make it as simple as you can, all in one place

How to Compare Wedding Vendor Quotes Effectively

If I were starting my wedding planning, I would have a tab for florists, for example

I would record who I had emailed for a quote, their name, email address, and mobile number and once you had all the quotes in, I would record them against their names.

Then you can easily see the comparison in prices, but you need to give each florist the exact same information of what you want to get  realistic like-for-like prices.

Once you decide on your florist, you can remove the others from the spreadsheet, leaving you with only the providers you’ve confirmed as using for your wedding day on the Excel spreadsheet.

Tracking Your Wedding Budget in One Place

Having all your information in one place, like the Excel spreadsheet, allows you to keep the budget in their to and keep tight track of it.

A spreadsheet can help you keep track of your wedding expenses and stay within your budget. (which is a pretty hard task today)

You can use formulas to calculate totals and automatically update the budget as you add or remove vendors.

Sharing Wedding Plans with Your Partner and Helpers

An Excel spreadsheet is an easy way to share all the wedding information with your partner or anyone you’ve chosen to help you organise the wedding, like a wedding planner or a designated friend who’s been drafted in to help.

I would have only you as the updater though, because if anyone else has those permissions and changes anything and forgets to tell you, you may miss something important like a payment deadline.

You could have a monthly/weekly session with those who can see the spreadsheet and update it together.

Then everyone knows what’s what with the planning.

Once you’ve had your weekly update, you can email the updated spreadsheet out to any helpers.

Or you could store in the Cloud or in something like Dropbox and then share the file with specific people by granting them access.

When sharing an Excel file, you can give others view-only or full edit access. You can also set password protection on the Excel file to restrict unauthorized access.

Overall, sharing an Excel spreadsheet is a simple and straightforward process that allows you to collaborate with others and share information easily.

FAQ’s

What’s the best way to organise my wedding vendor information?

 A spreadsheet is ideal for most couples. Create separate tabs for each vendor type (florists, photographers, caterers) and include columns for contact details, quotes, deposit amounts, payment deadlines, and contract status.

This keeps everything in one accessible place.

How many wedding vendors should I get quotes from?

 Aim for 3-5 quotes per vendor category.

This gives you enough options to compare pricing and services without becoming overwhelmed by choices.

Make sure you provide identical information to each vendor for accurate comparisons.

When should I start booking wedding vendors in Aberdeen?

 Popular Aberdeen wedding vendors, especially celebrants and photographers, book up 12-18 months in advance.

Start reaching out as soon as you’ve set your date and secured your venue.

Some vendors may have availability closer to your date, but early planning reduces stress.

Should I track wedding vendor payments in the same spreadsheet?

Absolutely! Include columns for deposit amounts, payment due dates, final payment amounts, and payment status.

You can even add hyperlinks to scanned receipts stored in a folder on your computer.

This creates one central hub for all financial tracking.

What information should I track for each wedding vendor?

Essential information includes: business name, contact person, phone number, email, website, initial quote amount, final agreed price, deposit paid, deposit date, balance due, payment deadline, contract signed status, and any special notes or requirements.

Stay Organised and Enjoy Your Wedding Planning Journey

Keeping track of your wedding vendors doesn’t have to be stressful.

With a simple spreadsheet system, you’ll have complete visibility of all your bookings, payments, and deadlines in one place.

Remember: the key to stress-free wedding planning is organisation.

Start your spreadsheet today, and you’ll thank yourself later when you can find any piece of information in seconds.

Planning your Aberdeen wedding and need a celebrant?

Need a Wedding Celebrant in Aberdeen?

As you’re organising your wedding vendors, don’t forget one of the most important: your celebrant.

At The Celebrant Angel, I create personalised ceremonies that reflect your unique love story. Based in Aberdeen and working across Scotland,

I’d love to chat about making your ceremony truly memorable. Contact me today to discuss your wedding plans.