Work out what your wedding will cost

How the calculation works

The calculator splits the wedding into two kinds of cost. The menu, and the drinks when they are charged separately, are multiplied by the number of guests. Everything else is entered as one amount for the whole wedding. The contingency is added at the end, as a percentage of that subtotal.

The cost per guest is the final total divided by the number of guests. It is most useful for comparing scenarios: try the long guest list and the short one, and see how much each extra table really adds.

Nothing here is an average or a recommendation. Every number comes from you, ideally from real offers. If you don't have an offer yet, leave the field empty and come back when you do.

Costs that grow with every guest, and costs that don't

Knowing which costs follow the guest list helps you decide where to cut when the total is higher than you hoped.

• Per guest: the menu, the drinks, often the cake (when it is priced per slice or by weight), favours, printed invitations (one per family) and sometimes the venue itself, when it charges per person.
• Fixed: music, photo and video, the dress and suit, the rings, most of the decor and the ceremony fees.
• In between: accommodation and transport, which depend on how many guests travel from far away.

Questions to ask before you compare menu prices

Offers from different venues rarely include the same things, so the menu price alone can mislead you. Ask each venue:

Write the answers next to each offer. When drinks or fees are charged separately, enter them in the right field here, so you compare like with like.

• Is VAT included in the price?
• Which drinks are included, and until what time? Is there a corkage fee if you bring your own?
• Is there a separate fee for the room, service or cleaning?
• How much is a children's menu, and up to what age does it apply?
• Do the photographer, the band and other vendors who stay all night get a meal, and at what price?
• What is the minimum number of guests, and until when can you change the final count?

Choosing a contingency

Something always comes up: an extra hour of music, a few more guests than planned, a taxi for the grandparents, a last alteration to the dress. A contingency keeps these from eating into money you have already planned for something else.

There is no correct percentage. Pick one you are comfortable with, look at what it adds to the total, and adjust. If your offers are signed and final, you may need less. If you are still guessing, give yourself more room.

After the first estimate

An estimate becomes a budget when guesses turn into signed offers and you know when each payment is due. Deposits are often paid months before the wedding, so the timing of payments matters as much as the total.

If you save to Bridely, the total and the guest count go into your wedding. From there you can link each cost to its vendor, record deposits and due dates, and watch the menu cost update as guests reply. The budget and payments are part of the free account.