Destination Wedding Total Cost Forecaster

Bundle travel stipends, venue contracts, and on-site vendors into a single headline budget so you can assign deposit, interim, and final payment milestones plus a monthly savings target for your destination celebration.

Include the couple plus invited guests expected to attend.
Airfare or travel support you plan to subsidize per person.
All-in venue contract including ceremony and reception basics.
Photography, decor, welcome events, or other on-site services.
Add a cushion for currency shifts, upgrades, or overruns.
Used to estimate monthly savings targets.
Due at contract signature across all vendors.
Milestone payment often due halfway to the event.

Use for planning only. Confirm amounts against vendor invoices, contracts, and exchange rates before making deposits.

Examples

  • 60 guests, $450 stipend, $28,000 venue, $12,000 extras, 12% buffer ⇒ $75,040 total, deposit 35%, interim 25%, final 40%, save $6,253/month
  • 32 guests, $650 stipend, $18,000 venue, $9,500 extras, 8% buffer ⇒ $52,164 total, payments split 30/20/50, save $5,216/month for 10 months

FAQ

How should I treat partially hosted guests?

Reduce the stipend or extras for guests covering their own travel so the budget reflects only costs you assume. You can duplicate the run with different guest tiers if some receive more support.

Can I include welcome bags or excursions?

Add their costs to the local extras line to see how they impact per-guest spend and payment milestones, or use the contingency percentage for uncertain add-ons.

What if my venue requires multiple interim payments?

Split the interim percentage across those dates or rerun the calculator with different interim values to map each milestone—keep the total interim share equal to your contract requirements.

Do I need to include vendor gratuities?

Yes—either add them to extras or increase the contingency buffer so final bills do not surprise you. Include cash envelopes, service charges, and taxes where applicable.

How do I budget for exchange-rate volatility?

Set the contingency percentage a few points higher or quote vendor amounts in your home currency using a conservative exchange rate, then update the inputs once invoices are finalized.

Additional Information

  • Contingency buffers guard against currency swings, weekend surcharges, or last-minute headcount bumps.
  • Per-guest cost helps compare welcome parties, rehearsal dinners, or excursion add-ons against resort minimums.
  • Deposits typically run 25–40% at signature, an interim milestone lands halfway to the event, and the balance is due on arrival—tune the percentages to match vendor contracts.
  • Monthly savings guidance assumes even contributions across the runway you entered; front-load savings if deposits are due sooner.
  • If your vendor quotes in another currency, convert to USD (or your budgeting currency) before entering numbers so deposits and contingencies track correctly.

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