Free Wedding Budget Checklist and Guest List Spreadsheet

When we got married in 2015, my husband (then fiancé) and I thought it would be cost effective to get married in a backyard. After all, we had access to a family member's stunning property that backs up to a secluded mountain preserve. It's an undeniably magical spot at night -- the glassy pool reflects the hovering moon, dangling amidst a canopy of twinkling lights. They seem miles closer from this exact desert latitude. And on the horizon are several layers of city lights.

It was the perfect backdrop for our big day and it was perfectly free! That's right, we had access to it for four days from setup to tear down at no charge. So we'd save a TON of money.

Right?

Well I wasn't convinced. After all, as a cake decorator I was very familiar with weddings and I knew all of the legwork involved in putting together even the most seemingly simple events. Thankfully, we created a trusty wedding budget and venue estimate spreadsheet to help us make our decision.

Wedding budget spreadsheet to the rescue!
We did a ton of research. I spent a ton of time initially looking for a free template, and I couldn't find anything that included everything I needed to make the best decision. I needed:

• A breakdown of venue costs to cross compare locations
• A wedding checklist
• A wedding budget spreadsheet
• A week-of and day-of-wedding schedule
• And I needed to know what I didn't know.

So we put together the ultimate spreadsheet. And ultimately, we ended up deciding to use the backyard property.

Are backyard weddings more affordable?

What we still lovingly argue about today is whether we actually saved money. Because when the week of the event came and we needed certain things that we didn't account for -- we threw the budget out the window and purchased what was most convenient. 

But -- I did add those last minute line items to our spreadsheet. So I'm sharing our budget and checklist with miscellaneous items and all!

Please download it here for free at your convenience. I hope it helps you make the best decision for where to host and how to best coordinate your big day!

THE ULTIMATE

FREE WEDDING SPREADSHEET DOWNLOAD

Bridal Retail Therapy- Macy's Bag Shower Cake!

As not only a guest at this party, but also the cake maker, it was quite funny arriving at Alia's Bridal Shower with her Retail inspired Cake. I wish I could count how many times someone thought a present had been placed on the dessert table, or someone asked where the cake was =) It was too funny seeing their reaction as they did a double take and realized the spoon was not wooden, and the tissue was not paper! Well, I guess I'm glad I was there to moderate!

Butterflies for Every Occasion! Cake + Cupcakes + Smash Cake

For Sage's bright personality, pretty purple, pink and yellow were only appropriate when choosing her  birthday colors! And the free spirit that she is, she had to have butterflies! Mom ordered a smash cake just for Sage, Mini Butterfly cupcakes for tiny hands to grab, and a butterfly cake as the centerpiece of the party as well as treat for the mommy guests!

Not too long after Sage's party, I had an order for more Butterfly cupcakes. This time for an AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) participant's 11th year of sobriety! Butterflies (which were created by hand with chocolate) of course symbolize freedom,  Maroon was the color of the chip she earned, and pink was her favorite color. Such a cool milestone to celebrate and what better way than with cupcakes =)

Pretty Little Pink Penguin!

What do you do to celebrate a little girl who loves pink AND penguins? Well, duh, you make a pink penguin cake of coarse! And she had to have a hat...but of coarse. The only thing she is missing is her girlfriends to have tea with! The only problem for her is that tea goes perfectly with...cake =)

Mustache Lollipops, Cupcakes & Smash Cake - a must have!

The chococlatey, red velvety, mustache-y goodness was flowing at this one year old's birthday party! Not only did he get his own little smash cake, but his friends and family were able to join him in wearing their dessert with the lollipops and cupcakes! Choices for lollipops were milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate!

A Victoria's Secret Bachelorette Cake with a little hint of lace!

Does any other girl get excited when she sees those red and pink stripes? There's just something about them, even if you know what's inside! For this lovely bachelorette, there is cake inside! Such a cute bachelorette party idea =) Congrats Amy!

Going Out in Gangnam Style! A Well Suited Cake

We're not really sure how the picture on the left became a friend of mine's Facebook profile picture, or where the photo originated, but he inspired a Gagnam Style themed night for one of my best friend's going away parties! Another friend made fortune cookies with a personalized going away message, and another painted a portrait of the guy pictured left, who we think the guest of honor might have looked like as a child. So while we checked, and he's not in the Gagnam Style video, the theme was well "suited"!

Captain America- for Captain Chaz's Birthday!

Chaz, who is a huge Captain America fan, needed his own Captain Chaz cake for his birthday! We personalized the cake by adding a "C" on top of his mask rather than an "A". I didn't ask Chaz's age, but he is a grown up, which was the best part! 

Preggo Belly Cake- Polka dot dress with floral accents!

