budget-journey · run 01

2026-08-20T01:15:39.710Z · commit bad81caeb34 · 12 turns · 510,455 tokens · 172s
≈ 0.077 USD for the run · ≈ 0.0064 USD a turn

A budget refusal that later becomes £18,000, then splits, benchmarks and savings questions at their own numbers. 12 steps.

Turn 1the opener

Congratulations to you both. Most couples book their venue first and their photographer second, and photographers in a popular area go about twelve months ahead.

That’s based on real UK data from Bridebook’s 2026 UK Wedding Report, covering 7,000 UK couples. I can create a month-by-month plan using your real dates once I know even a rough year.

What year are you hoping to get married?

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Took
6.5s
Requests
#3 200 2.5s
Model
gpt-5.6-luna
Locked capabilities
1
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Model calls
1 · 11153 tokens
Last call
in 11066 (cache read 11063) · out 87 · total 11153
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No tool calls.

Turn 2typed a message
Sometime in 2027, we think.

2027 gives you a comfortable runway to make the big decisions without rushing. Since you’re keeping the month open, your plan is built around a typical mid-year wedding for now, so its dates are helpful guideposts rather than fixed deadlines.

Your month-by-month plan is now in place, ready to shape as your location, guest count and priorities become clearer.

Added to your wedding

  • Wedding date: 2027 Change
  • Your checklist is ready — 265 tasks View
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Took
16.3s
Requests
#5 200 7.7s · #6 200 5.4s
Model
gpt-5.6-luna
Locked capabilities
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Steps / finish
1 · stop
Model calls
2 · 26225 tokens · extractor 6387ms
Last call
in 11824 · out 168 · total 11992
Cost
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executeClientActions
input {
  "actions": [
    {
      "type": "[Wedding] Set wedding date",
      "payload": {
        "date": {
          "y": 2027,
          "m": null,
          "d": null
        }
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}

Client actions

✓ [Wedding] Set wedding date · 215ms
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✓ initialiseChecklist · 2024ms
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  "taskCount": 265
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Turn 3typed a message
Honestly we have not agreed a budget yet — it is a bit awkward.

You don’t need a perfect number yet. Start with what you can comfortably fund yourselves, without touching emergency savings or taking on painful debt; then add only family contributions that are specific and confirmed, keeping 5–10% aside for surprises.

For context, the 2026 UK average is £20,604, excluding the honeymoon and rings, but weddings vary hugely, so it’s better not to use that as a target. If you share your comfortable amount and any confirmed contribution, I can turn it into a calm working budget and show which choices have the biggest impact.

