Your Budget

Agree on a vision: Sit down with your fiancé and agree on the month, size, formality, and style of your wedding.
Put together your guest list: The number of invitees will determine the size and cost of your event. Create a Guest list in Excell. This spreadheet will allow you to track invitations sent and R.S.V.P's recieved, gifts recieved, and Thank You's sent
Decide on a budget: Agree on how much you're willing to spend and find out if family members are willing to contribute. Create a Spreadsheet in Excell or use a free spreadsheet tool which can be found on many wedding plannning websites. These tools can be customized as not all weddings are the same. Revies the spreadsheet and keep the items you feel you will need. Delete the items from the list that are not needed and add those that are. You can use this tool everytime you recieve a quote, make a deposit or a payment. It will allow you to track the items you have purchased, those yet to be purchased and your overall balance. Be sure to leave 10% of your budget as a cushion on all your expenses and for the bottom line. You are bound to under estimate and over estimate some costs. Treat it as an initial purchase so that it is deducted from your budget immediately. Don't forget to add sales tax and gratuity where appropriate. **The key to watching your bottom line is to make sure you record every purchase, quote, deposit and payment, either by check or credit card. Slacking off in this department is a good way to overspend.
Create a planning notebook: Tear out clippings and print online photos of everything you like, and save them in a binder by category. Take this notebook on every shopping outing you go on it will be easier to tell your florist what you like and do not like if you have pictures to show him/her. Save pictures of gowns, hairstyles, flowers, decorations, cakes, anything for your wedding that you will be looking to purchase.
Also in your notebook should be a copy of all your vendor contracts, a master sheet of your vendor names and phone numbers. Be sure to get cell numbers/pager numbers, an incase of emergency name and numbers (as some vendors will make their deliveries on Saturday and then be done for the day.) The name and number of the person who will be directly responsible for helping you.
Keep a copy of your budget spreadsheet in your notebook. While out shopping you will know your exact allowance for items such as favors at a quick glance.
A list of those in your wedding party with addresses and phone numbers. It is a good idea too to have their measurments (that have been taken by a seamstress or tailor) in case they are needed.