Wedding Planner & Budget
Budget vs actual vs paid, payments due, guest list and RSVPs, seating, vendors and a 12-month checklist in one Google Sheet.
$14Buy now
Plan the real numbers in one sheet
When the quotes come in, track planned vs actual vs paid, payment due dates, RSVPs and seating in one Google Sheet.
How to split a wedding budget
Start with the one number you're sure about: the total you can spend without borrowing. Everything else is a share of that total. This calculator splits it into the usual categories, using typical percentages that planners and budget guides use as a starting point.
- Venue and catering usually take the biggest share. Catering is charged per guest, so the calculator shows your food budget per person. If it looks tight, the fastest fixes are a smaller guest list, a brunch or lunch reception, or an off-peak date.
- Photography is the line people most often wish they'd spent more on, since it's what you keep.
- Attire, flowers, music and stationery are flexible. Small changes here (rented suits, in-season flowers, a playlist for cocktail hour) add up.
- A buffer of 5–10% covers overtime, tips, delivery fees and the things you forgot.
Simple, classic or formal
The style toggle changes the splits. Simple puts more into food and keeps a bigger buffer, with no videographer. Classic is a middle-of-the-road split. Formal moves money toward the venue, flowers and music, and still keeps a 5% buffer. None of these is right or wrong: they're a sketch you then adjust.
The payment timeline
Most of the money doesn't leave your account on one day. The timeline estimates when the usual deposits fall based on your date: the venue and photographer first, caterer and music next, then attire, flowers and invitations, with final balances a couple of weeks before. If a date has already passed, it shows today, meaning that booking is due now. It's a preview of typical terms, so check every contract.
Once you start getting quotes, a spreadsheet beats a calculator: you can track planned vs actual vs paid, see payments coming due and keep the guest list in the same place. The template below does exactly that.
Related free calculators
Questions
What percentage of a wedding budget goes to the venue and catering?
Venue and food together usually take the biggest share, often around 40–50% of the total. That's why guest count matters so much: catering is charged per person, so every extra guest adds to it.
Are these real prices?
No. The splits are rough guidelines based on common planning advice, not quotes from vendors. Prices vary a lot by city, season and day of the week, so use this as a starting plan and replace each line with real quotes as they come in.
How much buffer should I keep?
Most planners suggest 5–10% for surprises like overtime, extra rentals, tips and last-minute fixes. The calculator includes a buffer line so it isn't spent on day one.
When are wedding deposits due?
Venues and photographers are usually booked first, often around a year out, with a deposit of roughly 25–50%. Caterers, music and attire follow, and most final balances are due about 2–4 weeks before the date. Always check each contract, because terms vary.