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Took
14.9s
Requests
#8 200 11.6s
Model
gpt-5.6-luna
Locked capabilities
0
Steps / finish
2 · stop
Model calls
1 · 29541 tokens · extractor 5686ms
Last call
in 25884 (cache read 12023) · out 547 · total 26431
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getCoachReference
input {
  "topic": "budget"
}
output {
  "topic": "budget",
  "content": "# Budget (Coach Reference)\n\nHow to help a couple set, allocate, protect, and stretch their wedding budget,\nusing real 2026 UK figures. The budget isn't a constraint — it's the\ndecision-making framework. Once a couple knows what they have, every other choice\ngets easier. Lead with that framing.\n\n## Setting the budget (do this before booking anything)\n\n1. What can they genuinely afford from savings — without touching the emergency\n   fund or taking on painful debt.\n2. Family contributions — have the conversation *early* and get a **specific\n   number**, not \"we'll help out\". 29% of total UK wedding spend now comes from\n   family.\n3. Savings + confirmed contributions = total working budget.\n4. Add a **5–10% contingency**. Unexpected costs always arise.\n\n## What UK weddings actually cost (2026)\n\n- **Average spend: £20,604** (excl. honeymoon and engagement rings); **£25,815**\n  including them.\n- The spread is huge — ~25% spend under £10,000, ~25% spend over £26,000, 10%\n  over £35,000. Don't anchor a couple to the average; anchor to *their* number.\n- Gen Z spend ~12% less on average (£18,485 vs £21,016), mostly via midweek dates.\n- Regional: London highest, South East/South West above average, Scotland rising;\n  the North, Wales and Northern Ireland below average.\n\nUse these to reassure (\"plenty of couples have a lovely wedding for £12k\") or to\nreality-check (\"£8k for 150 guests in London will need real trade-offs — let's\nlook at the levers\").\n\n## Allocation framework\n\nStandard planner percentages as a *starting point*, then adjust to priorities.\nEvery time you raise one category, lower another — the total doesn't change.\n\n| Category | Suggested % | On £20,000 |\n|---|---|---|\n| Reception (venue + catering) | 45% | £9,000 |\n| Photography / Videography | 10% | £2,000 |\n| Dress / suits | 8% | £1,600 |\n| Entertainment | 7% | £1,400 |\n| Florist | 5% | £1,000 |\n| Ceremony | 3% | £600 |\n| Stationery | 3% | £600 |\n| Cake | 2% | £400 |\n| Transport | 2% | £400 |\n| Hair / makeup | 1% | £200 |\n| Rings, favours, gifts, other | ~14% | £2,800 |\n\nCommon adjustments: music lovers push entertainment to 10–12%; photography-first\ncouples push that to 12–15%; foodies load the catering. Always rebalance, never\ninflate the total.\n\n> If the couple has a live Bridebook budget, use *their* personalised allocation\n> (which varies by budget tier, guest count, day and season) rather than these\n> generic percentages. Venue + catering typically run 50–55% of the real budget.\n\n## The two biggest levers\n\n**Guest count** is the most powerful variable after total budget. Every extra\nguest adds catering, drinks, favours, stationery and seating. Cutting 20 guests\nfrom a 120-person wedding can save £1,500–£3,000. Combined venue + catering median\nis **£117.10 per head** (up 23% year on year). Cost per head falls as numbers\nrise, but the total still climbs — fewer guests is the cleanest saving. UK couples\nare already inviting ~11% fewer guests than in 2024.\n\n**Day and season.** Off-peak months (Oct–Apr) can cut venue costs by up to 40%\n(Jan–Feb cheapest). Weekday weddings save significantly; Sunday sits in between.\nThis is how couples have kept venue+catering spend roughly flat despite per-head\nrises — flex the date before cutting the vision.