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Wedding Budget Planner

Enter your total budget and guest count — get a realistic, category-by-category breakdown in seconds.

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How couples actually overspend — and how to avoid it

Most couples don't blow their budget in one go. They overspend gradually, across dozens of small decisions that each feel reasonable at the time. The £500 upgrade to premium stationery. The extra centrepieces. The "just one more hour" on the DJ. It adds up.

The solution isn't willpower — it's allocation. When you know you've budgeted £3,200 for florals, you have a reference point for every flower quote you receive. Without a line-by-line breakdown, every vendor's quote floats in a vacuum. That's how budgets drift.

Where the money actually goes

Venue & catering (35–45%)

The single largest category for most weddings. Includes room hire, staff, food, drinks, and often a mandatory minimum spend. This is also the hardest to negotiate down once you've committed to a date.

Photography & videography (10–15%)

The only category couples universally say they wish they'd spent more on after the wedding. The difference between a £1,200 photographer and a £2,800 photographer is more visible in the photos than any other upgrade.

Flowers & decor (8–12%)

Highly variable — a full floral installation can cost more than a car. Couples who prioritise greenery and foliage over individual blooms typically get more visual impact per pound.

Music & entertainment (5–8%)

Live bands cost significantly more than DJs but change the energy of a reception. Factor in travel and accommodation for bands from outside your area.

Contingency (5–10%)

Not optional. Hidden venue charges (corkage, cake-cutting fees, overtime) appear on final invoices in ways quotes don't always make clear. Protect this line.

The guest count lever

Guest count is the single most powerful variable in a wedding budget. Every guest adds catering cost, stationery, favours, and often venue capacity requirements. Cutting from 120 to 80 guests can reduce total spend by 25–35% without touching any vendor category.

If budget is tight, run the planner with your current guest list, then run it again with 20 fewer guests. The difference in the venue/catering line will tell you exactly what each additional guest is costing.

FAQ

Common questions

The percentages are based on typical industry allocations for the country you choose. Individual quotes will vary — use the breakdown as a starting framework, then replace each line with real quotes as you collect them. Weightings adjust if you specify priorities (e.g. "photography is most important to us").

The average UK wedding costs £20,000–£32,000 for 80–120 guests (2024 figures). London and the South East run 20–40% higher. Venue and catering typically account for 35–50% of total spend. Cutting guest numbers is the single most effective way to reduce total cost.

A typical UK split: venue & catering 35–45%, photography & videography 10–15%, flowers & decor 8–12%, music & entertainment 5–8%, attire 6–10%, transport 3–5%, stationery & favours 2–4%, honeymoon separate. These weights adjust based on your priorities.

The breakdown covers the wedding day and immediate vendors. It does not include the engagement ring, honeymoon (unless you specify it), hen/stag parties, or pre-wedding events unless you add them to the priorities field.

UK wedding catering runs £60–£150 per head for a sit-down meal with basic drinks package, depending on venue and menu choice. London venues often charge £100–£200+. Buffet and fork supper formats cost 20–40% less than formal plated service.

Yes — build in 5–10% as a contingency. Most couples spend more than planned due to hidden venue charges (corkage, setup fees, overtime) and last-minute additions. A contingency line is included in the breakdown. Don't spend it until after the wedding.

Yes — select the Indian context option. The breakdown adds categories for mehendi, sangeet, baraat, pandit fees, and multi-day event costs, which a standard Western wedding budget omits. Guest counts also tend to be higher, which is factored into per-head estimates.

Copy the output into a spreadsheet (Google Sheets works well). Add a "Quoted" and "Paid" column next to each "Budget" column. Update as you confirm vendors. Most couples find a simple spreadsheet more useful than dedicated wedding budgeting apps.

No. Your budget details are used only to generate your breakdown during your session. We don't store them, train on them, or share them. The only information we retain is your email (if you choose to enter it) — used to send you your plan, nothing else.

Z

Zane

Founder, WedClic

Most wedding budget tools use American averages from 2018. This one knows the difference between Sydney and Glasgow and Vermont because the real costs are different. Use it as a starting framework, then update each line as real quotes come in. — Zane

the photo part ↓

WedClic

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