A workable total for a 100-guest wedding is around $18,000 — it is the number everyone pictures when they say “a wedding”.
Published 2026-11-12. Totals are planning midpoints drawn from our budget calculator's category shares, not vendor quotes; treat every line as adjustable.
| Category | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Venue & catering | 35% | $6,300 |
| Photography & videography | 10% | $1,800 |
| Attire (dress, suit, alterations) | 7% | $1,260 |
| Flowers & décor | 7% | $1,260 |
| Music & entertainment | 5% | $900 |
| Wedding planner / coordinator | 5% | $900 |
| Rings | 4% | $720 |
| Stationery (invites, menus, signage) | 3% | $540 |
| Hair & makeup | 2% | $360 |
| Transportation | 2% | $360 |
| Cake & desserts | 2% | $360 |
| Officiant & license | 1% | $180 |
| Favors & gifts | 1% | $180 |
| Contingency (10–15% recommended) | 10% | $1,800 |
| Everything else (rehearsal dinner, tips, hotel…) | 6% | $1,080 |
| Total — 100 guests | $18,000 |
Venue and catering take nearly half the budget, and per-head costs are at their most predictable. Most of what is left is decided at the margin: whether you add a videographer, a second photographer, or a band instead of a playlist.
The per-head costs (catering, stationery, favors) are the lines people under-plan, because each one looks small until it's multiplied by 100. Price your venue and your photographer first — they're the two biggest checks — then multiply the per-head lines honestly, then add the full contingency. If that sequence exceeds your total, cut guests before you cut the contingency.
Free route: this table is the whole answer if you just want to plan. Take the numbers into any spreadsheet — ours, The Knot's free planner, or a blank one. The free budget calculator generates this split for any total you type.
Guest list, RSVPs, seating and budget in one file — the counts update themselves as RSVPs land.
Part of the free vs paid spreadsheet comparison and the budget calculator.