date.