Budget is an important factor that is likely to influence your wedding planning. You often plan a certain budget for your wedding and ask your wedding planner to adhere to it. However, if you are planning your wedding on your own, then you might be tempted to surpass your budget. Hence, you must create a wedding budget spreadsheet on your computer and enter all the likely expenses and your budget for the same.
How to Create a Wedding Budget Spreadsheet?
The procedure for creating a wedding budget spreadsheet is simple, go to Microsoft Excel and say new document. You can either create one single spreadsheet for all the expenses or divide the spreadsheet into sections, each for a major expense.
Important Items on the Wedding Budget Spreadsheet
Ceremony/Reception
- Ceremony Location Fees
- Officiant’s Fee or Donation
- Room/Hall Fees
- Tables and Chairs
- Food
- Drinks
- Cake
- Linens
- Service Fee
- Staff and Gratuities
- Rentals
- Decorations (other than floral)
Wedding Dresses
- Bridal Trousseau
- Tuxedos
- Headpiece, Veil
- Jewelry (other than rings)
- Shoes
- Garter
- Hosiery
- Accessories
Floral Decorations
- Bouquets
- Boutonnières
- Corsages
- Ceremony Flowers
- Reception Flowers
- Table Centerpieces
- Bows for Church Pews
- Cake Table
- Candles
- Lighting
- Balloons
Wedding Photography
- Wedding Photographer
- Formals
- Candids
- Extra Prints
- Photo Albums
- Videography
- Video/DVD Copies
Music
- DJ’s
- Band/Musicians for Ceremony
- Band/Musicians for Reception
Stationery
- Wedding Invitations
- Save-the-Date Cards
- RSVP Cards
- Programs
- Personal Stationery
- Calligraphy
- Thank You Cards
- Stamps
- Guest Book
- Reception Napkins
- Matchbooks
Wedding Rings
- Bride’s Wedding Ring
- Groom’s Wedding Ring
Wedding Gifts
- Wedding Favors
- Bridesmaids Gifts
- Gifts for the Groomsmen
- Gifts for the Parents
- Readers/Other Participants
- Gifts for Each Other
Transportation
- Transportation to Ceremony
- Transportation to Reception
- Guests Transportation
- Limousines
- Trolleys
- Parking
- Taxis
Miscellaneous
- Wedding Coordinator
- Rehearsal Dinner
- Engagement Party
- Showers
- Salon Appointments
- Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
- Brunch
- Hotel Rooms
- Marriage License
- Taxes
- Tips
Once you put down all the items in their corresponding cells, the next step is to get an estimated cost for each item. Write this estimated cost against each item, in the second column. Get several printouts of this wedding budget spreadsheet and take one when shopping. This will help you stick to your budget, despite all the tempting things around. Do not forget to update the wedding budget spreadsheet when you shop for your wedding. This will give you an idea if you have surpassed your budget so that you can make the necessary arrangements. Have a running tally at the bottom of each section on the spreadsheet and a total tally at the bottom of the wedding budget spreadsheet.
The templates for wedding budget spreadsheets are readily available on the Internet in printable versions. You can take a printout and enter your expenses. But, the flip side is that you won’t be able to update such wedding budget spreadsheet templates. Hence, making your own personalized wedding budget spreadsheet is always good.