How do i start setting up a wedding budget from scratch?

Actually, I think this is a great question!

My take is that you can't set the line items up right at the start. That's because it's process-driven. As you start down the list, you're forced to re-evaluate your priorities, and this makes everything easier than it appears at first glance.

For example, the venue/catering is by far your biggest expense, regardless of wedding size. So you'll start with this, and don't do anything until you've got something lined up.

As you research your venue, you'll quickly discover if your budget is realistic. For example, you may have a general idea in your head of 150 guests with dinner and dancing. You find a venue that knocks your socks off. Sadly, the cost of this comes to more than your total budget. This is the most common scenario with wedding sticker shock.

It also creates your biggest priority evaluation. What is more important - having the huge wedding, or cutting back on the guest list and having it at the place of your dreams? There's no right answer to this.

The other issue might be how much extra you need after you've covered the venue and catering. This is mostly a function of size of guest list, and also your own priorities. If you have 75 guests and $3000 left over, and you badly want a top notch photographer, this won't happen. So, again, it's a priority thing. Are the photos really that important? If they are, fine...but then you need to find a different venue. So it's a juggling act that gets easier as you go along.

Start by deciding what your total budget is. Then you and your fiance talk about what is most important to you and spend your money there. For some, the reception party is the focus, for some it's the venue or site, or how many people they can afford to invite, for some it's the size of the wedding and reception, for some it's all about the wedding dress and flowers, for some it's about the rings, or the photos/videos, or the cake and food. Once you sketch out your priorities list, talk to venues, try on dresses and rings, talk to the vendors for the various items and get bids on what you're wanting versus what you can afford. There are options available in all price ranges and you really just have to get out there and see how you can fit what you want into the budget you have to work with.

Start by researching the biggest expense would probably be the way to go. If you're having a big wedding that would likely be the venue unless you can use a park or relative's home or something, after that the food would likely be the most expensive unless you have good relatives and friends helping with the food...or you could just have punch and cookies or something. Then work your way down to the lowest expense and leave a little buffer for whatever you forgot. I darn near forgot about needing to buy rings!

Your venue will be the most expensive. Your budget depends on how much you can save in time for your wedding date (venues etc usually require payment in full a few weeks before) I managed to get a great deal with my venue it included 4 course meal, 4 drinks for guests, overnight stay for myself and groom, photographer, car, wedding flowers, kilt hire and wedding cake for £4400. Our overall budget £6500 other costs are wedding dress, favours, bridesmaid dress, videographer etc. and it looks like we will be coming in under budget my advice is to shop around and be aware when you mention wedding they double / triple the price