- Two inputs: total budget and guest count. Eleven lines with editable shares.
- The per-guest figure is the cost of one more name on the list.
- Shares over one hundred percent turn red; the total row shows what the split adds up to.
- Reset returns the starting shares; nothing is saved, nothing is sent anywhere.
The calculator
Amounts are rounded to whole units. The starting shares are the ones from the budget guide; edit them freely.
| Line | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | % | £3,000 |
| Catering and drinks | % | £4,200 |
| Photography and video | % | £1,500 |
| Attire and beauty | % | £1,200 |
| Music and entertainment | % | £900 |
| Flowers and décor | % | £1,200 |
| Stationery and printing | % | £300 |
| Cake | % | £300 |
| Transport | % | £450 |
| Rings | % | £600 |
| Contingency | % | £1,350 |
| Total | 100% | £15,000 |
| Per guest, whole budget | £188 | |
How to read the result
The amount per line is what that line can cost before it takes money from another. When a quote comes in above its line, the choice is explicit: raise the share and lower another, or send the quote back. The per-guest figure divides the whole budget by the guest count; it overstates the cost of one more guest, because part of the budget is fixed, but it is the honest number to have in mind when a family asks for four more seats.
A share total over one hundred percent means the split has outgrown the total, which is what happens when the lines are filled from quotes. The total row shows what the shares add up to; the amounts stop at one hundred percent of the total, because the money does.
Three adjustments most couples make
- Venue includes catering: move most of the catering share into the venue line and keep a small catering share for drinks and corkage.
- Digital invitations: the stationery share drops to the printed items you still want, usually place cards and a table plan; the guest page carries everything else.
- Small wedding: fixed lines (photography, attire, rings, music) take a larger share and the per-guest figure rises; that is arithmetic, not extravagance.
FAQ
- How is the wedding budget split calculated?
- Each line has a starting share of the total; the amount is the total multiplied by that share. Edit any share and the amounts follow. The per-guest figure is the total divided by the guest count.
- Are the starting shares averages?
- No. They are a starting point that most weddings drift towards, taken from the budget guide, and meant to be edited. There is no average wedding and no average cost.
- Is my budget saved anywhere?
- No. The calculator runs in your browser and sends nothing. To keep a budget, use the spreadsheet on the guide page or the budget tool in Vowly Event.
- Why does the per-guest figure look high for a small wedding?
- Because fixed costs such as the photographer and the attire are divided by fewer guests. It is the whole budget per guest, not the cost of one extra dinner.