The split
The starting split from our guide to making a wedding budget, built around Easy Weddings' finding that venues take about 46% of the spend.
Free tool · Australia
Wedding budget calculator
Put in what you can spend and how many guests you're inviting. You'll get a starting split by category in AUD, your per-head figure for the venue and catering, and a check against what Australian couples actually pay.
- Per guest, all in
- $438
- Venue, food and drinks per guest
- $197
- Keep aside for surprises
- $1,750
$197 a guest for the venue, food and drinks sits inside the $170–220 Easy Weddings suggests, so a mid-range venue with a drinks package is realistic.
| Category | Share | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Venue, catering and drinksThe biggest line at almost every wedding | 45% | $15,750 |
| Photography and videoDrop to 8% without a videographer | 12% | $4,200 |
| Flowers, styling and hireMore if the venue is a blank space or a marquee | 10% | $3,500 |
| Outfits, hair and makeupBoth of you, plus anything you cover for the wedding party | 9% | $3,150 |
| Music and entertainmentDJ, band, ceremony musician | 6% | $2,100 |
| Cake, stationery and favoursOnline invitations bring this down | 4% | $1,400 |
| Celebrant and ceremonyCelebrant fee, ceremony venue or permit | 3% | $1,050 |
| TransportCars, a guest shuttle | 3% | $1,050 |
| Wedding bandsRings vary a lot; use your real quote | 3% | $1,050 |
| BufferFor the surprises. Don't spend it early | 5% | $1,750 |
| Total | 100% | $35,000 |
Each guest you add or cut moves the venue and catering by about $170–220, the range Easy Weddings suggests per guest. For comparison, the average Australian wedding cost $38,252 in Easy Weddings' 2026 survey, though big weddings pull that average up.
How should you split a wedding budget?
A common starting split for an Australian wedding puts about 45% on the venue, catering and drinks, 12% on photography and video and 10% on flowers and styling, and keeps 5% aside for surprises. The venue line is so big because guests drive most of the cost: Easy Weddings' 2026 survey found venues take about 46% of the average couple's spend.
Treat the split as a first draft. Move money towards the things you care about, then check the venue and catering line against real quotes. That per-guest figure is the one that tells you whether your guest list and your total actually fit together.
Where the numbers come from
The per-guest check
Easy Weddings suggests about $170–220 a guest for venue and catering together, and $250–300 at higher-end venues.
What it leaves out
The engagement ring, the honeymoon and anything guests pay for themselves. Add those separately if they come out of the same savings.
- Easy Weddings, How much does a wedding cost in 2026? (last checked 22 October 2026)
- Easy Weddings, Wedding venue cost (last checked 22 October 2026)
Questions
Good to know
What's the average wedding budget in Australia?
Easy Weddings' 2026 survey put the average spend at $38,252. Big weddings pull that up: 17% of couples spent $60,000 or more, so the typical wedding costs less.
How much should we spend per guest?
For the venue, food and drinks, Easy Weddings suggests about $170–220 a guest, or $250–300 at higher-end venues. The calculator shows your figure as you type.
How big should the buffer be?
Keep about 5% aside and don't spend it early. Couples in Easy Weddings' survey planned for about $29,500 and spent about $38,000, so running over is normal.
Should family contributions go in the total?
Yes, once they're confirmed as a dollar figure. Easy Weddings found 69% of Australian couples get money from family; ask early whether it comes with any expectations.
Does it include the engagement ring or the honeymoon?
No. Most couples budget those separately. Wedding bands are included, as a small line you should replace with your real quote.
Is what I type saved anywhere?
No. The calculator runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent to us. To keep supplier quotes, deposits and balances, use the planner in your account.
Turn the split into a plan
Your account keeps every supplier's quote, deposit and balance in AUD, beside a checklist timed to your date.
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