Split the money before you book a thing.
A Punjabi wedding budget isn't one number — it's how you split the total across catering, venue, photo, decor and outfits, and who's covering what. Get the split wrong and one category quietly eats the wedding. Below is the allocation that works, three sample budgets, and a free interactive budget tool to run your own numbers.
The allocation that actually works
Start from your total and guest count, then split roughly like this. If any one category is more than half your budget, something is wrong — go back and re-plan.
| Category | Share | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Catering & langar | 30–40% | Almost always the biggest line. Driven by guest count and menu, not venue. |
| Venue & banquet | 10–15% | The hall itself, minimum spends and service charges. Separate from food. |
| Photo & video | 8–12% | Multi-day coverage adds up fast. Worth protecting — it's all you keep. |
| Decor & florals | 10–15% | Mandap, stage, centrepieces, ceiling work. Scales with the number of events. |
| Outfits & jewellery | 8–12% | Bride, groom and parents. Long lead time if ordered from India. |
| DJ, dhol & entertainment | 3–5% | Plus any sangeet choreographer. |
| Makeup, mehndi & hair | 2–4% | Often across multiple events, multiple people. |
| Transport & misc. | 5–8% | Doli car, guest logistics, and the buffer every wedding needs. |
What $30k, $50k and $80k actually buy
~$30,000
~150 guests
One or two events, in-house catering, a strong photographer, modest decor. Achievable in most Canadian cities if you're disciplined on guest count.
~$50,000
~300 guests
Full event week, outside caterer, photo + video, real decor. The most common range we see for a Canadian Punjabi wedding.
~$80,000+
~450 guests
Large guest list, premium hall, elaborate decor, designer outfits, second reception. The number climbs with guests faster than anything else.
These are starting points, not quotes. For real local numbers, see what a Sikh wedding costs by city.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of a Punjabi wedding budget goes to food?
Catering and langar is almost always the single biggest line — typically 30–40% of the total. It's driven by guest count and menu more than anything else. At 400 guests and $90 a head, that's $36,000 on food alone before decor or service charges, which is why guest count is the first number to lock.
How do we split the budget between the two families?
There's no single rule — increasingly couples or one family cover most of it, and the old 'bride's side pays' convention is fading. What matters is having the conversation before deposits go out, not after. Decide three numbers first: total ceiling, guest count, and who's covering what. The blueprint includes a parent-share summary so that conversation has a document, not just opinions.
Do you have a free budget tool?
Yes. Our interactive budget planner lets you enter your total and guest count and see the allocation broken down live. The personalized blueprint goes further — it builds your budget against your actual city's cost ranges and your specific event list.
What's a realistic Punjabi wedding budget in Canada?
Most land between $30,000 and $120,000+, and the spread is real — guest count, city and number of events drive almost all of it. See the sample budgets above for what $30k, $50k and $80k actually buy, and the cost pages for your specific city.
How is the $99 blueprint different from the free tool?
The free tool gives you the percentages. The $99 CAD blueprint gives you your numbers — built against your city's real vendor ranges, your event list and your guest count, with the parent-share summary and the order to spend. Delivered in 48–72 hours.