Independent tool and publishing project

About Dan. Liu and Wedding Budget Planner

I built this site because wedding costs are easier to manage when the numbers are visible in one place. You can use it without creating an account or setting up a complicated spreadsheet.

Who runs this site

Wedding Budget Planner is created and maintained by Dan. Liu. I am an independent tool builder and publisher. My approach is practical: show the inputs, state the assumptions, and compare the full cost instead of relying on a headline price.

I am not a wedding agency, certified wedding planner, financial adviser, lawyer, venue operator, or vendor marketplace. The site does not claim professional authority that it does not have.

Why the project exists

A wedding budget can slip when a deposit is mistaken for the full price, the guest count changes without a recalculation, or extra fees appear late. The planner and guides focus on those common problems.

I do not tell couples what their wedding should cost. The planner helps each couple work from their own limit, guest count, priorities, contracts, and local quotes.

Editorial standards

Each guide should answer a real planning question. These are the checks I use when I write or substantially update an article.

Examples are labeledFictional budgets, vendor names, percentages, and comparison scenarios are identified as examples rather than market averages or promises.

Current claims are sourcedTime-sensitive survey figures, official rules, safety guidance, and consumer information are linked to the organization that published them.

Scope comes before priceTables compare hours, deliverables, staffing, inclusions, fees, and restrictions before declaring one option cheaper.

Limitations stay visibleLegal, tax, accessibility, licensing, contract, and safety requirements are described as location-dependent when they are not universal.

Arithmetic is checkedWorked totals are recalculated before publication and tied back to the same category assumptions used by the calculator.

Updates are datedSubstantial revisions show an updated month and year so readers can distinguish current pages from older versions.

How a guide is prepared

Step	What happens	What the reader should see
1. Define the decision	Identify the real budgeting question, such as full venue cost, catering fees, or the effect of guest count.	A direct answer near the top of the article.
2. Separate assumptions	Distinguish fixed, per-guest, variable, and location-dependent costs.	Clear labels instead of one unexplained total.
3. Build a worked example	Use fictional numbers to demonstrate the method without presenting them as universal prices.	Arithmetic that can be checked line by line.
4. Verify external facts	Use primary or authoritative sources for current data and official guidance.	Source links placed near the relevant explanation.
5. Connect to the tool	Show how the same decision can be tested in the calculator.	A practical workflow rather than a generic button.
6. Review and correct	Check calculations, links, mobile layout, dates, and wording before publication.	A page that remains usable on desktop, tablet, and mobile.

Corrections policy: factual corrections are made when an error is identified. A material correction or substantial rewrite updates the visible review date. Questions, corrections, and broken-link reports can be sent to liubigcow@yahoo.com.

Independence and commercial relationships

The site does not sell vendor rankings or guaranteed placement in the guides.
Examples do not promote a specific venue, caterer, photographer, planner, or retailer.
Editorial conclusions are not changed in exchange for payment, gifts, or vendor access.
External links provide explanation, source verification, or further reading. A link does not mean that an organization is suitable for every couple.

Privacy and tool limitations

The calculator is designed to be usable without creating an account. The site avoids asking visitors for unnecessary personal details. For information about analytics, cookies, advertising technology, and data handling, read the Privacy Policy.

The calculator, examples, checklists, and articles provide general informational and educational material. They do not replace a signed contract, local legal guidance, tax advice, financial advice, accessibility assessment, safety inspection, or professional wedding-planning service.

Start with the core guides

These pages show the site's approach most clearly:

Create a wedding budget Compare vendor quotes Check venue costs Find hidden costs Interpret current cost data