Organizing a wedding is one of the most beautiful, but also exciting projects of your life. And although love is priceless, a wedding does come at a price. Planning your wedding budget is therefore an essential first step. But how do you decide what to spend on what? And how do you prevent financial stress?
In this article, we explain how to draw up a realistic wedding budget, how to divide it efficiently and what you can save on without compromising on atmosphere or quality.
Why wedding budget planning is indispensable
A good budget prevents:
- Unforeseen costs or overruns
- Disappointments during the preparation
- Stress just before or after the wedding
- Discussions between you as a couple
With a clear financial overview, you keep a grip on the costs and know exactly where your priorities lie.
Step 1: Determine your total budget
Before you book something, this is the most important question:
How much are you willing (or able) to spend on the wedding?
Please note:
- Own savings
- Contributions from parents or family
- What you can realistically miss in the coming months
On average, a wedding in the Netherlands costs between €10,000 and €25,000, but this varies greatly depending on the size, location and wishes.
Step 2: Establish your priorities
What do you really dream of?
- Is the location the most important?
- Do you want spectacular photos?
- Do you dream of a designer wedding dress or rather a luxurious dinner?
By identifying your top 3 priorities, you’ll know where you can budget a little more generously — and where you can potentially save money.
Step 3: Divide your wedding budget efficiently (example breakdown)
Below is a guideline on how to divide the budget on average:
| Category | % of total budget | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Location & catering | 35-45% | Including dinner, drinks and room rental |
| Clothing & accessories | 10-15% | Wedding dress, suit, shoes, jewelry |
| Photography & video | 10-12% | For lasting memories |
| Entertainment & music | 8-10% | DJ, band, sound system |
| Styling & decoration | 5-8% | Flowers, table decoration, decoration |
| Invitations & printed matter | 2-4% | Cards, menus, thank you gifts |
| Transport | 2-3% | Wedding car, guest transport |
| Ceremony (BABS, location) | 3-5% | Municipality or independent wedding officiant |
| Honeymoon | 5-10% | Possibly outside the wedding budget |
| Unforeseen costs | 5% | Always keep a buffer! |
Tip: Create an overview in Excel or Google Sheets with expected costs, actual expenses and payments per supplier.
Step 4: Save smartly without losing quality
A smaller wallet? No worries. Here are smart ways to save:
- Getting married on a weekday (often saves 20-40%)
- Choose seasonal flowers and reuse the styling of ceremony at dinner
- Digital invitations save printing and postage costs
- Create your own Spotify playlist instead of a live band
- Choose a photographer instead of photo and video if the budget is limited
- Second-hand or outlet wedding dress through Wedding Wonderland partners
Step 5: Stick to the budget (and keep communicating)
Make sure you regularly go through the budget together. Request quotes on time, make appointments and keep track of what has already been paid. Agree:
- When your suppliers pay (deposit/final payment)
- What you absolutely do not want to exceed
- Who is responsible for which part of the budget management
A budget does not have to be rigid, but it must remain realistic and clear.
Bonus: Budget Planning Tools
Use these tools to keep track of your wedding budget:
- Excel or Google Sheets with formulas and automatic sums
- Wedding budget apps like WeddingWire or Bridebook
- Wedding Wonderland Budget Checklist (available on request!)
Conclusion: A well-planned wedding budget provides peace and space
By making clear choices from the start and planning smartly, you can fully enjoy the preparations and the big day itself. Because no matter how you look at it, the most beautiful memories are not in the price tag, but in the love and togetherness.
