Planning a wedding is exciting, but let’s be honest, it can also feel like you’ve suddenly become the CFO of a very glittery, emotionally-charged startup. Between venues, flowers, outfits, and those sneaky “small” costs that magically add up, your budget can get out of hand before you even say I do.
And then there’s the wedding price inflation rule: the moment you put wedding in front of something, it’s suddenly at least twice as expensive. Wedding cake – easily the same price per person as two normal cakes. Wedding invitations? I know some people who got quotes of €8 per invite, excluding stamps of course. Wedding dress? Let’s not even get started on that one.
The good news? With the right system, managing your wedding budget doesn’t need to be stressful. Here’s how to keep your money in check while still creating a day you’ll never forget.
Start with a Realistic Budget
The first step is to figure out what you can comfortably spend. This means looking at your savings, contributions from your future in-laws, and what you’re willing to allocate from your monthly income. Remember: a wedding is one big day, but life continues afterwards, and baby-inflation is also a real thing.
Give yourself a number that feels achievable—then stick to it.
Break It Down into Categories
Your budget becomes much easier to manage once you divide it into clear categories. A typical breakdown looks like this:
- Venue & Catering
- Photography & Videography
- Attire & Beauty
- Flowers & Décor
- Entertainment & Music
- Stationery & Invitations
- Miscellaneous/Contingency
Of course, every couple has different priorities. If you’re foodies, maybe you’ll splurge on catering. If you wanna get everyone on the dancefloor, the DJ should take a bigger slice of the pie. The point is to make sure you have a realistic understanding of what everything is going to cost, and what your priorities are.
Use a Wedding Budget Calculator
Spreadsheets are great, but why make things harder than they need to be? This is where our handy Wedding Budget Calculator comes in. With just a few inputs—like your budget for each category and estimated guest count—you’ll instantly see how much you are spending. Plus, you can adjust on the fly when that dream venue turns out to cost a little more than you expected. Think of it as your personal wedding planner, but then for the financial part.
💒 Wedding Cost Calculator
Plan your perfect day within budget
👗 Pre-wedding
🎭 Ceremony
📸 Memory
🌸 Décor
🍽️ Dinner
🎉 Party
📋 Other
Grand Total Wedding Cost
Budget & Track Every Expense (Yes, Every One)
The €200 deposit for the florist. The €75 on calligraphy for place cards. The €30 trial run for makeup. These little amounts add up faster than you’d think. Whether you’re using a Google Sheet, a wedding planning app, or even just your phone’s notes app, record every payment. Trust me—your future self will thank you when you don’t end up €1,000 over budget because of “forgotten” costs.
Schedule Regular Check-Ins
Budgeting isn’t a one-and-done job. Every few weeks, sit down with your partner (preferably with wine 🍷) and review where the money is going. This keeps you both aligned and helps you catch issues early, before they snowball.
Learn from Local Insights
If you’re getting married in the Netherlands, costs and customs might look a little different from what you see online. Things like venue packages, seasonal flowers, and even traditions can shift your spending priorities. For more details, check out my blog on planning a wedding in the Netherlands, it’s packed with local insights that will help you avoid surprises.
“A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to handle money together.”
– Dave Meurer
Final Thoughts
Managing your wedding budget effectively isn’t about being restrictive, it’s about being intentional. With a clear plan, smart tracking, and a little help from tools like the wedding budget calculator, you can keep your finances balanced and focus on what really matters: celebrating your love. 💍
