How do I create a wedding budget spreadsheet in Excel?

Short answer

Open Excel, create columns for item, estimated cost, actual cost, paid, and notes. Enter your expense categories and items, then use the SUM function to total each column. Add a formula for the difference between estimated and actual, and format cells as currency.

Start a new Excel workbook and in row 1, type the headings: Item, Estimated Cost, Actual Cost, Paid, and Notes. In column A, list your main categories first, such as Venue, Catering, and Photography, then indent specific items under each, like Venue Hire or Canapés.

Enter your estimated costs in column B. When you know the real price, put it in column C. In column D, type Yes or the date once paid. Use column E for reminders, such as deposit due dates or vendor contact names.

To total each column, click the cell below your last item and use the SUM function, for example, =SUM(B2:B20). Repeat for actual costs. Then create a new cell for the difference, for example, =SUM(B2:B20)-SUM(C2:C20), to see if you are over or under.

Format the cost columns as currency by selecting them and choosing the currency format under the Home tab. You can also add conditional formatting to highlight any row where actual cost exceeds estimated, making it easy to spot overspending. Save the file with a clear name and update it after every purchase.