A significant task in planning a wedding, among so many, has to be developing and maintaining a wedding budget. Even those skilled in the use of spreadsheets or other tools can't get around the fact that there are simply a lot of details to track. If they're not tracked accurately, it can cost thousands of dollars extra.

Fortunately, taken one step at a time, it is possible to create and keep a budget under control. Just devote a little time every day, or at least once a week, to doing what's necessary.

And what is that?

First, it's necessary to list a year or more in advance everything you can imagine that will have to be paid out. Don't worry that there are many items you'll forget or not be aware of. You'll revise the budget many times over the course of that year. But you have to start somewhere.

Keep that list in a spreadsheet or a wedding budget tool of your choosing, whatever makes it easy to you to account for everything in one spot. With the average cost of a wedding at around $27,000 today, things can quickly spiral out of control. Using tools is one way to help prevent that.

It can help to make more than one budget. Different items are traditionally paid for by the bride and her family, and others by the groom and his family. At the same time, it's helpful to be able to combine or merge them to see the overall costs.

The bride's portion usually includes such things as a wedding band and gift for the groom, the wedding venue and reception, the gown, photographs and less costly items. The groom's part typically includes the bride's engagement ring and wedding band, and a gift, along with a tuxedo, gifts for the best man and groomsmen, bride's bouquet, the marriage license fee and blood tests, and the honeymoon.

Each side can easily spend thousands. To keep the figure down to within budget all of those items (and many more) need to be recorded and updated. Even the smaller items that are not expensive individually can add up to a substantial amount.

For the bride, 40% of her side's budget can often be taken up by the caterer. Include food and drinks and the figure can run anywhere from $200 to $20,000 depending on the size of the wedding and the type of catering. About 15% for clothing is not unusual between a gown and a reception dress.

The photographer alone can consume 5% or more. $1,000-$3,000 is normal, which includes his or her time all day plus post-wedding development, mailing and more. Another 2-3% for wedding invitations has been traditional. Costs are dropping, though, thanks to the Internet. It is helping to reduce printing costs, eliminate some mailing where emailing is sometimes substituted.

Entertainment can be anywhere from virtually free - a few music CDs played on a portable or built-in stereo system - to 10% or several thousand for live entertainment. A good 5-piece jazz band, for example, can easily cost $2,000 for the evening and that's a bargain. Of course, it never hurts to have musician friends who will play for free. Provided they get free food and drink, at least!

Costs can be kept lower, obviously, by having a smaller wedding. Fewer guests means less food and drink, a smaller venue and other savings. A cash bar, rather than free unlimited drinks, is one way to cut down. At least one free glass of champagne for everyone should be included, however, to toast the bride and groom.

Setting a date for off-season can result in big savings. Most wedding and reception venues are booked in the summer months, especially the traditional June. Getting married in January can lower costs quite a bit. Even a non-Saturday date can help a lot.

And, oh, by the way... don't forget to pay the preacher. You don't want him to forget to sign the license!