So you’re just new to engage. Congratulations! After having a significant portion of announcing and celebrating the status of your relationship, it’s time to start planning your big day with your wedding budget breakdown!
This means summarizing wedding budget spreadsheets by percentage and category.
It’s no secret that weddings are expensive. And you probably looked up “budget wedding planning” to see what is possible.
You have probably laid out your dream wedding in your mind – a great venue, designer dresses, and their gorgeous florals – it’s important to set a realistic wedding budget so that you don’t derail your long-term financial goals.
Why is wedding budget breakdown important for your finances?
The lending tree found that 30% of engaged couples use their debt to fund their weddings. It is definitely not a good way to start a marriage finances.
Being clear that you really have room will help you avoid being part of those statistics. Plus, you can host your wedding on a fun and elegant budget.
To avoid excessively expensive wedding dates, there are several guidelines that will help you create a realistic wedding budget while keeping your long-term financial goals intact.
Tips for creating a realistic wedding budget breakdown
Wedding Wire’s newlyweds report, on average, expects couples to pay around $16,000 for their wedding, but instead spend nearly $29,000! why? Most couples underestimate the cost of venues and catering (sometimes more) because they set a rough budget before conducting research.
Just like with your monthly budget, you need to plan how you spend your money on your wedding.
It’s very easy to plan your destination wedding and try to stick to small details that add unnecessary costs. This is why creating a spreadsheet for your wedding budget is essential.
You also need to focus on what is important to you and how much you want to pay for certain things. Rather than knowing the average cost of a wedding and assuming that yours is the same, do this.
So, when searching the internet for the term “planning a wedding on a budget,” you know that all the results are different and are based on individual experiences.
You can have a beautiful wedding without damaging your financial health. A realistic budget will help you do just that.
1. Determine the amount of weddings you can afford
When outlined a wedding budget checklist, it is best to first sit down with important others and discuss the long-term financial goals and what makes the most sense to pay for your wedding based on those goals.
This conversation allows both to set realistic expectations and avoid unnecessary disagreements. It is also important to have a conversation with your family if you are receiving financial support from them to pay for your wedding.
Some of the questions we want to answer together include:
- Do you get financial support from your parents and family? If so, how much?
- Are you and your partner paying for your own wedding or are you contributing to the costs of your wedding in addition to helping your family? If so, do you each contribute?
Once you know what these numbers are, add them and use that final number as a basis for your wedding budget breakdown.
2. Lay out the size of your wedding guest list
Determining the size of your wedding guest list is an important step in creating a realistic budget breakdown.
The number of guests you invite can have a significant impact on your overall wedding costs as each guest adds the cost of food, drinks, favors and other wedding-related items.
To determine the size of your guest list, start by creating a spare list and considering the following factors:
- A close family
- big family
- Family friends
- Your friend
- Plus 1
And, because of budget considerations, we recommend limiting your guest list to your immediate family and close friends.
3. Decide when the wedding is
Years are often overlooked when setting a wedding budget.
However, wedding costs vary depending on the season, and vary in the months of peak weddings, such as spring and summer, with higher prices for venues, vendors and other services.
Alternatively, off-peak seasons like fall and winter may offer more budget-friendly options.
So, when preparing your wedding budget, consider the weather, availability of venues and vendors, and the discounts that may be available at certain times.
4. Choose a venue or destination (one of the biggest costs of a wedding budget breakdown)
And we can’t forget one of the venues, if not the biggest, the biggest, wedding cost.
The venue not only sets the tone and atmosphere for your special day, but also plays a major role in budget collapse.
With different venues offering different price ranges, it is essential to research and compare options such as:
- size
- position
- Indoor or outdoor space
- Amenities (That istoilet, dressing room, kitchen, dance floor)
- Included services (That isserving venue coordinators and staff, cleaning, setup)
- Accessibility
Please note that popular or sought venues often come with a higher price tag. However, if you are accepting alternatives, you can also explore fewer traditional venues, such as hosting weddings in parks, community centers, or private homes.
