Wedding budget
Wedding budget for 200 guests
With 200 guests, headcount drives most of the bill. Enter your total below to see your cost per guest and a category split. The table underneath works through $40,000 as an example.
$40,000 for 200 guests is $200 per guest.
Cost per guest at 200 guests
Divide the total by 200. Here is how that looks at a few budgets (plain arithmetic):
- $20,000 ÷ 200 = $100 per guest
- $30,000 ÷ 200 = $150 per guest
- $40,000 ÷ 200 = $200 per guest
- $60,000 ÷ 200 = $300 per guest
Example: $40,000 split by category
These are common starting splits that we use in our own calculator. They are a planning starting point, not survey data; your city, season and priorities will move them.
| Category | Share | Amount | Per guest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue & catering | 45% | $18,000 | $90 |
| Photography & video | 11% | $4,400 | $22 |
| Attire & beauty | 8% | $3,200 | $16 |
| Flowers & decor | 8% | $3,200 | $16 |
| Music & entertainment | 7% | $2,800 | $14 |
| Rings | 4% | $1,600 | $8 |
| Planner / coordinator | 4% | $1,600 | $8 |
| Stationery & invitations | 2% | $800 | $4 |
| Cake & desserts | 2% | $800 | $4 |
| Transport | 2% | $800 | $4 |
| Favors & gifts | 2% | $800 | $4 |
| Officiant & license | 1% | $400 | $2 |
| Buffer for surprises | 4% | $1,600 | $8 |
| Total | 100% | $40,000 | $200 |
If 200 is more than your budget allows
- Trim the list, not the quality. In this example, venue and catering is $90 per guest, so ten fewer guests frees up about $900 there.
- Move money, don't add it. Raise the categories you care about by lowering others so the total stays fixed.
- Keep the 4% buffer. At $40,000 that is $1,600 for fees, tips and alterations.
For a smaller list, see the worked examples for 150 guests and 100 guests.
Want it as a spreadsheet you can fill in?
The $9 planner has planned vs actual, payments and a guest list. The $15 bundle adds a vendor sheet, RSVP tracker, seating chart and checklist as printable PDFs. Not what you expected? Email for a refund within 30 days.