How to split a wedding budget
The quickest way to stay in control of wedding spending is to decide the total first and then give every category a share of it, before you fall in love with a venue or a dress. The starting split in this calculator is a sensible baseline for a UK wedding: around half the money goes on the venue and on food and drink, because those costs scale with the number of guests. Photography, outfits, flowers and entertainment take most of the rest, and smaller items such as stationery, transport, the cake and favours come in at a few percent each.
Treat the percentages as a starting point, not a rule. If your venue includes catering, move the two shares together. If a friend is doing your photos, lower that line and put the money where it matters more to you. The calculator warns you if the percentages no longer add up to 100%, so you never accidentally plan to spend more than you have.
Why cost per guest matters
Every extra day guest adds a meal, drinks, a chair, a place card and often a favour. Dividing your total by the number of guests gives the clearest picture of what each invitation really costs, and it is the number to look at when you are deciding between a bigger guest list and a nicer venue. If the cost per guest looks too high, you have three levers: reduce the guest list, invite some people to the evening only, or lower the total by choosing a weekday or off-peak date, when many UK venues charge less.
Keep a contingency
The 6% contingency line is deliberate. Final guest numbers rarely match the first draft, suppliers add service charges or travel costs, and small extras such as postage, alterations and tips add up. A buffer means a surprise bill does not push you into debt. If you reach the big day without touching it, you have a head start on the honeymoon.
Watch out for VAT and service charges
Many supplier quotes are given before VAT, which in the UK is usually 20%. Always ask whether a quote includes VAT, service charges and any minimum spend, and put the full figure into your budget. Small suppliers who are not VAT-registered will not add VAT, which can make them noticeably cheaper.
Turning the plan into a working budget
Once you have your split, track each quote, deposit and payment against it. A spreadsheet that records what you have paid, what is still owed and when each balance is due stops last-minute cash crunches in the final month, when most balances fall due at once.