Whether you’re talking to friends, parents, or wedding vendors, the question “What’s your wedding budget?” comes up all too often. You’re probably wondering how you can even begin to set a budget when you have no idea what things cost. Many wedding suppliers don’t list pricing online, and will often say everything is custom to your guest list, your style, and your preferences. So where do you start?
You start here. I love helping couples plan their weddings, and yes, that includes the wedding budget. This is such a special season of life, and the goal is to help you feel clear and confident, rather than stressed about money.
If you’re still in the very early stages, start with How to Start Wedding Planning: Your First Steps Checklist and then come straight back here once you’re ready to put numbers around your plans.
And of course, advice helps, but it can’t replace a good system. You’ll find a spreadsheet in our planning templates, and The Little White Book has dedicated budget pages to keep everything in one place. If you want the planner plus templates, consider the Essential Bundle or the Ultimate Wedding Planning Bundle .
Starting Your Wedding Budget
Your wedding budget can feel like one of the hardest parts of wedding planning. It’s tempting to book things as you go and hope it all works out, but that can leave you unable to afford the elements that matter most later on. A calm, clear budget gives you freedom and removes a huge amount of pressure.
If you’d like a real-world example, read Actual Wedding Budget Breakdown (75 Guests in Coromandel, NZ) + Free Budget Template . It’s one of the fastest ways to understand how wedding costs add up in real life.
It’s also worth remembering that “average wedding cost” figures can be misleading. Your wedding doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. The best wedding budget is the one that supports the day you actually want.
Before You Begin: A Gentle Reminder
Your wedding does not have to be expensive to be wonderful. And it does not have to be perfect to be deeply meaningful.
The best approach is to work out what you can comfortably afford first, then plan a wedding that fits your budget. The alternative is to plan the dream day in your head and panic about how you’ll pay for it. If your budget and expectations don’t match, there are plenty of ways to bring them closer together.
Savings + Budget = Wedding Date
Your wedding date is often tied to your budget more than people realise. Even if you’re planning 12 months out, once you lock in a venue, photographer, celebrant, or catering, you’ll be paying deposits. Those early deposits add up quickly.
If you want to understand how the timing works across the year, pair this article with Your 12 Month Wedding Day Countdown . It will help you anticipate when big payments tend to happen.
What’s Your Number?
1) Start with what feels comfortable
Begin by talking with your partner about what you’re comfortable spending on one day, or across a weekend if you’re planning a wedding away. Discuss what you can access now, what you can save during your engagement, and whether you want to accept family contributions.
2) If parents are contributing, clarify expectations early
Many parents still choose to contribute to wedding costs, which can be generous and helpful, but it can also add pressure. Sit down early and clarify:
- How much they would like to contribute
- Whether it’s a gift, a loan, or support for a specific item
- Whether they expect influence over guest list decisions or other choices
If you want support navigating family dynamics around planning and decision-making, this guide can help: Momzilla? How to Deal with an Overbearing Mother of the Bride or Groom .
And if you haven’t yet had the key conversations that prevent stress later, you’ll love Conversations Every Couple Needs to Have . Money is one of the biggest ones.
3) Homeowners and deposits
If you already have a mortgage, wedding deposits can feel daunting. Some couples choose to talk with their bank about short-term options for deposit timing. This won’t be right for everyone, but it’s worth being aware of the timing pressure that deposits create.
4) Get serious about savings
Look at what you can realistically put away each week or month, then work backwards. A calm wedding budget is one that you can actually fund without feeling sick every time another invoice comes through.
Prioritise Your Wedding Budget
Instead of trying to include everything, decide what matters most to you. A simple exercise is to each choose your top three priorities. These are the areas you will protect in the budget. Everything else can be simplified, substituted, or skipped entirely.
The Wedding You Want on the Budget You Have
Now that you have an early number and a sense of priorities, you can sanity-check your vision. Some decisions impact budget immediately:
- Guest list size (food and drink rises with every guest). If you're unsure how to narrow your numbers without drama, read our Wedding Guest List Guide for practical ways to trim respectfully.
- Venue type (all-inclusive vs dry hire vs private home)
- Catering format (seated meal vs cocktail vs grazing)
If your dream venue or style doesn’t fit your budget, you may not need to give up the feeling you want. Often, shifting the venue type creates the biggest savings. This guide is a brilliant starting point: 20 Alternative Wedding Venues For Unique Couples (at Every Budget) .
Stick to Your Wedding Budget
Don’t just set a budget and walk away. Track deposits, due dates, and final payments.
Wedding Budget Tips
- Choose a venue that doesn’t need much styling (gardens, outdoors, naturally beautiful spaces)
- Trim the guest list (it’s the fastest way to reduce spend). If you need help deciding who stays and who doesn’t, our Wedding Guest List Guide walks you through it step by step.
- Consider cocktail style rather than a formal sit-down meal
- Opt for digital invitations
- Skip favours (or give one per couple)
- Choose one-tier cake plus sheet cake, or skip cake entirely
- Prioritise what you care about, and simplify the rest
One Final Note
All the advice in the world won’t replace a system you can actually use. If you want to keep everything organised in one place, explore our wedding planning tools:
- The Little White Book Wedding Planner
- Essential Bundle: Planner Book + Guest Book + Planning PDFs
- Ultimate Bundle: Wedding Planning Bundle
- Shop All Wedding Planners and Wedding Planning Tools
And if you’d like more guidance alongside your budget, browse all our planning guides here: Wedding Planning Advice .