Working out where the money goes is the first real job of wedding planning. This free wedding budget planner gives you a suggested split for every part of a UK wedding. Enter your total budget and it works out a figure for each item. As the quotes come in, add your real numbers and it keeps a running total, so you can see straight away how much is left.
Your Wedding Budget Planner
| Item | Share | Guide | Yours (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue hire | 20% | - | |
| Food and catering | 19% | - | |
| Drinks and bar | 7% | - | |
| Photography and video | 10% | - | |
| Wedding dress and outfits | 8% | - | |
| Entertainment (band or DJ, magician, caricaturist) | 8% | - | |
| Flowers and decor | 7% | - | |
| Rings | 5% | - | |
| Ceremony and registrar fees | 2% | - | |
| Stationery and invitations | 2% | - | |
| Wedding cake | 2% | - | |
| Hair and make-up | 2% | - | |
| Transport | 2% | - | |
| Favours and gifts | 1% | - | |
| Contingency (unexpected costs) | 5% | - | |
| Total | 100% | - | £0 |
Left to spend: enter your total budget above.
Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere. It stays in your browser, so print the page or jot your figures down before you close it.
How to Use the Planner
- Agree a total you are both comfortable with, including any money family have offered. Leave the honeymoon out, as it is usually budgeted separately.
- Enter the total. The planner splits it across fifteen items using the shares in the table. The Guide column shows each amount in pounds.
- Move money between items to suit you. If photography matters most, give it more and take it from somewhere that matters less.
- Add each quote as it arrives. The running total shows at once if you are over or under.
- Keep the contingency line. Small extras such as delivery charges, service charges and last-minute changes add up quickly.
Example Breakdowns: £10,000, £20,000 and £30,000
Here is how the suggested split works out for three common budget levels. These are guide figures from the shares above, not quotes, and real prices vary a lot by region, season and guest numbers.
| Item | £10,000 | £20,000 | £30,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue hire | £2,000 | £4,000 | £6,000 |
| Food and catering | £1,900 | £3,800 | £5,700 |
| Drinks and bar | £700 | £1,400 | £2,100 |
| Photography and video | £1,000 | £2,000 | £3,000 |
| Wedding dress and outfits | £800 | £1,600 | £2,400 |
| Entertainment (band or DJ, magician, caricaturist) | £800 | £1,600 | £2,400 |
| Flowers and decor | £700 | £1,400 | £2,100 |
| Rings | £500 | £1,000 | £1,500 |
| Ceremony and registrar fees | £200 | £400 | £600 |
| Stationery and invitations | £200 | £400 | £600 |
| Wedding cake | £200 | £400 | £600 |
| Hair and make-up | £200 | £400 | £600 |
| Transport | £200 | £400 | £600 |
| Favours and gifts | £100 | £200 | £300 |
| Contingency (unexpected costs) | £500 | £1,000 | £1,500 |
What Changes the Cost of a UK Wedding
- Guest numbers. Food, drink, stationery and favours are all priced per head, so the guest list moves the total more than anything else.
- Date and season. Saturdays from May to September are the most expensive. Many venues and suppliers charge less for Fridays, Sundays, weekdays and winter dates.
- Location. Venues and suppliers in London and the South East usually cost more than the same thing elsewhere.
- What is included. Ask every supplier if VAT, service charges, travel, corkage and set-up are in the price. Two quotes can look different simply because one includes these and one does not.
- Payment schedule. Most suppliers take a deposit to secure the date and the balance before the day. List the due dates so the payments do not all land in the same month.
Budgeting for Wedding Entertainment
Entertainment is what guests remember long after the day, and it fills the gaps that can otherwise drag, such as the drinks reception while photos are taken and the wait between courses. As a guide to our own prices:
- Wedding magicians typically range from around £150 to £1000, depending on the length of performance, the act and your location.
- Wedding caricaturists are from £395 for two hours with a traditional artist, and from £495 for two hours with an iPad or digital caricaturist.
Prices vary with the date, location and the act, so ask us for a free quote and add the real figure to your planner.
Tips for Sticking to Your Budget
- Decide your top three priorities together before you book anything, and protect those lines.
- Get at least two quotes for the big items, and compare like with like.
- Book the venue first. Its capacity, location and what it includes shape nearly every other cost.
- Review the planner once a month and move money between lines rather than adding to the total.
For more on setting a budget and keeping to it, read our guide on how to create a wedding budget and stick to it, and see our wedding planning timeline for when to book each supplier.
Written By Nick @ Magical Memories
See Nick’s Profile on LinkedIn
As you plan your special day, don’t forget to book the entertainment! Magical Memories has provided professional wedding magicians and wedding caricaturists since 1996. Please get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote.