Wedding Budget Planner: Budget vs Actual, Vendor Payment Schedule & Guest Count (Excel + Google Sheets)

The Wedding Budget Planner is a spreadsheet template for Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets that tracks your wedding budget against actual spending, vendor payments and due dates, your guest count and your cost per guest. It's for engaged couples, and the family or planners helping them, who want every wedding cost in one place.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Wedding-Budget-Planner_BLANK.xlsx: ready for your numbers
• Wedding-Budget-Planner_EXAMPLE.xlsx: filled with sample data so you can see how it works
• Download guide (PDF) with step-by-step Excel and Google Sheets setup

8 TABS

Start Here (built-in quick-start notes) · Setup · Budget · Line Items · Payment Schedule · Guest List · Cost Per Head · Dashboard

Room for 200 line items, 150 payments and 300 guest invitations. Dropdown menus, locked formula cells (no password) and frozen headers.

KEY FEATURES

• Budget vs actual by category: 17 categories with typical % splits pre-filled (change them anytime)
• Line items: track every quote and purchase. Current cost switches from estimate to actual automatically
• Vendor payment schedule: deposits and balances flag OVERDUE and Due soon based on today's date
• Guest list with RSVPs, meal choices and table numbers
• Cost per head: see what each guest really costs, plus a what-if table for 75 to 200 guests
• Dashboard: countdown, totals, payments due over the next 9 months, and RSVP and budget charts

HOW IT WORKS

1. Buy and download instantly: your download page opens right after checkout, and the link is also emailed to you.
2. On a computer, open the BLANK file in Microsoft Excel, or upload it to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets (the PDF guide shows both).
3. Start on the Start Here tab and type your numbers into the blue cells. The grey formula cells, summaries and dashboard charts update automatically.
4. Open the EXAMPLE file any time to see how a filled-in version looks.

COMPATIBILITY

• ✔ Microsoft Excel (Windows and Mac desktop, Microsoft 365)
• ✔ Google Sheets (free): upload the .xlsx to Google Drive, then Open with Google Sheets. Easy to share with your partner or planner.
• ✘ Not designed for Apple Numbers or phone screens. A computer is recommended.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Does it work in Excel and Google Sheets?

A: Yes. It works in Microsoft Excel (Windows or Mac desktop, or Microsoft 365) and in Google Sheets, which is free with a Google account. It isn't designed for Apple Numbers.

Q: Should I use Google Sheets or Excel?

A: Either works: the formulas, dropdowns and charts work in both. Choose Excel if you want to keep the file on your computer. Choose Google Sheets if you want a free, browser-based option. It's also the easy way to share the file with your partner or planner. For Google Sheets, upload the .xlsx file to Google Drive, right-click it and choose Open with > Google Sheets, then File > Save as Google Sheets.

Q: Can I use it on my phone or tablet?

A: It's designed for a computer screen, not a phone. Phones often can't open .xlsx downloads, so download and set it up on a computer. Once it's saved as a Google Sheet, you can open it in the Google Sheets mobile app to check your numbers, but a computer is best for setup and data entry.

Q: How do I download it?

A: Right after checkout your download page opens, and the download link is also emailed to you. Download all the files on a computer, then follow the PDF guide to open the BLANK file in Excel or Google Sheets.

Q: Can I customize it?

A: Yes. Enter your names, wedding date, total budget, meal options and guest groups in the blue cells on the Setup tab and the rest of the workbook updates. Formula cells are locked without a password so they can't be overwritten by accident. To change formulas or the layout, unprotect the tab: Review > Unprotect Sheet in Excel, or Data > Protect sheets and ranges in Google Sheets.

Q: Can I get a refund?

A: Yes, within 14 days of purchase, in two cases: a file has a problem I can't fix, or you bought the same product twice by mistake. Email todorgan@gmail.com with your order details.

GOOD TO KNOW

• This is a digital product. Nothing will be shipped.
• Amounts are shown in US dollars ($). Any currency works; change the cell format if you like.
• Makes a thoughtful engagement gift.
• For personal use. Please don't share or resell the files.
• Questions or a problem with a file? Email todorgan@gmail.com.

AI disclosure: this template was designed with the help of AI tools. The formulas, layout and example data were reviewed and tested before release.