Start with the total, then split it
Choose I already have a total budget if you have a number in mind. Choose Show me what we can afford to work it out: enter what you have saved, what you will put aside each month and any money family members plan to give. The calculator adds the monthly saving for every full calendar month before the wedding date. Example with the numbers on the page: $8,000 saved, $800 a month for 12 full months and $2,000 from family adds up to $19,600.
Categories and the example split
The calculator keeps a contingency reserve aside and shares the rest among ten categories, from venue, food and drinks to flowers, photos and everything else. The percentages filled in are an example split we made up to show how the tool works. They are not an average, they do not come from any survey and they are not a recommendation, so change every one to match your priorities.
Example: a $30,000 budget with a 10% reserve leaves $27,000, and 45% of that for venue, food and drinks is $12,150. If the shares do not total 100%, the page shows how much is not assigned or by how much the plan goes over.
How the guest count drives the cost
Food, drinks and favors depend on how many people come. In those two categories you can type a price per guest, such as the price on a caterer's quote, and the amount becomes that price times the number of guests. With 100 guests, $12,150 for venue, food and drinks is $121.50 per guest. The guest table shows what happens if the guest list changes while the price per guest stays the same. In the example the guest-driven categories come to about $132.30 per guest, so ten more guests add about $1,323. Everything else is treated as a fixed cost.
How much to keep for surprises
A contingency reserve is money left unassigned for costs you did not plan for. A common rule of thumb is 5% to 10% of the budget. It is not a standard from any authority, and the right amount depends on how firm your quotes are. You can choose any reserve from 0% to 50%.
The countdown and the monthly saving
Enter the wedding date to see the time left and the number of full months you can still save. If you entered a total, the page also shows the monthly saving needed to reach it. For example, a $20,000 budget with $5,000 saved and $3,000 from family leaves $12,000; over 12 full months that is $1,000 a month.
If you put part of it on a credit card
Paying over time costs more than paying up front. Enter an amount, an APR and a fixed monthly payment. For example, $5,000 at a 22% APR paid at $250 a month takes 26 months and adds about $1,286 in interest; at $150 a month it takes 52 months and adds about $2,798. The 22% is only an example rate, so use the APR on your own statement or loan offer. The credit card payoff calculator goes into more detail.
Gifts, taxes and getting married
The IRS says property you receive as a gift is generally left out of your income, so money from relatives is usually not income you report. Income the gift earns later, such as interest, is taxable. The gift tax rules apply to the person giving. For 2026 the annual exclusion is $19,000 per person receiving the gift, and a gift to each partner counts separately. A giver who goes above it generally reports the gift on Form 709, and the amount normally counts against the lifetime exclusion of $15,000,000 for 2026 instead of being taxed at once.
Marriage also changes your own tax return. The IRS looks at your status on the last day of the tax year, December 31 for most people, so a wedding on or before that date generally means you are treated as married for the whole year. The marriage tax calculator compares two single returns with a joint one. This page is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a wedding cost?
There is no official figure that fits everyone: cost depends on the guest count, where you live and what matters to you. A useful starting point is the amount you can pay without borrowing, which the "what we can afford" mode works out from your savings and the date.
Do we owe tax on wedding gifts and money from family?
Generally no. The IRS says property you receive as a gift is usually not included in your income. The gift tax rules apply to the giver, and for 2026 the annual exclusion is $19,000 per person receiving the gift. Ask a tax professional about your own situation.
Is a 5% to 10% contingency reserve right for us?
It is a common rule of thumb, not a requirement. A higher reserve can make sense while many prices are still estimates, and a lower one when most vendors are booked. You can set any percentage from 0% to 50%.
Sources
- IRS: Frequently asked questions on gift taxes (2026 annual and lifetime exclusion amounts)
- IRS Publication 525: Taxable and nontaxable income (gifts)
- IRS Publication 501: Dependents, standard deduction, and filing information (marital status on December 31)