START HERE
Set up your wedding planning worksheet
You need your current guest estimate, a budget range and about fifteen minutes. The goal is a visible starting point, not a perfect plan.
1. Write the total
Agree on the amount you can spend before you compare venues.
Write a range, then choose the number you will actually track.
2. Separate fixed and flexible
Fixed costs are hard to change; flexible lines are where trade-offs happen.
Mark venue, food, photography and buffer first.
3. Build guest tiers
Put must-have, hopeful and back-up guests on separate lines.
The tiers keep the food estimate honest as the list changes.
4. Put dates on the next three decisions
Choose the next venue question, guest count check and payment date.
A date turns a worry into a task.
A QUICK CHECK
Before you begin
- A total budget and a buffer line are visible.
- The guest list has at least two tiers.
- The next three decisions have dates.
- A final-month review is on the calendar.