Wedding Budget Calculator
Estimate a realistic UK wedding budget based on guest count, region, style and catering — with a clear, judgement-free cost breakdown.
Estimated wedding cost
£22,700.00
- Guests
- 80
- Region
- South East
- Style
- Average
- Catering
- Sit-down meal
- Per guest
- £284.00
Estimates only — actual costs vary by venue, season and supplier choices.
How it works
What this calculator does. It gives you a realistic UK wedding budget for 2026 based on the four things that move costs the most: how many day guests you're inviting, where in the UK the wedding is, the overall style you're going for, and the type of catering you'd like.
How the maths works. We start with a 2026 UK base cost — £10,000 for a budget wedding, £20,600 for an average wedding, and £35,000 for a premium wedding — all anchored at 80 guests. We then scale by guest count using a gentle curve (rather than straight multiplication), because some costs like the venue, photographer and rings barely move with extra guests. Finally, we apply a regional multiplier and a catering multiplier on top.
Read the breakdown, not just the total. The percentages below are typical industry averages — venue and catering alone account for nearly half. If your real priorities sit elsewhere (say, photography or entertainment), use the breakdown as a starting point and reallocate as you plan.
Your budget breakdown
Based on typical UK wedding spending. Treat it as a starting point, not a fixed plan.
- Venue28% · £6,400.00
- Food & Drink20% · £4,500.00
- Photography9% · £2,000.00
- Attire9% · £2,000.00
- Entertainment6% · £1,400.00
- Flowers & Decor5% · £1,100.00
- Videography4% · £900.00
- Rings4% · £900.00
- Hair & Beauty2% · £500.00
- Cake2% · £500.00
- Transport2% · £500.00
- Stationery2% · £500.00
- Contingency7% · £1,600.00
Smart insights
- Venue and catering typically account for almost half of total wedding costs.
- Smaller guest lists give you more budget per head and unlock more intimate venues.
- Midweek and off-peak weddings can reduce venue costs by 20–40%.
Savings tips for your average wedding
- Focus spending on your top three priorities and trim everywhere else.
- Compare two or three catering packages — savings of £1,000+ are common.
- Build a contingency fund of at least 5% for last-minute surprises.
Budget, average and premium compared
| Style | Typical cost | Typical guests | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | £10,000 | 40–60 | Intimate, focused, no-fuss celebrations |
| Average | £20,600 | 70–100 | Most UK couples — balanced spend across the day |
| Premium | £35,000+ | 100–150 | Destination venues, full styling and premium catering |