What does a wedding actually cost?
Six quick questions. Real market pricing for your city, your style, your guest count. Plus a feasibility check if you have a target in mind.
"Most calculators give you a national average. You're not getting married in the national average — you're getting married somewhere specific."
Love & Moore Photography
Where are you getting married?
Market pricing varies by 60% across US cities. Tap the crosshair to use your current location.
How many guests?
Headcount drives most of the math — food, seating, invitations.
What's your wedding style?
Be honest — this shifts the number a lot. You can always adjust later.
What season?
Peak season (May-October) runs 15-25% higher. Off-peak saves real money.
How much photo & video coverage?
Typical weddings use 6–10 hours. Shorter intimate events start at 4.
Do you have a target spend?
Optional. If you do, we'll check whether your goals are realistic for it.
Crunching your wedding math
Connecting to market pricing data…
Where your dollars go
What couples underestimate.
Four categories where couples consistently spend more than they planned. Knowing them in advance can save you thousands.
Build in a 10–15% buffer
Almost every category runs slightly over. Build the buffer in now so you're not scrambling when the florist adds a late quote.
Tips and gratuities add up
On a $30k wedding expect $2,000–$3,000 in tips across vendors. Hair and makeup, catering staff, DJ. Plan for it up front.
Photo & video compound forever
Every other expense ends when the day ends. Your photos and video are what you keep afterward. Budget accordingly.
Off-peak saves 20–30%
January through March weddings cost meaningfully less. Friday or Sunday saves another 10–15%. Date flexibility is your biggest lever.
You don't have to spend average to have a beautiful wedding.
Most budget calculators use national averages that mean nothing. Chicago isn't Omaha. A rustic barn isn't a ballroom. The number you see here is based on your actual city, your actual style, your actual guest count — and it's more honest than anything you'll find on Knot or Zola.
"The couples happiest with their spend aren't the ones who spent the least. They're the ones who spent where it mattered to them — and nowhere it didn't."
Got your budget? Keep building.
These tools share your answers — finish another and your wedding plan grows.
Venue Finder
Real venues that fit your budget. Search by location, vibe, guest count.
Timeline Builder
Hour-by-hour wedding day schedule built around your ceremony and coverage.
Sunset Calculator
Exact golden hour and sunset times for your wedding date and venue location.
Save this budget reality check.
We'll email your breakdown so you can share it with your partner.
No spam. Just your breakdown and occasional planning tips.
Check your inbox.
We just sent your breakdown.