Enter a few details and get a realistic cost breakdown for your wedding — by category, based on real averages.
These figures are based on UK, Ireland, and US averages and will vary significantly by supplier. Use this as a starting point, not a quote. Hotel and manor house venues commonly bundle venue hire and catering into a single per-head package price. Use the package toggle if your venue quotes this way — it gives a more accurate estimate.
These figures are averaged across hundreds of real quotes from photographers, caterers, venues, and other wedding suppliers in each region. They reflect what couples actually paid, not what price lists say at the top end.
A manor house in London costs significantly more than a barn in the North of England. The calculator adjusts for both so you get a number that reflects your actual plans, not a national average that no-one actually pays.
Nearly every couple goes over budget. The 10% buffer isn't pessimism — it's realism. Build it in from the start and you'll never be caught off guard by a surprise cost that every wedding seems to generate.
There is no single right number — it depends on your guest count, venue type, and where you live. Work out what you can genuinely contribute first, then use the calculator to see whether that fits the kind of day you want, and where you'd need to compromise.
The usual culprits are the second-tier costs: alterations, stationery and postage, evening-catering top-ups, transport on the day, supplier meals, VAT and service charges, and insurance. The calculator builds a 10% contingency in to cover the surprises.
Venue and catering together usually take the largest share of a wedding budget, followed by photography and film, then attire, flowers, and entertainment. The calculator splits your total across every category so nothing gets missed.
We recommend tracking the honeymoon separately — it has its own savings plan and timeline. Keep the wedding budget focused on the day itself so the numbers stay comparable with real supplier quotes.
Yes — no account needed. When you're ready to track what you've actually paid against it, the budget tracker in the main app does exactly that.
Our Vow Story has a built-in budget tracker — add your actual costs, track what you've paid, and never lose sight of the total.