How to Split Your Wedding Budget (With a Sample Breakdown)

Every family spends differently, but most Indian wedding budgets follow a similar pattern. Use these percentages as a first draft, then adjust for what matters most to you.

A typical split

• Venue and catering: 40–50%. Per-plate pricing makes guest count the biggest lever in the whole budget.
• Decor: 10–15%. Mandap, stage, entrance and floral work.
• Photography and video: 8–12%.
• Outfits and jewellery: 10–15%.
• Makeup, mehndi and grooming: 3–5%.
• Entertainment: 3–5%. DJ, band, dhol, choreography.
• Invitations and gifts: 3–5%.
• Contingency: 5–10%. Never skip this line.

Ways to stay on budget

• Fix the guest list before you sign the venue contract.
• Compare at least three quotes per category, and ask what is not included: taxes, overtime, travel and setup charges.
• Combine functions where it makes sense, for example a joint haldi and mehndi.
• Record every advance and balance payment as it happens so nothing is paid twice.

The free budget planner tracks estimates, actual costs, payments made and balances due for each vendor.