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Wedding Planning Spreadsheet and Money Saving Tips
28
items Use this guide to plan your wedding every step of the way! I'll show you how to save money on your wedding and all the best tips and tricks!
Sections
6
Planning Spreadsheet
Wedding Websites
Cost Saving Florals
Table Decor
Signage
Misc Items That People Forget!
Planning Spreadsheet
This is my all in one planning spreadsheet! Instructions are included, and I also linked a blog post that explains how to use it in a little more detail!
As an event planner for 6 years, I created this spreadsheet while planning my own wedding, and it made everything a complete breeze, removed so much stress, and ended up saving us at least $10,000 by the end!
All in One Wedding Planning Spreadsheet
This blog post will help you get started and explain all of the essentials that I recommend when it comes to planning!
How To Use My Wedding Planning Spreadsheet
This blog post is just an added resource to help you set expectations, stay grounded, and have the wedding you want to have!
Setting Expectations for Your Wedding
Wedding Websites
Having a thorough wedding website (early on) cuts out a lot of guest and relative questions, which can really make the entire process much smoother. People asking you tiny questions over and over gets annoying really quickly
FREE - I used this one! I found the templates to be very easy, and their wish list integration was good 90% of the time and ok the other 10%.
WithJoy Wedding Website
The Knot is kinda the go-to for everything weddings (it was not mine) but they do know what they're doing!
The Knot Wedding Website
Minted is a great resource for more than just a website! Similar to Canva, they have a marketplace of designers offering free and paid for designs for websites and all of your wedding stationary and signs!
Minted Wedding Website
Cost Saving Florals
Flowers are a massive expense! I used a mix of fake and then used a small local florist shop! We had beautiful flowers and it was 30% of the cost of all the wedding florists around us
We used these for some welcome signage since they could be used over and over for different events. The quality is great, watch for sales!!!
(Fake) Angela-Flowers
Ling's Moment is an easy Amazon order with nice quality. You won't find a ton of color theme options, but they have all the basics!
(Fake) Ling's Moment Florals
Rent your flowers to save money AND save on having to store or re-sell anything afterwards!
(Fake) Something Borrowed Rental
Sam's Club has wedding packages with pre-assembled bouquets and all the flowers you need for centerpieces! If you have a bridal party with a good design eye, they can get these set up for you in a flash and save 70% or more on normal costs
(Real) Partial DIY - Sam's Club
Costco is another great option for a more DIY floral approach. Order their wedding package to receive everything you need to finish assembling your flowers and have them ready for the big day!
(Real) Partial DIY - Costco
I created 5 full arrangements for $80 with flowers bought 6 days before from Trader Joe's - and they lasted and looked good for THREE WEEKS. You can't really order ahead, so you may have to be a little flexible on flower type. Go early in the morning...
(Real) Full DIY - Trader Joe's
Table Decor
Here are some of my favorite finds for table decor - these can really level up your reception (and cost me less than rentals). Everything comes in multiple colors!
These are lovely to add to accent tables and/or tie around chairs during the ceremony to mark reserved seating
Chiffon Table Runners (12 Pack)
My FAVORITE piece of decor from everything - these were gorgeous, flexible, and so classy! Chargers are expensive and can make a table feel cramped, these let guests have some room on the table but still added to the overall visuals
Gold Placemats & Napkin Rings (50)
Gorgeous satin napkins (that wash well) tie your place setting together perfectly. These are large which allows for pretty folding designs and actually function for your guests
Satin Napkins (60)
Candles are an easy way to fill out your table and have quick decorations for the tables you may have forgotten about. These holders are well packaged, very pretty, and flexible to use for your wedding and in your home afterwards
Candles Holder (24)
Grab some pretty ribbon to match your decor - you never know where a bow and a bit of ribbon will tie a whole tablescape together!
Satin Chiffon Ribbon (21 Yd)
Floating candles make cleaning up a breeze and adds an element of water for extra light reflection! Pro Tip: Check Goodwill and FB marketplace regularly for hurricanes / glassware to use these in
Floating Candles (3", 12 pack)
Signage
Normally expensive - below is what I did to spend 80% less than using a specific wedding sign vendor. Signs are a form of decor, they help your guests know what to do, and they can make the wedding run very smoothly!
Upload your own design to these boards and order anything you can dream up! These are a fraction of the cost of other vendors and gives you endless customization
GotPrint: Custom Foam Boards
Don't forget the easel to display your signage! These were affordable, easy to use, and durable
Large Sign Easels For Display (2 pack)
We used these to hold 11"x14" cocktail menus and guest book signs - and now post wedding, we use them to display some of the pretty pieces of china we received as gifts!
10" Table Easels (2 Pack)
Customize this guest book with your names and even add a picture for a nice touch. We had guests leave their birthday and favorite song to give them an idea for something to write!
Custom Guest Book
Misc Items That People Forget!
These are some items people sometimes forget until a few days before - make sure to add them to your list!
Many venues require meal selections on the place card, but that can be a $.75 per card upcharge! Use these stickers to note which meal each guest is getting, and they can double as table assignments for guests too!
Meal Selection Stickers
We ended up with several little gifts for our bridal party, family, etc - having these bags on hand made it easy to “wrap” things and have them ready to give away whenever needed!
Bridal Party Gift Bags(12 Pack)
Give your flower girl a basket and make sure she feels like a princess too!
Flower Girl Baskets (2 Pack)
Don't forget the flower girl crown! These ones are comfortable and adjustable and looked so cute in all the pictures!
Retrowavy 2 Pcs Flower Girl Headband Pink
The “traditional” wedding will have three rings, this allows you to display all three for detail photos!
3 Slot Ring Box
Don't forget pretty hanger - your photographer will love you for it, and you will love shots of your dress / tux hanging at the venue from a fancy hanger
Bride & Groom Hangers