\n\n## Saving strategies that actually work\n\n- **Guest count and date first** (above) — biggest impact, least compromise.\n- **Cake as dessert** — removes a separate dessert course, and the cake gets eaten.\n- **Cocktail-style reception** instead of a formal sit-down can be much cheaper.\n- **Limit the bar** — welcome drink, wine with the meal, toast drink, then cash bar.\n- **In-season flowers** — peonies in June are cheap; in December they're imported\n  and costly. Ask the florist what's in season on the date.\n- **Use the venue's existing features** rather than hiring decor to cover them.\n- **Repurpose ceremony flowers** at the reception.\n- **Digital invitations** (or physical invites with details pushed to a wedding\n  website) cut stationery sharply.\n\nFor category-specific saving tips, the knowledge base has a \"How to save money\non [X]\" article for almost every category — find it via `article-index.md`.\n\n## Hidden costs to build in from day one\n\nThese are what catch couples out — name them early so they're not a nasty surprise.\n\n- **Service charge / gratuities:** many venues add 10–15%.\n- **Corkage:** £5–£15 per bottle if you bring your own drinks.\n- **Overtime:** running past the agreed finish is often charged at 1.5–2× rate.\n- **Venue extras:** chair covers, linen, lighting, sound — often not in the base fee.\n- **Dress alterations:** £200–£500. **Hair/makeup trials:** £50–£150.\n- **Supplier travel/accommodation and meals** for remote venues or full-day suppliers.\n- **Admin:** marriage certificate copies, name-change fees.\n\n## Family contributions — protect the relationships\n\nAssign each contributor's money to a **specific supplier or category** (\"Mum and\nDad are covering the flowers and cake\") rather than a vague pot (\"the reception\").\nWhen people fund a specific element, their input naturally stays contained to\nthat element — this preserves the couple's creative control while making\ncontributors feel valued. Keep them updated on \"their\" supplier, top up quietly if\ntheir amount doesn't cover the full cost, and never compare one contributor's\namount to another's. (Family/money tension is one of the most common stress\npoints — see the escalation note in SKILL.md.)\n\n## Monthly check-in\n\nWhen coaching budget over time: total spent vs budget on track? New quotes\nlogged? Deposits due this month? Are overspends in one area offset by savings\nelsewhere? Is the contingency intact?\n\n## Per-supplier average spend (2026 UK)\n\nUse these to answer \"is this a fair price?\" and to ground trade-offs. Full table\nand durations in `wedding-stats-2026.md`; key ones: venue hire £6,040 (excl.\ncatering), reception catering £5,406, photographer £1,484 (full day averages\n£2,024), dress £1,532, florist £1,187, reception music £1,061, cake £360.\n\n## Sources\n\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/professional/pro-budget-management-guide.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/tools/tool-wedding-budget-breakdown-guide.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/reports/report-2026-wedding-costs-breakdown.md`.\n",
  "articles": [
    {
      "slug": "the-ultimate-wedding-budget-breakdown",
      "title": "Wedding Budget Breakdown: How to Allocate Your Wedding Budget"
    },
    {
      "slug": "pro-budget-management-guide",
      "title": "Professional Budget Management Guide: How to Plan, Track, and Control Your Wedding Spending"
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-traditionally-pays-for-what",
      "title": "Wedding Etiquette: Who (Traditionally) Pays For What?"
    }
  ]
}
Turn 4typed a message
Maybe 60 guests, close family and friends.

