How should I split my event budget?

There is no single right split. This calculator starts from placeholder percentages for a wedding, a party or a corporate event, shifts a few points towards your biggest priority and lets you edit every row. Replace the percentages with your own quotes as they come in.

Are the starting percentages averages or recommendations?

No. They are planning placeholders, not market data, averages or advice. They exist so you start with a complete budget instead of a blank page. Edit them freely.

What does the biggest priority do?

It adds 5 percentage points to that category, taken from the other categories in proportion to their share. The contingency is never reduced. Choose “No single priority” to keep the plain starting split.

What happens when I edit a percentage?

The other rows are rescaled in proportion so the total always stays at exactly 100%. Amounts are rounded to the cent so the categories add up to your budget. Changing the event type or priority returns to the starting split.

Can I download my budget?

Yes, as a CSV file for a spreadsheet or as a PDF. Both contain the categories, shares, amounts and cost per guest, matching what is on screen.

Is anything I type sent to VenueDirector?

Your numbers stay in your browser, which also remembers them for next time. We count anonymous events such as “a result was exported”, without your inputs or anything that identifies you. Your inputs and email are stored only if you ask us to email your results.

Free tool · For couples & planners · For venues

Wedding and event budget calculator

Enter your total budget, guest count and biggest priority to get an editable split by category.

Your numbers

Reset

Your event

Event type

WeddingPartyCorporate event

Total budget

The amount shown is an example.

Guests

Biggest priority

It gets 5 percentage points more than its starting share, taken from the other categories. Changing it, or the event type, returns the percentages below to the starting split.

Budget split

Starting percentages for the event type: planning placeholders, not market data or a recommendation. Edit any row and the others rescale so the total stays at 100%.

Use my own percentages

Ticks itself when you edit a row. Untick it to go back to the starting split.

Without JavaScript, tick “Use my own percentages” and press “Update results”. If your rows don’t add up to 100%, they are scaled to 100% in proportion.

Venue and rental fees

Food and drink

Photo and video

Music and entertainment

Flowers and décor

Attire and beauty

Invitations and printing

AV, tech and production

Planner and staffing

Gifts, favors and transport

Contingency and other

Total: 100%

Your result

$30,000 for 100 guests is $300 per guest. Biggest share: food and drink, $11,400 (38%).

Total budget: $30,000
Cost per guest: $300

Your event: budget by category
Category	Share	Amount	Per guest
Venue and rental fees	18.3%	$5,490	$54.90
Food and drink	38%	$11,400	$114
Photo and video	9.2%	$2,760	$27.60
Music and entertainment	7.3%	$2,190	$21.90
Flowers and décor	7.3%	$2,190	$21.90
Attire and beauty	5.5%	$1,650	$16.50
Invitations and printing	1.8%	$540	$5.40
AV, tech and production	0%	$0	$0
Planner and staffing	3.7%	$1,110	$11.10
Gifts, favors and transport	1.9%	$570	$5.70
Contingency and other	7%	$2,100	$21
Total	100%	$30,000	$300

The shares add up to 100%, and the amounts add up to the total budget.

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How is the budget split calculated?

Pick an event type. Each starts from its own starting percentages, which add up to 100%.
Pick a biggest priority. It gains 5 percentage points, taken from the other categories in proportion to their share. The contingency is never reduced.
Amount = total budget × the category’s share. Cents are allocated so the categories add up to exactly your budget.
Cost per guest = amount ÷ guests, rounded to the cent. With no guests it shows a dash.
Edit any row and the others rescale in proportion, so the total always stays at 100%.

What are the starting assumptions?

The starting percentages are planning placeholders for each event type. They are not market data, averages or a recommendation, and every row is editable:

Wedding: venue and rental fees 20%, food and drink 33%, photo and video 10%, music and entertainment 8%, flowers and décor 8%, attire and beauty 6%, invitations and printing 2%, planner and staffing 4%, gifts, favors and transport 2%, contingency and other 7%.
Party: venue and rental fees 20%, food and drink 40%, photo and video 4%, music and entertainment 10%, flowers and décor 10%, attire and beauty 2%, invitations and printing 2%, av, tech and production 3%, planner and staffing 2%, gifts, favors and transport 3%, contingency and other 4%.
Corporate event: venue and rental fees 22%, food and drink 32%, photo and video 3%, music and entertainment 4%, flowers and décor 5%, invitations and printing 4%, av, tech and production 18%, planner and staffing 6%, gifts, favors and transport 2%, contingency and other 4%.
The example is a wedding with a $30,000 budget, 100 guests and food and drink as the biggest priority.

Worked example

Food and drink starts at 33% for a wedding and gains 5 percentage points, so it is 38% of $30,000: $11,400, or $114 per guest.

Total budget: $30,000
Cost per guest: $300

Worked example: budget by category
Category	Share	Amount	Per guest
Venue and rental fees	18.3%	$5,490	$54.90
Food and drink	38%	$11,400	$114
Photo and video	9.2%	$2,760	$27.60
Music and entertainment	7.3%	$2,190	$21.90
Flowers and décor	7.3%	$2,190	$21.90
Attire and beauty	5.5%	$1,650	$16.50
Invitations and printing	1.8%	$540	$5.40
AV, tech and production	0%	$0	$0
Planner and staffing	3.7%	$1,110	$11.10
Gifts, favors and transport	1.9%	$570	$5.70
Contingency and other	7%	$2,100	$21
Total	100%	$30,000	$300

The shares add up to 100%, and the amounts add up to the total budget.

Frequently asked questions

How should I split my event budget?: There is no single right split. This calculator starts from placeholder percentages for a wedding, a party or a corporate event, shifts a few points towards your biggest priority and lets you edit every row. Replace the percentages with your own quotes as they come in.
Are the starting percentages averages or recommendations?: No. They are planning placeholders, not market data, averages or advice. They exist so you start with a complete budget instead of a blank page. Edit them freely.
What does the biggest priority do?: It adds 5 percentage points to that category, taken from the other categories in proportion to their share. The contingency is never reduced. Choose “No single priority” to keep the plain starting split.
What happens when I edit a percentage?: The other rows are rescaled in proportion so the total always stays at exactly 100%. Amounts are rounded to the cent so the categories add up to your budget. Changing the event type or priority returns to the starting split.
Can I download my budget?: Yes, as a CSV file for a spreadsheet or as a PDF. Both contain the categories, shares, amounts and cost per guest, matching what is on screen.
Is anything I type sent to VenueDirector?: Your numbers stay in your browser, which also remembers them for next time. We count anonymous events such as “a result was exported”, without your inputs or anything that identifies you. Your inputs and email are stored only if you ask us to email your results.