The Wedding Budget Spreadsheet That Stopped Me Crying Into My Coffee

I remember staring at my bank app at 11pm, completely numb. The venue deposit had cleared. My inbox was full of quotes I didn’t understand. I’d already overspent on something I wasn’t even sure I needed (looking at you, calligraphy cake toppers), and I still had no clue what a “service charge per head” even meant.

And then the panic spiral started: Are we already over budget? Did I even set a budget? What did we say was our limit? Do I tell my partner? Do I fake calmness and hope for the best?

If you’re somewhere between I think we’re fine and should we elope instead…you’re not alone. You’re really not.

The Part That Freaked Me Out the Most

You know what no one warns you about? How weirdly secretive people are about money when it comes to weddings. Everyone talks about flowers, dresses, colour palettes, and signature cocktails, but when you ask how much their photographer cost or whether £2,000 for chairs is “normal,” everyone goes suspiciously quiet. I felt like I was guessing. And guessing when it comes to thousands of pounds? Not ideal.

The Spreadsheet That Brought Me Back to Earth

I don’t say this lightly: this spreadsheet saved me. Not just financially, but emotionally. It gave me somewhere to see it all, from our total budget down to the tiny, sneaky things like postage for invites. Suddenly, I wasn’t doing mental gymnastics every time I opened my bank account. I had numbers. I had clarity. And more importantly, I had a plan.

What I Wish I’d Known Earlier

You don’t have to figure this out from scratch. You don’t have to become a budget wizard overnight.

You don’t need to be “good with money” to keep your wedding costs on track. You just need a tool that helps you actually see where your money is going, and how to adjust it when things inevitably shift.

What’s Inside the Spreadsheet

I created this wedding budget tracker during my own planning chaos, and I kept tweaking it until it actually made sense.

Here’s what’s included:

✅ Budget Overview Dashboard: See total spend, remaining balance, and savings progress at a glance
✅ Vendor Selection Tab: Compare options, shortlist favourites (auto-color coding when marked "Yes"), and keep notes in one place
✅  Vendor Tracker: Track payments, deposits, due dates, and contact details with a visual progress graph
✅  Cost Breakdown: Understand every category’s cost, compare expected vs actual, and find areas to save
✅  Spending Tracker: Track your monthly spend and stay in control of your budget
✅  Monthly Savings Calculator: Work out how much to save each month until your wedding day
✅  Contingency Buffer: Built-in calculation for those unexpected costs
✅  Easy-To-Use Filters & Colour Coding: Quickly sort and highlight key info

It’s fully editable in Google Sheets or Excel, and simple enough that even spreadsheet-haters can use it without crying.

For the Bride Googling “What Does a Wedding Actually Cost?”

If you’re quietly spiraling, feel like you’re already behind, or just want to feel like someone else has a grip on this part, you’ve found your spot. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be real with yourself, make small changes when needed, and give yourself a little grace. And a spreadsheet. Seriously. Start with the spreadsheet.

Want the One I Used?

I’ve turned the exact tool I used into a downloadable, editable Wedding Budget Spreadsheet, ready to plug in your numbers and breathe a little easier.

Get it now below.

With love (and a working calculator),
Your Chaos-Calming, Budget-Taming Wedding Friend 🩷