Free Wedding Budget Checklist: How to Make Your Wedding Budget (Plus Free Quick & Easy Guide)
Allocating your wedding budget is the most critical part of wedding planning. It might be the trickiest task, but you must create an accurate budget to prevent overspending.
To help you keep track and make sure you have enough money to cover everything, we’ve put together a rough outline for your spending breakdown. You can also use our printable Free Wedding Budget Checklist to outline expenses allotted to each wedding category. Then, adjust the details according to your priorities.
Food and Drink (Catering) – 25% of your budget
- Tasting event
- Pre-reception canapés
- Serving staff
- Bar staff
- Hire of catering equipment, if not provided by the venue (glasses and plates)
- Set up and take down fees
- Breakfast
- Evening party food
- Drinks (during breakfast, open bar, champagne for toasts, after the ceremony)
- Tea and coffee (after breakfast)
- Corkage fees (if you prefer serving your own alcohol)
- Vendor meals
- Service charge
- Bar staff tips
Venue – 15% of your budget
- Deposit
- Rental fee
- Wedding insurance
- Ceremony fee
- Rent of dance floor or furniture (some venues comes as a complete package while others are dry hire)
- On-site accommodations
- Tax
Photographer/Videographer – 12% of your budget
- Engagement shoot
- Feature film
- Highlight reel or video trailer
- Wedding day coverage
- Accommodation (for destination weddings)
- Editing
- Prints and albums
- Mileage
Beauty and Outfits – 12% of your budget
- Engagement party outfits
- Engagement shoot outfits
- Stag do outfit
- Hen party wardrobe
- Suit
- Wedding dress
- Reception dress
- Post-wedding event outfits
- Maid of honor and bridesmaids dresses and accessories
- Groomsmen outfits
- Ushers outfits
- Veil
- Bridal underwear
- Wedding shoes
- Jewelry
- Evening outfit
- Accessories (bags for hair, etc.)
- Pre-wedding beauty treatments (lash extension, nails, wax, etc.)
- Pre-wedding haircut or color
- Hair trial
- Makeup trial
- Hair on the day (mileage for a hairdresser)
- Makeup on the day (mileage for a makeup artist)
Music and Entertainment – 12% of your budget
- Ceremony musicians
- Pre-reception music or live entertainment
- Live band or party DJ for reception
- Sound system rental (if the venue doesn’t have one)
- Photo booth, ice sculpture, or live painting
- Master of ceremonies
Wedding Décor and Flowers – 8% of your budget
- Bride’s bouquet
- Bridesmaids’ bouquets
- Corsages for the bridal party
- Flower girl’s flowers
- Groom’s boutonniere
- Groomsmen’s boutonnieres
- Groom’s party’s boutonnieres
- Ceremony flowers (arch, altar, aisle, table)
- Venue flowers (centerpiece, chairs, welcome sign)
- Table linens
- Hire or purchase decorations, like lanterns, neon signs, candelabra, chalkboard signs, etc.
- Delivery fees
Wedding Planner – 3% to 8% of your budget
- The budget percentage for the wedding planner depends on the level of help you need
- Day-of, Month-of, or Full-service wedding coordination
- Timeline creation
- Budget development
- Vendor and venue referrals and liaison
- Rehearsal coordination
- Wedding day management and setup
Miscellaneous – 3% of your budget
- Marriage license fees
- Wedding favors
- Welcome bags
- Wedding party gifts
- Parents gifts
- Guestbook and pen
- Emergency kit
- Wedding vendors tips
- Overtime fees
Wedding Ceremony – 2% of your budget
- Officiant fees
- Ceremony venue cost, if separate from the reception venue
- Marriage license and certificate fees
- Ceremony accessories (unity candle, aisle runner)
- Church donation
Wedding Stationery and Signs– 2% of your budget
- Invitations for engagement and pre-wedding events
- Save-the-date cards
- Wedding invitations with RSVPs, maps, and envelopes
- Postage
- Bar signs
- Cards and gift signs
- Detail cards
- Menu cards
- Favor label cards
- Guest book signs
- Name cards
- Seating charts
- Table numbers
- Ceremony program cards
- Welcome sign
- Thank you cards
We will simplify your search for beautiful and customizable wedding stationery. Our stunning Customizable Stationery and Sign Templates collection includes save-the-date cards, wedding invitations, menu cards, seating charts, and other bespoke stationery. You can personalize the designs and wedding details to reflect your unique style and set the tone for an unforgettable celebration.
Wedding Cake – 2% of your budget
- Wedding cake
- Cake stand
- Cake topper and other decorations
- Cake-cutting utensils
- Delivery fee
Wedding Rings – 2% of your budget
- Wedding bands for bride and groom
- Personalization or engraving
- Resizing
- Wedding ring insurance
- Wedding ring holder/dish/box
Transportation – 2% of your budget
- Wedding party transportation for the ceremony and reception
- Bus or other vehicles for guests from the ceremony to reception venues
- Valet parking service
- Tip for drivers
These checklist categories allow you to effectively plan and manage your expenses and include everything you want for your wedding day. And ensure to regularly review and update your budget to stay on track, make informed decisions, and enjoy your special day without financial strain.
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