Indian Wedding Budget Calculator

How this calculator works

Most wedding-budget tools ask you to guess every line item. This one is anchored on the only two numbers you can actually know in advance — guest count and per-plate catering rate (call any banquet hall and they'll quote it). Catering is computed directly from those: full plates for the wedding and reception, half-rate plates for lighter events like mehndi and sangeet. Every other category is then derived from typical Indian market shares for your city tier — venue runs 25–35% of a wedding budget, outfits and jewellery 15–25%, photography and decoration 5–10% each — scaled by your style setting. A 10% contingency is always included, because 20–30% overruns are the norm when there's no buffer. The result is shown as a range of roughly ±15%: honest planning numbers, not a fake-precise quote. The market figures come from our research for the India wedding cost guide.

Guest count is the whole game

Venue and catering — the two costs that scale directly with your list — take 45–65% of a typical Indian wedding budget. That makes the guest list a bigger lever than any discount you'll ever negotiate: cutting 100 guests usually saves ₹3–5 lakh at urban rates, and the calculator shows your exact per-100-guests saving as you type. The other levers worth real money: off-peak dates (June–July, late August) knock 20–30% off venue rates, renting outfits and jewellery saves ₹2–5 lakh, and combining sangeet with mehndi removes an entire venue-and-catering night. Watch for hidden venue charges — service charge and GST can add 15%+ if the quote isn't all-inclusive, so get fixed-price contracts in writing.

The half-price alternative: court marriage + reception

A court marriage under the Special Marriage Act costs ₹5,000–15,000 in total. Add a small reception for close family and friends (₹2–10 lakh) and you've celebrated for a third to half of what a traditional multi-event wedding costs — a path increasingly chosen by inter-caste, inter-faith and urban professional couples. If you're weighing it, start with our guides to the court marriage process and the Special Marriage Act, and put the difference toward a home deposit — see financial planning for couples.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is this wedding budget calculator?

It gives a realistic planning range, not a quote. The estimate is anchored on the two numbers you control — guest count and per-plate rate — and derives the rest from typical market shares for your city tier. Real vendor quotes vary, which is why the total is a ±15% range.

Is the calculator free and private?

Yes. Completely free, no sign-up, and it runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded or stored anywhere.

What is the biggest cost in an Indian wedding?

Venue plus catering, typically 45–65% of the total. Both scale with guest count, which is why the guest list is the single biggest budget lever — cutting 100 guests usually saves ₹3–5 lakh at urban rates.

How much does an Indian wedding cost per guest?

Roughly ₹8,000–15,000 per guest all-in for a Tier-1 metro wedding, and ₹4,000–8,000 in smaller cities, once every cost is spread across the list. The budget sheet shows your own per-guest figure.

Is a destination wedding always more expensive?

Usually in total, not per guest. Destination weddings start around ₹50 lakh, but they force a smaller list — a 100-guest Udaipur wedding can cost less than a 500-guest metro one. Compare per-guest figures, not headlines.

Can I download my budget as a PDF?

Yes. Click Download PDF — the print dialog opens with only the budget sheet visible. Choose Save as PDF as the destination. Works on phones and computers.