How to split a shaadi budget across services

Start with the total, not the wish list

It is tempting to collect ideas first and add up the cost later. That is how budgets break. Agree a total with the people paying, across all the functions you are planning, and write it down. Then decide which functions matter most to you. Some families spend most on the Baraat, others on the Walima, and some keep the Mehndi small and private.

Keep a contingency of around ten percent aside from the start. Something always costs more than planned: an extra fifty guests, a generator, a last-minute outfit alteration.

Why guest count matters most

Venue and catering are usually charged per head or by capacity, so they grow directly with your list. Decor, photography and makeup do not, or only a little. Cutting fifty guests from a function often saves more than cutting any single service.

Before you set numbers for each service, get a realistic guest count for each function. Count households and then people, not names on a list.

A starting split you can adjust

Every family is different, but this is a reasonable starting point for a typical Lahore function. Treat it as a draft to adjust, not a rule:

• Venue and catering: the largest share, often around half or more of a function's budget.
• Decor and tent: a meaningful share, higher for Mehndi and outdoor events.
• Photography and video: a fixed cost that does not grow much with guests.
• Bridal makeup and hair: smaller in total, but book it early.
• Everything else: clothes, jewellery, cards, transport and gifts, which families often underestimate.

Prices vary a lot by date, guest count and area. Vendors list starting prices on Bandobast, so browsing caterers, venues, decor, photography and makeup gives you a feel for the floor before you set your numbers.

How do two families share the costs?

In many Lahore families, the bride's side hosts the Mehndi and Baraat and the groom's side hosts the Walima, with each side paying for its own functions. Plenty of families now share differently, split some services, or agree on a joint budget. There is no single right way.

What matters is agreeing early and in plain terms. Sit down together, list the functions and who is hosting each, and note any shared costs like a photographer booked for all three days. A shared document or the event planner keeps everyone looking at the same numbers, which avoids awkward conversations later.

Where can we save without guests noticing?

• Pick a weekday or a quieter month. Peak-season Saturdays carry a premium for almost every service.
• Combine functions where it fits. A Nikkah and Mehndi on the same day, or a Nikkah held in the masjid before the Baraat, can save a whole venue booking.
• Spend on the stage, save on the rest. Fresh flowers where cameras look, fabric and lights elsewhere. See Mehndi decor ideas.
• Keep the menu focused. One very good main dish beats three average ones.
• Choose photo hours carefully. You may not need full coverage for every function.

Where it is worth spending more

Food quality, because it is what guests talk about afterwards. A reliable venue with proper power backup, because a dark hall in July cannot be fixed by decor. And a good photographer, because the photos outlast everything else. Use our caterer questions and venue guide to make sure the money goes into the right places.

Test your budget against real offers

The fastest way to know if your numbers are realistic is to ask the market. Post a request for each service on Bandobast with the price you have budgeted. If vendors accept it, you are in range. If they counter higher, their offers show you where the gap is and you can adjust the split before committing.

The event planner lets you set a budget, track each service and request offers from one place, so the plan and the bookings stay in sync.