Set a working total and priorities
Choose a total you are comfortable discussing and identify the parts of the day that matter most to you. Keep a separate line for a contingency you decide yourselves. This guide gives no market price or minimum spend; each quote needs an agreed scope.
Separate fixed and guest-related costs
Create columns for a quoted amount, what it covers and what changes if guest numbers change. Food and drink may be quoted per person; other items may be fixed, timed or dependent on the venue. Ask each supplier to explain the basis instead of assuming it.
Ask what the quote leaves out
Check whether tax, setup, removal, transport, overtime and venue charges are included. If a performance or photography is discussed, ask about duration and deliverables. Record payment dates and any conditions in the written proposal rather than relying on a headline total.
Keep the ceremony and celebration distinct
Confirm whether you are planning a legal ceremony, a symbolic celebration or another format. Official requirements should be checked directly with the relevant authority or officiant. Keep those arrangements separate from event styling and reception plans in your checklist.
Make comparison easy
Use one version of your brief for each quote. Compare the same date, guest estimate, duration and inclusions. Mark unresolved items as questions, not zero-cost lines. Once the scope is clear, review the overall total before confirming anything.