Additionally, while destination weddings can provide a unique experience, there may be additional costs for travel and accommodation.
5. Download the free wedding budget breakdown spreadsheet
The way to keep your budget is to set the amount and track the costs throughout the wedding planning process. Once you start planning, we’ll introduce you to some great wedding budget spreadsheets that will help you lay out the costs mentioned below!
Click on the image below to download this worksheet in PDF & Excel format!
Examples of wedding budget breakdowns (in percentage)
After determining the “number,” it’s time to set a breakdown of the typical wedding budget. Let’s say you’re planning on spending around $20,000. (This does not include honeymoon costs.)
Remember that this is only for example use. You may decide to spend more or less on your big day.
Below are the various categories you want to include in your budget: We will examine them in detail and discuss the average budget rates that can be allocated to each.
Received: 40% to 45% (the largest cost in wedding budget breakdown)
The main category of wedding budget spreadsheets is for receptions. The cost of the reception can be a large part of your budget. This is about 40% to 45%. Received costs include venue costs, food, wedding cakes, rentals, and more.
So, to get a breakdown of the wedding budget, the total budget gets $20,000, multiplying 40% to 45% ($8,000 to $9,000).
Ceremony: 2%
Calculate approximately 2% of wedding budget breakdowns into ceremony costs. This includes licensing fees for hosting and marriage.
Some people will be holding the ceremony at the same location as the reception. Therefore, the venue is included in the reception fee mentioned above.
Otherwise, you will need to pay to the venue for the ceremony that is not included in this percentage.
Wedding attire: 8%-10%
Luxurious wedding dresses, tuxedos, makeup and hair are expensive. Needless to say, accessories! It usually runs between 8% and 10% of the wedding budget breakdown. So, based on the example budget, the total cost is between $1,600 and $2,000.
Wedding rings: 3%
When creating a wedding budget checklist, don’t forget to include your wedding rings. Of course, this is not the cost of an engagement ring. That’s a completely different cost.
But it’s an important part of your checklist, as wedding bands are symbols of eternal love that represent your union! If you’re frugal, the average is about 3% of your budget.
Photos and Video Recording: 12-15%
The next biggest expense in your wedding budget collapse is the photographer and videographer. If you are very frugal, you can plan for about 12% to 15% of your budget. This can be around $2,400-3,000, but the cost can be much higher.
Find a photographer with great reviews to make sure you capture memories of your big day in the best possible way!
Flowers and Decorations: 7% to 8%
Whether you need a beautiful display of red roses or sparkling lights to decorate the venue, the average cost of flowers and decoration is around 7% to 8% of your total budget. So, for decoration and flower arrangements, include around $1,400 to $1,600 in your wedding budget spreadsheet.
Entertainment and Music: 6% to 7%
Are you thinking of a DJ or a band for your wedding? Either one has different costs and costs. However, for entertainment, wedding budget spreadsheets can block around 6% to 7% or $1,200 to $1,400.
Wedding invitations and stationery: 3%
Invitations, stationery, menu, ah! There are many types of wedding stationery that need to be explained in your wedding budget checklist.
Between save date cards, wedding invitations, ceremony programs, and more, this costs around 3% of your budget. Make sure to check your guest list, see how many invitations you need, and then calculate the cost from there.
Transport: 2%
If you decide to provide transportation to guests so that everyone arrives on time, it costs about 2% of your budget. If you are going this route, make sure to allocate about $400. You can also supply transportation to wedding parties to reduce costs.
Bridal Party Gift: 2%
Another cost to keep in mind your wedding budget breakdown is a gift for a bridal party. You can also choose to get some creepy gifts for your guests, so make a budget accordingly. Run about 2% or about $400.
Wedding Insurance: 2%
Don’t let unexpected events ruin your big day. Add wedding insurance to your wedding budget spreadsheet! Insurance covers lost photos, deposits, rings and other items.
At the very least, if an accident occurs, get liability insurance to cover the accident. These policies can implement approximately 2% of your budget.
Wedding Planner: 10%-15%
Hiring a wedding planner will help you reduce the stress of planning your wedding and make sure things run smoothly on your big day.
