Wedding planning might seem like a part-time job, and there's one tool that you might despise using at work but will be your best friend on the road to your big day. Spreadsheets can be a tedious annoyance when used for work purposes, but they're the best way to keep all of your wedding details organized.

Use one for your preliminary guest list and create another one for your budgeting needs. Enter all of the spending categories you can think of and then get to work. To see some tips on what to consider while creating your budget, read more.

The venue, food, and drinks are typically the categories where couples spend the most. However, because everyone has different priorities and the cost of weddings varies geographically, there's no standard percentages to use as guides. Determine if there are certain compromises you're unwilling to make and go from there. For example, if you're set on having a live band rather than a DJ, you may have to cut costs in other areas to stay on budget.

Use online resources and talk to friends who have been there and done that to get a feel for how much certain things will cost. Once you have an idea about the cost of the biggest-ticket items, you can begin allocating your funds as accurately as possible. Continue updating your spreadsheet as you book vendors so there's always a clear picture of your budget.

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