How to Create Your Wedding Budget

Before you start touring venues and signing contracts, you need to know how much you can realistically spend to create your dream wedding. Budgeting might seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! Start off by determining the total amount you will be spending on the wedding. Don’t forget to include any money that your family or other loved ones might be contributing.

Once you have an idea of the total amount you have to work with, break it down by category. Over the years, we’ve found most wedding budgets fit the below breakdown. 

WEDDING BUDGET CATEGORIES

• Catering and Alcohol, 25% of the budget

• Venue, 20% of the budget

• Flowers and Decor, 10% of the budget

  • Includes the cost of centerpieces, renting linens, tables, chairs, etc. 

• Photography, 8% of the budget

• Videography, 5% of the budget

• Music and Entertainment, 7% of the budget

  • Includes the costs of your DJ, band, string quartet, live performers, etc.

• Attire and Alterations, 4% of the budget

  • Includes the cost of your dress, dress alterations, your groom’s suit or tux rental, etc.

• Beauty, 3% of the budget

  • Includes the cost of your hair and makeup

• Transportation, 3% of the budget

• Stationary, 2% of the budget

• Cake, 2% of the budget

• Favors and Gifts, 1% of the budget

• Wedding Planner, 5% of the budget*

• Emergency Fund, 5% of the budget

*The cost of a wedding planner will vary depending on the type of service you need. Full-service wedding planning may cost closer to 10-15% of your budget, whereas a Day-Of Coordinator may cost closer to 3-5% of your budget.

PRO TIP: Utilize this breakdown as a guideline and not a hard and fast rule when creating your budget. If you have always dreamed of a custom-designed wedding dress you may need to add more funds to the Attire budget and reduce the funds in another category. 

USE A BUDGET TRACKER

Once you have created your budget, be sure you are sticking to it by tracking your spending. Whether you use budget tracking software or a handwritten document, tracking your expenses will ensure you don’t accidentally overspend or forget to pay an invoice before the big day!

You can create your budget and track your spending using our free Wedding Budget Tracker. Our tracker will help you generate a budget, track your spending, and total your expenses within each category. 

PRO TIP:  Keep yourself organized with Google Drive. Create a folder within Google Drive to keep all of your important wedding documents separate from your everyday life. Within this folder, we recommend saving your contracts, our budget tracker, inspiration boards, and more! 

Looking for help planning your wedding? Head over to our planning page to learn more about our services or check out our blog for advice and inspiration.  Need an amazing photographer? Check out Sun Prairie Films who snapped this gorgeous flat-lay photo!