Planning a destination wedding in 2025/2026? Use our expert planner-approved budget breakdown to allocate funds for venue, decor, food, photography & more.
How to Allocate Your Wedding Budget in 2025/2026: A Percentage Breakdown by Top Planners
Planning a luxury destination wedding and unsure how to divide your wedding budget? You’re not alone. Whether you’re dreaming of a palace wedding in Jaipur or a beach celebration in Goa, understanding how to allocate your funds effectively is crucial for stress-free planning.
How much should you spend on catering versus decor? Where does entertainment fit in? How do you avoid overspending on one area while neglecting another?
At Weddings by Event Crafter, we’ve planned hundreds of high-end weddings across India and internationally. In this guide, we share our proven wedding budget percentage breakdown to help you start planning with clarity and confidence.
🧾 Wedding Budget Breakdown by Percentage: Planner-Approved Template
Here’s a typical allocation we recommend for a multi-day destination wedding in India (2025–2026):
- Venue & Catering (Food & Beverage): 45% – 50%
- Decor, Design & Lighting: 15% – 20%
- Wedding Planner & Management: 10% – 15%
- Photography & Cinematography: 7% – 12%
- Entertainment: 7% – 12%
- Wedding Attire, Jewellery & Beauty: 5% – 10%
- Miscellaneous (Invites, Favors, etc.): 3% – 5%
💡 Pro Tip: Always reserve a 15% contingency fund to cover hidden costs, taxes, vendor travel, and last-minute changes.
🎯 Category Breakdown: What’s Included in Each Budget Segment
- 💒 Venue & Catering (45% – 50%)
Why It’s the Biggest Investment:
Your venue and food define the guest experience. For multi-day destination weddings, this includes costs for multiple events—welcome dinners, Mehendi lunches, Sangeets, and farewell brunches.
Includes:
- Venue rental fees
- Catering (all meals and beverages)
- Banquet staff
- Bar setup
- Applicable taxes and service charges
- 🌺 Decor, Design & Lighting (15% – 20%)
Why It Matters:
Decor brings your vision to life. For Indian weddings, every event typically has a unique theme and setup, making this a key budget category.
Includes:
- Floral arrangements
- Mandap design
- Sangeet/reception backdrops
- Tablescapes & centerpieces
- Custom lighting setups
- Rental furniture & installations
- 📝 Wedding Planner & Event Management (10% – 15%)
Why It’s a Smart Investment:
Hiring a professional wedding planner ensures seamless execution and often saves money through expert vendor negotiation and crisis management.
Includes:
- Full-service planning & design
- Vendor management
- Budget tracking
- Timeline creation
- On-ground execution with support team
- Guest logistics (airport pickups, hotel bookings, etc.)
- 📸 Photography & Cinematography (7% – 12%)
Why It’s Non-Negotiable:
Your wedding photos and videos are your forever memories. Don’t skimp here—invest in a team that understands the scale and emotion of Indian destination weddings.
Includes:
- Multi-day photography & video coverage
- Travel and accommodation for the crew
- Post-production, editing & albums
- Highlight films & reels
- 🎤 Entertainment (7% – 12%)
Why It Sets the Mood:
From DJs and dhol players to celebrity artists, entertainment makes your celebration unforgettable. Costs vary greatly based on the scale and talent booked.
Includes:
- DJs, bands, and live artists
- Emcees & hosts
- Folk performers (for Mehendi or Haldi)
- Audio systems & staging
- 👗 Wedding Attire, Jewellery & Beauty (5% – 10%)
From your designer lehenga to professional hair and makeup, this category covers all things personal styling.
Includes:
- Outfits for all events
- Bridal jewellery
- Groom’s wardrobe
- Makeup & hairstyling teams
- 💌 Miscellaneous Expenses (3% – 5%)
These smaller line items still matter and should be planned for in advance.
Includes:
- Wedding invitations (print + digital)
- Welcome gifts/favors
- Signages, props & welcome boards
- Trousseau packing
- Tips for vendors
⚠️ The 15% Rule: Always Budget for the Unexpected
Even the best-planned weddings face unexpected costs. We recommend setting aside 15% of your total budget as a contingency reserve. This will cover:
- Extra taxes and GST
- Last-minute travel or hotel arrangements
- Vendor overtime
- Weather-related changes
🎨 How to Personalize Your Wedding Budget
No two weddings are the same. The above is a planner-approved starting point, but you should personalize it based on your preferences.
Example Scenarios:
- Foodie Couple? Shift 5% from decor to catering for a celebrity chef or gourmet food stations.
- Love Live Music? Increase the entertainment budget to 20% and go minimal with decor.
- DIY Bride? Reduce planner costs slightly and increase attire/jewellery or personalization details.
💬 Ready to Build Your Dream Wedding Budget?
At Weddings by Event Crafter, we collaborate closely with couples to create custom budgets aligned with their vision. We don’t just plan weddings—we craft unforgettable experiences with full financial transparency.
👉 Contact us today to begin your planning journey with expert guidance and zero financial surprises.
📌 Quick Recap: Ideal Wedding Budget Allocation (2025/2026)
Category | Recommended % |
Venue & Catering | 45% – 50% |
Decor & Lighting | 15% – 20% |
Planner & Management | 10% – 15% |
Photography & Videography | 7% – 12% |
Entertainment | 7% – 12% |
Attire & Personal Styling | 5% – 10% |
Miscellaneous | 3% – 5% |
Contingency Reserve | +15% buffer |