A free calculator that turns your city, guest count and standard into a realistic 2026 Indian wedding budget, with a full line-by-line breakdown and a per-plate sanity check.
Start here if you have a rough shape in mind but no number. Answer six questions and you get an all-in range, a per-guest figure and a full line-by-line split. It then checks the implied per-plate cost against what caterers in India actually charge, and tells you if the numbers do not work.
Velvet Knot planning tool
Wedding budget calculator
Six questions. A realistic 2026 budget range with a line-by-line breakdown, built on the same numbers our planners quote from.
Realistic all-in budget
Rs 45 lakh to Rs 65 lakh
| Where it goes | Share | Indicative |
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Indicative planning ranges for 2026, not a quote. Real numbers move with your venue, date, menu and vendor list. Cross-check against our per-plate guide and cost by guest count.
Want this itemised properly, with real venue and vendor quotes for your dates?
The other planning tools
- Budget Allocation Planner
- Find Your Wedding City
- Compare Two Wedding Cities
- Is This Wedding Date Expensive?
- Your Wedding Planning Timeline
All six are free and need no sign-up. See the full set on the planning tools page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this calculator?
It gives indicative 2026 planning ranges calibrated against our published cost research and the quotes we see across Indian venues. It is not a quote. Real figures move with your specific venue, date, menu and vendor list.
Why does it sometimes say my plan will not work?
Because that is the most useful thing it can tell you. If your total divided by your guest count leaves less per plate than caterers will accept, no amount of negotiating fixes it. The guest list, not the vendor list, is the lever.
Does it include the venue and catering?
Yes. The breakdown covers venue, catering, decor, photography, attire, jewellery, entertainment, invitations and a contingency line, which is where most homemade budgets fall short.