A realistic wedding budget breakdown for 2027
Venue, catering, flowers, photography and the line items couples forget. Where the money really goes at 120 guests.
Every wedding budget is personal, but after planning hundreds of celebrations we see the same pattern again and again. Venue and catering usually take around half of the total, and the smaller line items add up faster than anyone expects.
Where the money goes
- Venue and catering: 45–50%
- Photography and film: 10–12%
- Flowers and styling: 8–12%
- Music and entertainment: 6–8%
- Attire and beauty: 6–8%
- Stationery, favours and the little things: 5%
- A buffer for surprises: 5–10%
The line items couples forget
Service charges, vendor meals, postage, overtime and transport between ceremony and reception. Put them in the budget on day one and they never become a surprise.