Around 60 guests gives you a genuinely intimate celebration, with room to spend attention on the people who matter rather than trying to fill a large space. It’s a useful starting point for exploring venues and imagining the day, while keeping the guest list flexible for now.

Saved: Guest estimate: ~60

Tools, cost and writes
Took
15.8s
Requests
#10 200 8.6s · #11 200 3.9s
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gpt-5.6-luna
Locked capabilities
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Steps / finish
1 · stop
Model calls
2 · 32165 tokens · extractor 7265ms
Last call
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Cost
≈ 0.0074 USD
executeClientActions
input {
  "actions": [
    {
      "type": "[Wedding] Update wedding field",
      "payload": {
        "name": "guests",
        "value": {
          "guests": {
            "estimate": 60
          }
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

Client actions

✓ [Wedding] Update wedding field · 212ms
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Turn 5typed a message
Manchester.

Manchester opens up a broad mix of venues for an intimate celebration of around 60 guests, from hotel settings to distinctive historic and countryside spaces. The results include options close to the city and further afield, so the main trade-off is convenience versus a more private or scenic setting.

What month in 2027 are you considering, even roughly?

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Took
25.0s
Requests
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Last call
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≈ 0.0089 USD
Location card
picked
executeClientActions
input {
  "actions": [
    {
      "type": "setWeddingLocation",
      "payload": {
        "query": "Manchester"
      }
    }
  ]
}
searchWeddingSuppliers
input {
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  "filters": [],
  "priceRange": "moderate",
  "capacity": "60",
  "accommodationRooms": "",
  "radiusIncrease": 40,
  "page": 1,
  "pageSize": 10
}
output {
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    {
      "id": "CS00040522",
      "publicId": "csK8Ma0M8o",
      "name": "Macdonald Kilhey Court Hotel",
      "type": "venue",
      "description": "On behalf of everyone at Macdonald Kilhey Court we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you both on your forthcoming wedding ~ A perfect choice for your dream wedding!",
      "seoUrlSlug": "macdonald-kilhey-court-hotel-standish-greater-manchester",
      "street": "Macdonald Kilhey Court Hotel",
      "town": "Standish",
      "county": "Greater Manchester",
      "country": "England",
      "countryCode": "GB",
      "postalCode": "WN1 2XN",
      "currency": "GBP",
      "pricingIndicator": "$$",
      "thumbnail": "weddingsuppliers/venue/csK8Ma0M8o/36691690.jpg",
      "venueHirePriceMin": 0,
      "venueHirePriceMax": 0,
      "pricePerHeadMin": 0,
      "pricePerHeadMax": 0,
      "minWeddingPriceEstimate": null,
      "maxWeddingPriceEstimate": null,
      "reviewsStars": 5,
      "reviewsCount": 22,
      "capacityDining": 300,
      "accommodationRooms": 62,
      "distanceFromOrigin": 31.2,
      "photos": "[\"custom-supplier-stock/venue/photo-4.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csK8Ma0M8o/149464587.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csK8Ma0M8o/pic1.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csK8Ma0M8o/details2.jpeg\"]"
    },
    {
      "id": "CS00041516",
      "publicId": "cs1gAeE0gx",
      "name": "The Arches at Dean Clough",
      "type": "venue",
      "description": "The Arches is a spectacularly stylish industrial venue.  We perfectly blend our unique heritage with our reputation of being at the forefront of contemporary Wedding & Event Planning and innovation...",
      "seoUrlSlug": "the-arches-at-dean-clough-halifax-west-yorkshire",
      "street": "Dean Clough Mills",
      "town": "Halifax",
      "county": "West Yorkshire",
      "country": "England",
      "countryCode": "GB",
      "postalCode": "HX3 5AX",
      "currency": "GBP",
      "pricingIndicator": "$$",
      "thumbnail": "weddingsuppliers/venue/cs1gAeE0gx/BetweenTheMills.jpg",
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      "reviewsStars": -1,
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      "capacityDining": 300,
      "accommodationRooms": 0,
      "distanceFromOrigin": 38.5,
      "photos": "[\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs1gAeE0gx/Fox-Tail-Photography_Laura-Michael_Arches-1.JPG\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs1gAeE0gx/cJamesLianneWeddingPhotography5.jpeg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs1gAeE0gx/Fox-Tail-Photography_Arches-6.JPG\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs1gAeE0gx/Fox-Tail-Photography_Arches-13.JPG\"]"
    },
    {
      "id": "CS00041021",
      "publicId": "csm8zNLr8R",
      "name": "Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf & Spa",
      "type": "venue",
      "description": "We have the pleasure of offering civil ceremonies & can accommodate up to 200 for your wedding breakfast. Each of our 3 wedding packages can be tailored to suit your dream wedding.",
