How do I build a budget in Excel?

Start by opening a new Excel workbook and renaming the first sheet to Budget. In row one, create headers: Item, Estimated Cost, Actual Cost, Paid, Balance, Due Date and Notes. In the Item column, list every category you can think of, venue, catering, drinks, cake, outfits, hair and makeup, flowers, photography, videography, music, stationery, rings, registrar fees, transport, favours, and thank-you gifts.

Under Estimated Cost, put your best guess based on quotes or research. Under Actual Cost, put the real figure once you have booked. Under Paid, enter what you have already paid. In the Balance column, use a formula like =C2-D2 to show what is still owed.

At the bottom of the Estimated and Actual columns, use =SUM to get the total. Add a row for contingency, often around ten percent of the total, and a final row for the grand total. You can also add a separate column for who is paying, you, your partner or a parent.

Once the budget sheet is done, create other tabs for your guest list, suppliers and timeline. Link the supplier tab to the budget tab if you like, but it is not essential. The most important thing is to update it every time you spend money, so you always know where you stand.