Wedding planners can help you coordinate vendors, manage your timeline, and design your entire event.
Typically, wedding planner costs range from 10% to 15% of your budget, ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 based on budget examples.
Wedding favors: 1% to 2%
A wedding favor is a thoughtful way to thank guests for celebrating your special day.
These little appreciations range from personalized memorabilia to edible snacks.
Allocate approximately 1% to 2% of your budget. This can range from $200 to $400 to buy or create a wedding favor based on a budget example.
Other unplanned costs: 2-5%
It is also a good idea to allocate around 2% to 5% of your total budget to cover other, unplanned or surprising costs. Therefore, this category should have a buffer of about $400 to $1,000.
An example of what may come up is to either need a wedding planner or decide to choose an extra time for the photographer. These are costs you don’t notice until you get closer to your wedding.
When creating a wedding budget breakdown, costs vary depending on where the wedding is, when, and the day of the week, but you can find the average wedding cost online to get general ideas.
17 ways to take advantage of wedding budget breakdowns to save money
It’s no surprise that your big day reflects your preferences. Luckily, it doesn’t require arms and legs, but it requires some additional work on both parts. Here’s what you can do to get more from your wedding budget without actually spending more.
1. Negotiate with the vendor to lower your wedding budget
The first tip that seems obvious is to negotiate prices and contracts with the people you employ for your wedding.
Caterers, photographers, florists and DJs often work on a specific budget. If you can’t afford the fees offered to you, you’re willing to negotiate and leave.
For example, ask for catering about the sample menu and per person price, then see which areas you can reduce (i.e. you only need two horses, not five).
It will help you to negotiate the price of their service back. Photographers, florists and DJs will also be happy to lower prices to close the deal. Save big money or free up money with wedding budget checklists for other categories!
2. Don’t get hooked on expensive wedding stationery
Letterpress printing, gold foil, jewelry boxes, feathers… it’s easy to get hooked on wedding stationery, and their costs can increase quickly.
Some flashy vitality invitations can go as much as $5-7 per invitee – Yikes. Instead, I choose to print a simple, less expensive invitation. You’ll be amazed at the beautiful options that exist.
One of my favorite online printing presses allows you to choose beautiful wedding invitations at an affordable price.
3. Skip catered sit-in dinner to maximize your budget
Skipping a flashy catering dinner is an easy way to plan your wedding on a budget. Most wedding venues offer in-house catering services to make a lot of money on the enormous markup involved.
If you can find a venue where you can bring your own caterer, you will not only be able to make great food, but you will also be able to find a place that fits your budget.
A modest alternative is to choose a family-style dinner with a shared platter that can be passed around the table. Doing this will save you up to 20% on catering costs.
The formal catering is great, but it is definitely one of the more expensive options. Family-style dinners create a warm atmosphere for those who want a smaller, more intimate wedding.
Another consideration? Dinner is usually the most expensive meal when it comes to planning a wedding on a budget. Brunch and lunch are slightly lighter meals and tend to drink less alcohol during the day, which means saving you a lot of money there.
4. Think of a second-hand dress
If you’re a bride who realizes that your dream dress is off your budget, try finding it online at second-hand wedding dress sites such as andwed.com and stillwhite.com. Save up to 75% on wedding dresses already loved, dry cleaned and stored for your next owner.
Another option is to rent formal wear. Instead of dropping thousands of dollars and wearing it, you can rent your dream wedding dress.
The same applies to the groom’s lawsuit. Suits can also be rented. It is also a great way to reduce the cost of materials that don’t have a long timeline in terms of how often they are worn. Owning or renting is a big part of holding a wedding on a budget!
Changes and accessories may also be costly. But you can still add a personalized atmosphere, you can sew lace details, beads, or appliques into a simple dress or make your own veil or hair accessories.
5. Marry anytime except on Saturday
Saturday is the most expensive day to marry, especially in the summer and fall. why? Because everyone wants to get married on Saturday!
