Wedding Budget Calculator

The national average is about $36,000 including honeymoon (up from $35,000 in 2025). The median is around $10,000; about 20% of couples spend $15,000 or less. Costs vary by region: Northeast and West Coast 25–35% higher; South and Midwest 15–20% lower. Guest count, venue, and vendor choices affect the total.

At 150 guests and $36,000 total, the average is about $240 per guest. Venue and catering (typically 40% of budget) are the main per-guest costs. Smaller weddings often cost more per guest due to fixed costs like photography and venue minimums.

Consider a weekday or off-season date, fewer guests, drop catering instead of plated, a DJ instead of a band, seasonal flowers, and digital invites. The calculator shows savings tips for categories where you are above the average allocation.

A $36,000 wedding equals roughly 6 months of gross salary at $72K/year, 14 months of rent at $1,500/month, or $140,000 if invested for 20 years at 8%. It could also be a 20% down payment on a $180,000 home. The per-guest average is about $284.

Venue and catering typically account for 40% or more of the budget ($6,500–$12,200 for venue, $6,500–$10,000 for catering). Photography ($2,900–$6,500) and band/DJ ($1,700–$7,000) are next. Location matters: DC, NJ, and NY average $50K–$70K; Nebraska and Alaska can run $12,500–$17,000.

Most expensive: Washington DC (~$70,600), New Jersey (~$57,700), New York (~$53,900). Least expensive: Nebraska (~$17,700), Alaska (~$12,500). Northeast and West Coast run 25–35% above average; South and Midwest 15–20% below. The calculator applies regional multipliers.