This post is part of a recurring series here on BSB where we share tips to help you save money on your wedding! You can access all the wedding budget tips on a single page for your convenience and future reference. This post is all about how to stay organized while planning your wedding.

Wedding Budget Tip #49: Save your receipts and stay organized!

There are so many things involved in planning a wedding. So many things to keep track of, so many details to coordinate, so many people to manage. It's so important to remain organized, not just for your own sanity, but also for the sake of your budget!

Tips for Organizing Your Wedding Planning

Being organized is important for all aspects of your planning, not just the financial side of things. Start by getting yourself a good wedding planning book. Of course, we recommend The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer, but there are many to choose from. You'll just want to make sure you choose a planner that walks you through all the steps of planning a wedding. Checklists, timelines, and wedding budget worksheets are essential tools to keep an eye out for. If you don't have extra cash to buy yourself a book, consider checking one out from your local library. We also have some great free wedding planning resources, such as a printable wedding planning timeline and checklist to get you started.

You may want to create your own wedding planning binder or folder where you can keep copies of important documents, contracts, vendor agreements, quotes, and more. Inserts like dividers, business card sheets, pocket folders, or a pencil pouch could come in handy for keeping various items neat and organized. A pocket folder is essential to keep various flyers, receipts, etc. contained without having to actually punch holes them. It's a great catch-all for the mountain paperwork that weddings seem to create.

Digital Wedding Organization

Another great option for staying organized is to go the digital route and get all your wedding docs electronically. Come up with a filing system to keep things organized in your Google Drive or Dropbox account so you can access those important files from anywhere!

Pro tip: Utilize the Notes App on your smartphone. It's free, and you can easily sync it with your computer. Another great option is to download the Google Docs App for your phone so you can make notes on the fly and take them with you anywhere.

Of course, Pinterest is the perfect tool for gathering wedding inspiration for your big day. Create a special wedding board for all of your ideas, and print out your favorites to put into your wedding planning binder. Wedding Gawker and Aisle Society also offer a great assortment of inspiration from various blogs on the web.

Organizing Your Wedding Spending

The first step to organizing your wedding spending would be to set a realistic wedding budget. Remember, “budget” is not a dirty word. A budget is just a plan for how much you will spend, and ideally, how you'll spend it based on your own personal priorities.

When it comes to keeping wedding expenses organized, be sure to save all your receipts for anything you purchase for your wedding. Record each of your expenses in a dedicated place to keep track of your spending. One of our favorite ways to keep track of your wedding spending is by using a wedding budget spreadsheet. Keeping good records of this information is key to seeing how much you've spent and how much you have left to spend, which will ultimately help keep you on track.

The hard part? Practicing restraint. You must commit to not spending more money if you've already used your allocated budget. Choosing not to spend more than you've budgeted takes willpower and determination! Just remember to focus on what matters most and ask yourself if you really need those extras that will take you over budget. Need inspiration for beautiful weddings on a small budget to keep you sane? Visit our real weddings section.

More Wedding Organization Tips

Sometimes, amid the chaos of planning, it can be hard to stay organized and keep track of things. If you're looking for tips on wedding planning organization, check out these posts:

When you have a tight budget, you have to be even more organized than the average bride. Keeping a close eye on your spending is essential and by using these simple methods, you can make your life a little bit easier. Most of these are free and you don't have to spend a fortune on a planner or a notebook. However, staying organized will end up saving you money in the long run!

So tell us: how are you staying organized during wedding planning?

Leave a comment below and let us know!

📌 Pin This! 📌