Budgets, timelines, checklists, and everything else you actually need to know. Written for couples planning their own wedding.
A typical US wedding clusters around $30,000, with venue and catering often taking 45 to 55% before other vendors are booked.
See the full budget guideEnjoy the first week, then set the three numbers every booking depends on: rough budget, guest count, and date range.
Read the first 10 stepsYes. A complete wedding plan fits in a connected sheet with tabs for budget, guests, vendors, tasks, seating, notes, and a dashboard.
Build the spreadsheetEvery person on your list changes the budget. This guide uses a tier system to make guest list decisions less emotional, easier to explain, and easier to track.
Every person on your list costs $85 to $175 in catering alone. A tier system makes cuts more systematic and gives you a clear answer if anyone asks why they weren't invited.
Read the postA typical wedding day runs 10 to 14 hours. Two complete timelines for 4pm and 6pm ceremonies, plus the most common mistakes and how to fix them.
Read the postMost of the early steps don't involve booking vendors. They're about establishing the three numbers every future booking depends on. All 10 steps with realistic timing.
Read the postTips total $500 to $1,500 for a mid-size wedding and are due on the day itself. Every vendor category covered with specific dollar ranges and timing.
Read the postIn 2026, roughly 60% of couples self-fund their wedding. How the traditional rules have shifted, what most families actually do, and how to have the money conversation.
Read the postMost first-draft budgets are 10 to 20% short. These five categories show up in nearly every wedding and almost never make it into the first draft.
Read the postWhat a useful wedding planning spreadsheet actually needs, why most free templates fall short, and how to evaluate one before you download.
Read the postA complete wedding plan fits in 7 tabs of a single Google Sheet. The tabs you need, the formulas that save time, and how to share it with your partner.
Read the postPopular photographers book 12 to 18 months out. Venues in competitive markets fill even earlier. Every major milestone from month 12 through the final week, in sequence.
Read the postThe average US wedding costs around $30,000, and venue plus catering claims 45 to 55% before you've booked anything else. Here's how the full breakdown looks at $20k, $30k, and $40k budgets.
Read the postThe blog helps you make the decisions. The planner gives you the connected Google Sheet for tracking every budget line, guest, vendor, task, seating note, and payment.