I have been admiring this cake design on Pinterest forever- so when I was asked to do a preggo belly cake, I was sincerely hoping I could convince my client to let me make it for her! She loved it more than the one she had chosen, so I got lucky =) It's hard to find a tasteful, as well as tasty maternity cake, and I love this one for it's modesty. The blue flower was a fun finishing touch!

iPhone Cake for a Pinterest/ textaholic!

Kara, a friend of Allison's who ordered the cake, took a picture of the home screen on Allison's iPhone so that I could see some of her favorite apps =) Her favorite of all was Pinterest which I made sure to include! Allison, you have a message- "happy birthday girl!!"

Whattup, Yo Gabba Gabba Cake!!

Plex, Muno and Brobee made their appearance for this 3 year old's birthday cake! Alexander wanted Yo Gabba Gabba and that's what he got! Happy birthday buddy!

Hello, Kitty Cat Cake!

If boys are made of slugs and snails and puppy dog tails, then little girls are made of kitty cat kisses and pretty little bows! Happy birthday to such a sweet little girl, from Hello Kitty!

Wine Bottle Cake for a 21st Birthday!

For some, it may seem like waiting for a fine wine to age until you finally get to enjoy your 21st birthday, twins Michelle and Christy got to enjoy both cake and wine on their 21st, thanks to an awesome mom who knows what they love! Hope it was a top label birthday ladies!

Tiffany's Box Style Present Cake!

Know a lovely lady who would fall easily for pearls, diamonds, or maybe just...that beautiful turquoise box that every girl loves to see? This present isn't about opening, it's about eating, so enjoy your gift- whether it's chocolate (a girl's best friend in my opinion), vanilla with salted caramel frosting, or fresh raspberry filling, red velvet heavenly goodness...need I go on? =)

Lego my Ninjago Cake!

Ever heard of Lego Ninjagos?? Well there are plenty of 7 year old boys out there like Sol, who follow them religiously, play them, watch them and now EAT them?! Who knew these little fighters would surrender so easily! My favorite part about this little birthday guy is that I got to make his cake last year too! See his incredible Hulk cake for birthday #6. It seems he lept from one giant green guy to another swift one- as his favorite of the Ninjagos, hence his front and center placement on the main cake. But he didn't leave the other colors out, they made their way onto the cupcakes. Happy 7th Sol! Hope to see you and Grandma Julia again next year!

What is it Going to Bee?? Gender Reveal!!

I wish you could see the rest of this baby shower set-up! I was so excited to make this cake, and it fit right into the decor set-up by friends and family to celebrate a beautiful baby's announcement to the world! Suzanne's (mother) bestie,  emailed me in advance, letting me know the date and theme of the party, and had Suzanne emailed me the gender after the date of the ultra sound, so that even the party host would get to enjoy the surprise! I loved how they all got completely into it, and went all out for the baby girl! 

A Jump Cake!

A few months back, I created a similar cake for my small group Bible study, comprised of high school girls. We had done a photoshoot previously in which we posed for a "jump picture", which turned out to be the perfect cake topper for our final meeting just before their graduation. I thought it was quirky and fun, but little did I know I'd get an order requesting a similar cake shortly after! A friend of mine, Chelsea, asked me to do the same thing for her Bible study group, who had been together since the girls were in 7th grade, all the way through high school! What a lovely way to spend 6 years =) To celebrate the end of an era before their high school graduation, they went to Disneyland and the beach in California where they got some really great shots by Radiant Photography, which is what I ended up using for their cake. For their big celebration, the girls threw a banquet in Chelsea's (their leader) honor and they ate some yummy cake! Thanks Chelsea, and Radiant photography for letting me play with your photo, absolutely LOVED the story behind this cake and was honored to be a part of such a special occasion!

This wedding dessert table, with a deep violet theme, was overflowing with sweets! We had not only a three tiered white cake with fresh raspberry filling, but cake pops in red velvet and chocolate, and cupcakes aplenty with fresh raspberry filling and handmade fondant roses.  According to a post wedding message fro the bride, it was all gone at the end of the night! Congrats to the happy couple!

A going away Luggage Cake!

From Arizona to Illinois, Wheaton College bound! Cali's high school graduation and college send-off was celebrated with sweets, the best way to prepare a college student. Check out her airplane cupcakes too!

Wedding shoot by Denise Nicole Photography and Styled by Karie Denny Photography!

A few months ago I was invited by Karie Denny Photography to be a part of a styled shoot, organized & creatively styled by Karie and shot by Denise Nicole photography. I was so honored after being able to see their beautiful work and just could not wait to see how it all came together. They found other wonderful vendors to participate, including Butterfly Petals (florist), some lovely models, beautiful handmade accents and a gorgeous setting for the shoot. I am so impressed with how it turned out! Check out their work see what's yet to come via Facebook fan pages!