A wedding budget often goes wrong for a simple reason. It is written once, in a hurry, and then real prices arrive. After that, the budget and the truth drift apart.
A better budget changes as you learn more. This guide shows you how to build one that does. Every naira amount below is an example to show the method. These are not market prices.
Step 1: Decide your total and who is paying
Write down the most you are willing to spend in total. If both families are contributing, note who is covering what. If one family is paying for the food, write that down too, so nobody is surprised later.
Your total is a ceiling, not a wish. Choose a number you can actually reach.
Step 2: Take out a reserve first
Something always changes. A guest list grows, a vendor adds a charge, a small thing breaks. Decide on a reserve you can live with and take it out of your total before you share anything else.
The free SkillConnect planner starts with an example reserve of 5 percent, and you can change it. Here is what that looks like for an example total of ₦5,000,000:
- Reserve: ₦250,000
- Left to spend on services: ₦4,750,000
Step 3: Budget each ceremony on its own
If you are having a traditional wedding and a white wedding, give each its own date, guest count and budget, then add them together. Two ceremonies planned as one usually mean one of them gets squeezed. Our guide on traditional and white wedding planning explains what to settle first.
Step 4: Fix your guest count, even as a range
Your guest count drives the food, drinks, chairs, souvenirs and the number of ushers. If you are not sure, use a range and plan for the higher number until you know. When the count changes, list every cost that depends on it.
Step 5: Start with an example split, then change it
You need a starting point. The table below is an example split used by the SkillConnect planner. It is an editorial starting point, not research and not a market price list. Your wedding will be different, so change every line.
| Item | Share of total | Example on ₦5,000,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | 20% | ₦1,000,000 |
| Food and drinks | 30% | ₦1,500,000 |
| Decoration | 12% | ₦600,000 |
| Photography and video | 8% | ₦400,000 |
| Makeup and hair | 5% | ₦250,000 |
| Outfits | 10% | ₦500,000 |
| MC, DJ and music | 5% | ₦250,000 |
| Cake | 2% | ₦100,000 |
| Other | 3% | ₦150,000 |
| Reserve | 5% | ₦250,000 |
| Total | 100% | ₦5,000,000 |
Step 6: Replace guesses with real prices
This is the step that keeps a budget honest. As prices arrive, keep three things apart:
- Estimate. A guess, like the table above.
- Quote. What a vendor told you they would charge.
- Agreed price. What you and the vendor both confirmed.
When you have a quote, replace the guess. When you agree a final price, replace the quote. Keep the old numbers so you can see how the price moved. Our guide on comparing vendor quotes shows how to get quotes you can compare.
Step 7: Watch the gap on each line
Here is an example. You set aside ₦400,000 for photography. The photographer you like quotes ₦450,000. You talk, and you agree ₦420,000.
You are now ₦20,000 above what you set aside for that line. You have three choices: take ₦20,000 from another line, use part of your reserve, or ask the photographer to adjust what is included. There is no wrong answer. The point is that you made the choice on purpose.
Step 8: Record every payment
Write down each deposit and instalment with the date, the amount and the balance left. Ask for a receipt every time. Your records are your own notes, so keep them neat.
Step 9: Review once a week
Ten minutes a week is enough. Check what changed, what is still a guess, and what is due soon.
Costs worth asking about
Ask each vendor whether these are included in their price: transport, extra hours, setup and removal, extra staff, food for their team, and anything the venue requires. A price that leaves these out can look cheaper than it is.
Keep it all in one place
The free SkillConnect planner does the sums for you. It keeps estimates, quotes, agreed prices and payments apart, and it updates your budget the moment you enter a real price. It works in your browser without an account.
Payments you record in the planner are your own notes. SkillConnect has not checked them. The planner does not take payments.
