Whether it is your day or your daughter's, the short answer: in the U.S. a wedding commonly lands between $20,000 and $40,000, with the dress alone averaging $1,500–$2,500. But the only number that matters is the one built from your guest count and your choices — which is exactly what this tool does.
Guests are the single biggest lever
Almost everything scales with head count — food, drink, cake, rentals, and often the venue tier. Cutting the list from 150 to 80 guests can remove $5,000–$10,000 from catering alone, before you touch a single other line item.
Where the dress fits in
- A typical dress runs $1,500–$2,500, but alterations ($300–$800), a veil, and shoes can add 25–40%.
- Sample sales and second-hand gowns can cut the dress cost by half or more without sacrificing the look.
- Keep the dress under roughly 5–8% of the total budget so it does not crowd out venue, food, and photography.
Don't forget the hidden 8%
Sales tax, service charges, and gratuity routinely add 7–10% on top of the quoted prices — this calculator folds in an 8% estimate. Build that cushion in now so the final bill isn't a surprise, and keep a 5% contingency for the things you forgot you wanted.