Preparing for a wedding is an exciting journey; however, It's no secret that the planning can feel like intimidating, stressful work. Setting a wedding budget breakdown is one of the first and, honestly, the trickiest and most important wedding planning tasks. But with some advanced planning and careful research, it can actually be downright simple and straightforward. We are here to help you envision a comprehensive wedding budget breakdown for you and your partner. After reading this guide, you'll realise that your dream day doesn't have to cost a fortune!

Wedding Budget Breakdown Checklist

It's extremely essential to estimate how much you can afford to spend on yourwedding. In order to do this, you and your partner should consider their savings amount and decide on how much you want to save throughout the period. You also should talk to your parents to check if they are happy to financially help or contribute.

Once you've got a rough total number, then it's time for a wedding budget breakdown. An important note is that even though a rough estimate is a great starting point, adjusting them according to preferences and priorities is necessary. Keep in mind the things that are non-negotiable to you, whether it is an amazing dream venue or that gorgeous, tailored wedding dress you've always wanted.

The wedding budget breakdown checklist often includes major categories as below:

1. Venue and Catering: 45%

The biggest chunk of your wedding budget is, unsurprisingly, the venue. Catering is another big-ticket item, and most of the time, it depends on the number of guests you want to invite. Most of the venues offer catering packages, but some couples might opt to budget for those separately.

2. Photography and Videography: 15%

Photography and/or Videography can be one of the best investments for your wedding. This footage will last for a lifetime, making this a splurge-worthy purchase.

3. Wedding Attire: 7%

Dress and Suit are key components of your budget. You can expect to spend about 7% of your total budget on wedding attire.

4. Decoration: 10%

The decoration is an impactful way to transform or personalise the look of your wedding. It can include everything from flowers to lighting installations, table displays and centrepieces. On average, couples often spend about 10% of their budget on these accents.

5. Music/Guest Entertainment: 6%

Music and especially live entertainment will definitely make your day more memorable and can set the tone for your wedding ceremony. If your wedding budget allows, we recommend setting aside around 6% for live bands or performers.

6. Wedding Planner: 7%

Having a wedding planner has become more and more popular as they can make all the difference to the day. Many couples nowadays want to play it safe by hiring a professional to take care of their most important day and make sure everything goes according to plan. In our wedding budget breakdown, we set aside 7% for wedding planners.

7. Cake: 2%

Although some venues include wedding cakes and other sweet treats within their packages, it's common for couples to look for a wedding cake or alternative sweet treats themselves. 2% or less of the wedding budget is recommended to be spent here.

8. Favours and Gifts: 2%

To make your day extra special, you can provide guests with a parting gift. It's a small gesture that will go a long way, and around 2% should be spent on this expense.

9. Others (Stationery, Officiant, Transportation, and more):

For many other small expenses, we recommend spending less than 2% on each category.

Bonus Tips:

To efficiently track the spending, you should create an Excel sheet to include all the information and every task you need to do ahead of your big day. Each big category should be as detailed as possible. For example, under "Bride's attire and beauty", make line items for the ceremony dress, after-party dress, make-up, hair stylists, shoes, and more.

Furthermore, every Excel sheet should have vendor contact information. The estimated cost should already include service fees, tips, and taxes, as well as transportation and parking costs for off-site vendors. This spreadsheet should be able to store all the necessary information you need - this is the magic book where you can find anything and know exactly what you have to prepare.

Final Thoughts

The wedding budget breakdown will be different for every couple. The total expense will change not only according to each bride and groom's preferences but also the location and time of the year when you're getting married. However, we hope this simple wedding budget breakdown can be a good starting point in guiding you to allocate your funds wisely and organise your event flawlessly.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the basic budget for a wedding?

The basic wedding budget breakdown can vary widely based on factors such as location, time, guest count, and the bride and groom's preferences and priorities. It can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 or more. However, it's crucial to tailor the budget to fit your unique vision and financial situation.

2. Is $10,000 too much for a wedding?

The appropriateness of a $10,000 budget depends on several factors, including your location, time, guest count, and expectations. It may be challenging to host an extravagant affair with this budget in some areas, but it's totally possible to have a beautiful and memorable wedding with careful planning and consideration. Flexibility and creativity are key when working with a more modest budget.

3. How do you split a wedding budget?

Wedding budget breakdown will be different for every couple but here's a general guideline for allocating your funds: Venue and Catering: 45%, Photography and Videography: 15%, Wedding Attire: 7%, Decoration: 10%, Music/Guest Entertainment: 6%, Wedding Planner: 7%, Cake: 2%, Favours and Gifts: 2%, Others (Stationery, Officiant, Transportation, and more): less than 2% each category.