Creating a wedding budget spreadsheet can seem like a daunting task, but it’s an essential step in keeping track of your expenses and staying within your budget. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a wedding budget spreadsheet:
Step 1: Determine Your Budget Categories
Start by determining the categories you want to include in your budget. Some common categories include venue, catering, flowers, photography, and attire. You may also want to include a category for unexpected expenses.
Step 2: Create a Column for Estimated Costs
Create a column for estimated costs in each category. Research the average cost of each element and enter that amount into the estimated cost column.
Step 3: Create a Column for Actual Costs
Create a column for actual costs in each category. As you book vendors and purchase items, enter the actual amount spent in this column.
Step 4: Calculate the Difference
Create a column to calculate the difference between the estimated cost and actual cost. This will help you stay on track and adjust your budget if necessary.
Step 5: Add a Notes Column
Add a column for notes where you can keep track of important details about each expense, such as the name of the vendor, deposit amounts, and due dates.
Step 6: Use Formulas to Calculate Totals
Use formulas to calculate the total estimated cost, total actual cost, and total difference for each category.
Step 7: Create a Grand Total
Create a grand total at the bottom of the spreadsheet to show the overall estimated cost, actual cost, and difference.
Step 8: Keep Your Spreadsheet Up-to-Date
Keep your spreadsheet up-to-date by regularly entering actual costs and updating estimated costs as needed.
Creating a wedding budget spreadsheet may take some time, but it’s a valuable tool in helping you stay on track financially. By following these steps, you can create a detailed budget and keep track of your expenses throughout the wedding planning process.
Or you can save yourself the time of creating a spreadsheet by signing up as a couple on the Santa Barbara Wedding Guide website. We have a budget tool built-in and ready to help you keep track of all your wedding-related expenses.