Marriage on a Sunday or weekday may allow you to book your dream venue with a substantial discount (10% to 40% off).
And if you choose an off-peak date (like winter or spring), you may save even more! Choosing a cheap day to get married is a way to plan your wedding on a budget without much effort!
6. Offer signature cocktails to save alcohol costs
Offering signature cocktails is a great way to show your personality at your wedding. With limited varieties available, it can help you manage how much you spend on alcohol (if you choose to serve alcohol). But you’re still offering great drinks.
7. DIY your decorations and use seasonal items
An easy way to have a wedding on a budget is to decorate your own! Take advantage of the talent your friends, bridesmaids, and family may have! Ask their help to create decorations for your wedding and reception.
Pinterest is a great way to get inspiration, and you can find plenty of great decorations from your local craft store for just a small portion of the costs you pay for florists and event designers.
And since flower arrangements can be a huge hit on your budget, consider buying lots of flowers, butonniers and corsages from Sam’s Club and Costco. Doing so will save thousands of people compared to working with a florist.
Check out some YouTube tutorials on how to get a grasp of your wedding colors and put together an arrangement. It’s completely doable!
8. Choose a cheap photo package
As we saw in the wedding budget breakdown, the second highest cost is the photographer.
Many people are very particular about their wedding photography, so if you have a photographer you absolutely have to have for your wedding, consider choosing the cheapest photoshoot package.
Do your friends and family really need a photographer at your wedding for 10 hours to take photos too? 30 minutes of these photos are good enough as people start dancing. Then it’s just a bunch of repetitions. Plus, these photos rarely appear on wedding albums.
9. Skip the flashy wedding cake
Everyone loves cakes, but that doesn’t mean you need to splurge on three-layer wedding cakes. Elegant sweets can pull you back hundreds of dollars. And often, guests have too much fun to realize what kind of cake you are serving.
Save money by choosing one 6-8 inch tear cake on top of a styrofoam base. If you want to serve cakes to your guests, buy a few sheet cakes from Costco for about $40 from your local bakery. Your guests never know the difference, and you can still get those charming cake cut photos.
10. Forget about the wedding linen or bring it yourself
If the venue has uncovered wooden tables, choose a rustic look without linen. You can save between $500 and $1,000.
If you need to cover the tables provided, buy a fair amount of fabric online or at a local craft store and DIY your own linen for a massive cost savings. Online tutorials like YouTube can help you get started with customizing your own linens.
11. Ask a friend to host
You can save between $200 and $400 by asking a friend to preside over your wedding. Friends can easily be ordained online for around $50.
Also, if you’re not used to asking a friend to host for the first time, another option is to ask someone close to someone who has had experience hosting a wedding.
12. Consider a small wedding to save money
Simply choosing a small wedding is a way to plan your wedding on a budget. A small, simple wedding is just as beautiful as a big, flashy wedding.
The big difference is how much you save. At the end of the day, your wedding celebration is only one day, and your marriage is for life!
So, if you can’t afford a one-day wedding party, it makes more sense to go financially healthy than to blow a lot of money.
13. Extend engagement time frame
Evaluate the budget spreadsheet for your wedding you create. If you think it’s like paying for your wedding is suddenly visible, consider expanding your engagement. It’s a great way to reduce the amount you need to save each month while enjoying the exciting planning stage.
14. Track your spending in budget breakdowns
It is important to track your wedding spending to make sure you are in line with your budget. To consider all costs, use a wedding budget spreadsheet. Be careful as there are very few costs like hair accessories, place cards, and cake toppers!
15. Become DIY and creative
And here are some great news – there are plenty of clever ways you can save your wedding. From DIY options to simple rethinking the day you exchange vows, today’s wedding can fit almost every budget.
16. Plan for unexpected last minute expenses
Another clever wedding budget trick is to take money for unexpected costs and last minute expenses that may incur.
Despite our best efforts to explain everything, there may be unexpected costs such as dress changes, additional decorations, and unexpected vendor fees.
To plan for unexpected expenses, consider assigning 10% to 15% of your budget, for unexpected expenses, from 10% to 15%.
