I created this worksheet as a way to help set people up for success as they plan and budget their wedding. Fill it out together or fill it out separately and compare notes. The point is to have a conversation about what planning a wedding means to you as a unit.
Want to download this for free? Here’s the Google Doc. You might also get value from my book.
Part 1
What’s the one thing that I hate most about other people’s weddings?
What’s the one thing that I love most about other people’s weddings?
How do I want to feel on my wedding day? (Try and use just one word.)
Why do I want to have a wedding?
Part 2
Share your answers to Part 1 with each other. Then answer the following together.
What was similar about our answers?
What was different about our answers?
What surprised us in each other’s answers?
Part 3
Use Part 1 and Part 2 to develop a one-sentence wedding mission statement.
Part 4
The below is a list of the most common wedding vendors. Rank these on a scale of 1 (most important to accomplishing your wedding mission statement) to 15 (least important).
Caterer (appetizer, bar, breakfast/lunch/dinner, dessert)
Flowers and/or florist
Hair and/or makeup
Jeweler
Music (DJ, live band, etc.)
Officiant(s) (i.e. who is legally marrying you two)
Photographer
Photo booth
Planner
Printmaker (think: letterpress invites)
Rentals (this one will likely only be highly ranked if you’re trying to create a certain space and/or your venue(s) and/or caterer(s) won’t provide these items already)
Transportation
Venue(s)
Videographer
What you’re wearing to the wedding
From the list above:
Identify your TOP five vendors. This is what you should plan to spend the most money on (est. 50 percent of total budget).
Identify your MIDDLE five vendors. This is what you should plan to spend less money on (est. 30 percent of total budget).
Identify your BOTTOM five vendors? This is what you should spend the lowest money on or skip entirely (est. 10 percent of total budget).
Spend the remaining 10 percent of total budget on these non-vendor items, as applicable to your wedding.
Decorations (non-floral)
Favors
Gifts for Wedding VIPs
Lighting (if not already covered by a vendor)
Marriage license
Rentals (if not already covered by a vendor)
The below is a list of all wedding “traditions.” Pretend you can only do one at your wedding. Which would you pick and why? Only include those that are applicable to you and your partner(s).
Exchanging rings
Giving away of one partner to another
Lifting of the veil
Reception introduction
Toasts
First dance(s)
Cake-cutting and/or first bite
Bouquet and/or garter toss
Send-off