Firstly, I assume a huge CONGRATULATIONS is in order on your engagement! You've come to the right place if you're looking for some wedding planning advice and help.
I'm Lauren the founder of Bluebird Creative and my mission is to help brides (of all genders) plan their weddings to the best of their ability by giving you the knowledge and advice you need without the 1:1 wedding planner price tag!
I am the UK's number 1 wedding planner on Youtube so make sure you subscribe to my channel Bluebird Bride Academy for weekly videos for all your wedding planning needs but also catch up on past videos too!
I also have some fantastic digital products for all your wedding planning needs, including the ultimate wedding planning toolkit and how to create your wedding design so go and check them out here.
And don't forget to download our FREE wedding planning checklist, who doesn't love a freebie.
This blog is going to tell you all about The Ultimate Wedding Planning Toolkit and why you need it in your life!
It's a 6 tab excel sheet to keep your wedding planning organised and on track, featuring:
Budget Management
Guest List
Bridal Party
Payment Breakdown
Supplier Contacts
Table Plan Template
Budget Management
Budget management is vital when it comes to wedding planning, you must have a budget in your head that you want to stick to before starting the wedding planning process, I have come up with a budget split document, included in the package, that tells you how much you should spend on each section of your wedding.
This tab on the excel doc then enables you to put in the percentage of budget allowed for this specific section and then also put the actual cost next to it once your supplier has been booked/confirmed. You can tweak the percentage splits according to what is more important to you and you never know some suppliers might be cheaper than you allowed which then more budget can be allocated to other parts.
To read more on How to Budget Your Wedding click here!
Payment Breakdown
Once your suppliers are confirmed the Payment Breakdown tab is then a perfect way to keep on top of your payment schedule. You can put in the total amount as well as the deposit amount paid (and when) and then when your next instalments for each supplier are due.
It's so important to keep on top of your payment schedule so that a) it gives you time to save over the planning period (if you need to), b) you're not left with a huge lump sum to pay a few days before your wedding and c) you can keep track of who you've paid.
Watch this video on how to find the right suppliers for you.
Guest List
It may sound pretty obvious but you really need to make a list of who you'd like to invite to your wedding as this has an immediate effect on your budget.
Use this tab to keep a track of guest names and numbers, when you sent their invite and which part of the wedding they're invited to, to help you keep track of numbers and ultimately help with your budget management.
Bridal Party
Again, it may seem pretty obvious but make a list of your bridal party, who's said yes to being your maid of honour, bridesmaids, best man, ushers etc. This again will help with guest numbers and your budget.
You may even want them to do some tasks in the wedding planning process so keep a track of that as well as things can be easily forgotten!
For more info on what to delegate on your wedding day, click here.
Table Plan
A vital part in any wedding planning process, which doesn't have to be done until a little bit closer to the wedding date but that's creating a seating plan. This tab allows you to create this with who's sitting on what table, what position they're sat at and if they have dietary requirements which is extremely essential for your caterer!
So if you need this Ultimate Wedding Planning Toolkit in your life to make your wedding planning smooth, organised and stress free, go get yours NOW!
Don't forget to check out our other digital products to help with all your wedding planning needs as well as our wedding coordinator and design services if you want that extra little bit of help from a professional.
Happy Planning
Lauren xx
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Photos by, 1,2,3,4,5. Mindy Coe Photography