17. Get the right insurance
Many people forget about wedding insurance when planning their big day, but it can provide valuable protection and peace of mind.
No one wants to think about potential accidents on a big day, but having proper insurance coverage can help reduce financial losses and reduce stress.
Wedding insurance typically covers a variety of scenarios, including extreme weather, illness, accidents, cancellations or postponements due to venue bankruptcy.
Some policies also provide liability coverage in the event of an accident or property damage during an event.
Expert Tips: Take your time while making wedding budget decisions
The wedding planning process is overwhelming. You can make many decisions and talk to so many people!
First, take your time. Secondly, trust that you can make wise decisions with preparation and correct information.
Finally, become yourself. You don’t need to borrow yourself to have the wedding of your dreams. Make clear what you want and use the resources you have here.
Create a wedding budget checklist. And track your spending on wedding budget spreadsheets or wedding budget calculators.
How can you save for your wedding and also keep your emergency funds intact?
When things cost you and your wedding budget checklist is squared, it’s time to start saving. Build line items on your existing budget and start putting money aside for your wedding.
Keep in mind that you may need to forget about certain things to achieve your big day savings goals. Things like daily coffee, gym memberships, holidays, shopping, etc. may need to be placed on the back burner while saving your big day.
If you choose to hold off your long-term savings while you are dumping money for your wedding, it is important to keep your emergency funds intact. Because life happens whether you’re planning a wedding on a budget or not. Your emergency fund should not be used to cover your wedding costs.
What is a reasonable budget for a wedding?
The wedding budget mainly depends on the couple’s personal preferences, the location of the event, and how many people are on the guest list. All of these can vary widely from person to person.
Therefore, reasonable budgets range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars or more. It all depends on you.
Your budget should be realistic and manageable for you and your partner.
Is $5,000 enough for a wedding?
$5,000 can be a tough budget for a traditional wedding, but it’s absolutely possible to plan a beautiful and meaningful wedding for $5,000.
This can be done by leveraging cost-saving strategies, such as choosing a smaller guest list, choosing a non-traditional venue (such as a backyard or public park), or selecting specific elements (such as decorations and food).
Is $10,000 worth a wedding?
With today’s resources and DIY options, you can leave your budget to work. That said, $10,000 is a significant amount for a wedding.
The key is to spend only on what is realistic with your expectations and what is important to you. Take your time to imagine how you’re going to have a special day and keep that in mind throughout the wedding planning process.
How is your $30,000 wedding budget budget?
By chance, $30,000 is the average cost of a recent wedding. So, if that’s what you’re aiming for, you’re in a good place to have a traditional wedding.
Use the percentages and categories listed in this article to summarize your wedding budget spreadsheet. Of course, you can take out some costs and adjust the costs of other costs based on your priorities!
Track your spending with a wedding budget calculator.
What should I include in my wedding budget spreadsheet?
A comprehensive wedding budget spreadsheet should include various categories and items to track your spending.
Below are some important factors to include:
- Venue and Catering Cost
- Wedding attire (bridal gowns, groom suits, accessories)
- Photography and video recording
- Flowers and decorations
- Entertainment and music
- Stationery (invitations, preservation, program)
- Transportation
- Wedding cake
- Moderator fee
- Wedding rings
- Hair and makeup
- Wedding favors
- Wedding Planner Fees (if applicable)
- Marriage license
- Other expenses (hints, unexpected costs, emergency funds)
Assign realistic budgets to each category and track actual spending against budget amounts. This will help you make informed decisions while still being organized.
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Take advantage of this wedding budget breakdown and save your dream wedding!
Wedding budget breakdown serves as a customized wedding budget template. If you don’t feel that it’s the best for your finances, you don’t have to spend an average amount on your wedding. Remember, your marriage is a celebration of more than a day!
It is important to be financially smart about your wedding costs so that it doesn’t affect your financial future. Use your wedding budget checklist to make sure you remember all expenses and prepare all expenses financially. We can also help you plan your dream wedding on a budget with our free course!