How much does a wedding cost? The budget explained line by line
Before choosing a venue, a dress or a photographer, one question decides everything else: how much you can spend. This article shows how that figure breaks down in practice.
The rule that prevents most nasty surprises
The cost of a wedding is almost always a function of two variables: the number of guests and the time of year. Every extra guest multiplies across meal, drinks, seat, invitation and favour — which is why cutting ten people saves more than negotiating with five vendors. And a Saturday in June typically costs more than a Friday in October at the same venue.
How the budget breaks down in practice
A realistic split: venue and catering take 45% to 55% of the total; photography and video, 10% to 15%; décor and flowers, 8% to 12%; music and entertainment, 5% to 10%; outfits and beauty, 5% to 10%; invitations, stationery and favours, 3% to 5%; rings, transport and extras, the rest. If one of these lines strays far from its range, it's worth understanding why before signing.
What usually gets left out (and shows up later)
Surprises are rarely the venue's headline price — they're the extras: corkage, overtime past the agreed hour, additional staff, extra dress fittings, vendor travel, event insurance, tips, and the cost of the wet-weather plan B. Add 10% to 15% of the total as a contingency; if you don't use it, it goes to the honeymoon.
Staying in control from start to finish
A budget only works if it's kept up to date. Record every quote, the amount including VAT, the deposit paid and the date of the next payment — and always compare three quotes per vendor, checking what each one includes (hours, team, setup, travel). In Journey 2 Yes the budget is free and unlimited: you enter the amounts, see the total, what's already paid and what's outstanding, and the cost per guest is calculated automatically.