How to plan a wedding budget

A useful budget shows timing and risk, not only the final total.

Start with the maximum total you are comfortable spending, then divide it into categories. Enter fixed supplier costs before guest-dependent costs.

Track planned, agreed, paid and due amounts separately. This prevents the total contract value from being confused with current cash flow.

Keep contingency as a separate line instead of distributing it in advance. Use it only for genuinely uncertain extras.

A simple implementation checklist

• Set one source of truth
• Assign an owner to each important action
• Add a realistic time or cost buffer
• Update the planner after every confirmed change