Your Ultimate Wedding Budget Guide
2024-10-15

Source: Pexels

Dividing your budget into two main categories – 'For Us' and 'For Guests' – is the first step to creating your wedding budget. The 'For Us' section includes your personal desires, like a dream honeymoon or spending on decorations. The 'For Guests' portion focuses on your guests' experience, including the venue, food, drinks, and favors.

Remaining costs will include fixed expenses such as photography, videography, and attire. Additionally, there are costs for logistics like transportation, labor, lighting, printing, and any other miscellaneous items deemed necessary.

The following wedding budget breakdown provides a general framework for allocating your spending, and it can be adjusted based on each couple's unique needs and priorities.

Budget Allocation

Before making any decisions, it's crucial to determine the exact amount you can spend on your wedding. To do this, you and your partner should review your savings and decide how much you can save throughout the preparation period leading up to the wedding day.

You may also want to talk to your parents to see if they're willing and able to contribute. Once you have a total amount, it's best to allocate your budget based on a breakdown of wedding expenses, which typically includes ten major categories. Below is a general allocation from Blissful Brides that you can use as a starting point, but you may need to adjust the spending based on your priorities and preferences.

• Venue and Catering: 40% - 50% of the budget
• Decorations: 20% - 30% of the budget
• Photography and Videography: 15% - 20% of the budget
• Attire and Makeup: 10%- 20% of the budget
• Invitations and Stationery: 2%-5% of the budget
• Miscellaneous Costs: You should allocate an additional 20% - 25% of the total budget for a wedding planner, transportation, gifts, and other smaller details.

Create A Spreadsheet To Track Expenses

You can easily create an Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheet to keep track of all the costs for your big day. Each spreadsheet should include information such as the supplier's contract, the estimated cost, the actual cost, additional service fees, tips, shipping costs, and permit fees for vendors. Don't forget to create a total row and use the auto-sum function for easy updates when entering data.

Additionally, if you have the support of a Wedding Planner from the beginning, they will provide you with a detailed breakdown and help you manage this spreadsheet, ensuring that everything is monitored closely and effectively. 

Source: Pexels

Check out Blissful Brides' list of service partners to start creating the first items for your wedding planning journey!