Wedding Planning Guides
Practical, sourced guides for every stage of planning, from setting a budget and estimating your guest count to writing vows and building a wedding day timeline. Every guide works with a blank spreadsheet or a notebook; where we mention our own templates, we say so.
Prefer to start with numbers? Try the free wedding budget calculator or the guest count calculator.
Budget
Wedding Budget Breakdown by Percentage (With $10K, $20K and $30K Examples)
How to split a wedding budget by percentage: a category-by-category breakdown, dollar examples for $10,000, $20,000 and $30,000 budgets, and a free calculator.
How to Make a Wedding Budget Spreadsheet (Step-by-Step Guide)
Build a wedding budget spreadsheet in Excel or Google Sheets: set a total, split it by category, track quotes, deposits and cost per guest. Formulas included.
Timelines and checklists
12-Month Wedding Planning Checklist (Free Printable PDF)
A month-by-month wedding planning checklist from 12 months out to thank-you notes: what to book first, when to send invitations, plus a free printable PDF.
6-Month Wedding Planning Timeline: A Week-by-Week Checklist
Planning a wedding in 6 months? A realistic month-by-month timeline: what to book in the first two weeks, when to send invitations and what to simplify.
Wedding Day Timeline: Sample Schedules for 2pm, 4pm and 5pm Ceremonies
Sample wedding day timelines for 2pm, 4pm and 5pm ceremonies, with or without a first look, plus how long each part of the day takes and how to build yours.
Guests, RSVPs and seating
How Many Wedding Guests to Invite (and How Many Will Actually Come)
How many people to invite to your wedding: typical decline rates for local, out-of-town and destination guests, worked examples and a free calculator.
How to Make a Wedding Guest List and Track RSVPs (Free Spreadsheet Method)
A simple spreadsheet system to build your wedding guest list, track RSVPs and meal choices, chase late replies and give your caterer an accurate headcount.
How to Make a Wedding Seating Chart in Excel or Google Sheets
Make a wedding seating chart in a spreadsheet in one evening: guests per table size, a step-by-step method, formulas that catch mistakes and etiquette tips.
What to Put on a Wedding Website: The Complete Checklist (+ FAQ Examples)
What to put on a wedding website: essential pages, guest FAQ examples you can copy, dress code wording, registry etiquette, privacy tips and when to launch.
Vows
How to Write Wedding Vows: A 5-Part Structure, Prompts and Examples
Write personal wedding vows step by step: agree on ground rules, use memory prompts, follow a simple five-part structure, check the length and practice.
Wedding Vow Examples for Him, for Her and for Every Style (Original Samples)
Original wedding vow examples to adapt: vows for him, vows for her, short, funny and sentimental vows, vow renewal examples and how to make them your own.
Small weddings
Elopement Planning Checklist: How to Plan an Elopement or Micro Wedding
A step-by-step elopement and micro wedding checklist: budget, choosing and permitting a location, marriage license, photographer, timeline and packing.
Courthouse Wedding Checklist: How to Plan a Civil Ceremony
A step-by-step courthouse wedding checklist: the marriage license, booking a civil ceremony, witnesses, what to bring, real costs and celebrating after.