How do I create a wedding budget spreadsheet in Google Sheets?

Short answer

Open Google Sheets, add headings for item, estimated cost, actual cost, paid, and notes. List your expenses, then use the SUM function to total columns. Google Sheets works online, so you and your partner can edit it together in real time, and it saves automatically.

Go to Google Sheets and start a blank spreadsheet. In row 1, type: Item, Estimated Cost, Actual Cost, Paid, and Notes. In column A, list your categories and items, for example, Venue, Catering, and Photography, with specific items underneath each.

Enter your estimated costs in column B and actual costs in column C once you know them. In column D, mark Paid with yes or a date. Use column E for notes like payment deadlines or vendor details.

To total each column, click the cell below your last item and type =SUM(B2:B20), replacing the range with your actual rows. Do the same for actual costs. Then add a cell for the difference, for example, =SUM(B2:B20)-SUM(C2:C20), to see if you are over or under budget.

Format the cost columns as currency by selecting them and choosing Format, then Number, then Currency. Because Google Sheets saves automatically, you never lose your work. You can also share the sheet with your partner or a parent, and everyone can edit it at the same time. Use the Comments feature to ask questions without changing the data.