      "seoUrlSlug": "macdonald-hill-valley-hotel-golf-spa-whitchurch-shropshire",
      "street": "Tarporley Road",
      "town": "Whitchurch",
      "county": "Shropshire",
      "country": "England",
      "countryCode": "GB",
      "postalCode": "SY13 4HA",
      "currency": "GBP",
      "pricingIndicator": "$$",
      "thumbnail": "weddingsuppliers/venue/csm8zNLr8R/HillValleyExternal-Pond.jpg",
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      "reviewsCount": 6,
      "capacityDining": 200,
      "accommodationRooms": 80,
      "distanceFromOrigin": 61.2,
      "photos": "[\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csm8zNLr8R/HillValleygolf02.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csm8zNLr8R/160755.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csm8zNLr8R/WinterWeddingdecor.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csm8zNLr8R/DSC08328.JPG\"]"
    },
    {
      "id": "CS00020545",
      "publicId": "csy8JKDvXl",
      "name": "Gisburne Park Estate",
      "type": "venue",
      "description": "Truly one of the most magical settings in the UK. ",
      "seoUrlSlug": "gisburne-park-estate-gisburn-lancashire",
      "street": "The Estate Office ",
      "town": "Gisburn",
      "county": "Lancashire",
      "country": "England",
      "countryCode": "GB",
      "postalCode": "BB7 4LP",
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      "reviewsCount": 6,
      "capacityDining": 250,
      "accommodationRooms": 100,
      "distanceFromOrigin": 53.9,
      "photos": "[\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csy8JKDvXl/20b3a31f-3f45-4f8f-9396-e89336a78fbe.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csy8JKDvXl/12a60d44-05df-4223-a01d-47e528478c83.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csy8JKDvXl/e3a42fd4-ad04-4b32-be9b-72d23e200d81.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csy8JKDvXl/IMG_1242.jpeg\"]"
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    {
      "id": "EE011700",
      "publicId": "eeEgQK3P8J",
      "name": "Ripley Castle",
      "type": "venue",
      "description": "A Picture Perfect Wedding Venue located in North Yorkshire ",
      "seoUrlSlug": "ripley-castle-ripley-north-yorkshire",
      "street": "Ripley Castle Estate",
      "town": "Ripley",
      "county": "North Yorkshire",
      "country": "England",
      "countryCode": "GB",
      "postalCode": "HG3 3AY",
      "currency": "GBP",
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      "distanceFromOrigin": 78,
      "photos": "[\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeEgQK3P8J/VICTORIABAKERWEDDINGSOliviaAlexRipleyCastleWeddingPhotography-289.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeEgQK3P8J/0567.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeEgQK3P8J/MorningRoomRoundsNatashaCadman.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeEgQK3P8J/70589010_2927165707357756_5791212289927413760_o.jpg\"]"
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      "id": "EE016909",
      "publicId": "eeNg0jJ18d",
      "name": "The Priests House",
      "type": "venue",
      "description": "An intimate and exclusive wedding venue in the shadow of the ruins of the Grade I listed Barden Tower surrounded by the stunning river and hills of the Upper Wharfedale valley. ",
      "seoUrlSlug": "the-priests-house-skipton-north-yorkshire",
      "street": "Barden Tower, Bolton Abbey",
      "town": "Skipton",
      "county": "North Yorkshire",
      "country": "England",
      "countryCode": "GB",
      "postalCode": "BD23 6AS",
      "currency": "GBP",
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      "capacityDining": 75,
      "accommodationRooms": 4,
      "distanceFromOrigin": 64.9,
      "photos": "[\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeNg0jJ18d/1D841315-2AA2-421B-8100-9F34B0762B7A.jpeg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeNg0jJ18d/wedding3.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeNg0jJ18d/RichardPerryPhotography-713.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeNg0jJ18d/RichardPerryPhotography-710.jpg\"]"
    },
    {
      "id": "CS00005911",
      "publicId": "cs4Y7vrJgZ",
      "name": "Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa",
      "type": "venue",
      "description": "This Georgian manor house, set in 38 acres of Cheshire countryside, has a romantic fountain lawn & elegant architecture. Rookery Hall is the perfect wedding venue for your dream country house wedding",
      "seoUrlSlug": "rookery-hall-hotel-spa-nantwich-cheshire",
      "street": "Main Road, Worleston",
      "town": "Nantwich",
      "county": "Cheshire",
      "country": "England",
      "countryCode": "GB",
      "postalCode": "CW5 6DQ",
      "currency": "GBP",
      "pricingIndicator": "$$",
      "thumbnail": "weddingsuppliers/venue/cs4Y7vrJgZ/IMGL084222.jpg",
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      "capacityDining": 160,
      "accommodationRooms": 70,
      "distanceFromOrigin": 43.9,
      "photos": "[\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs4Y7vrJgZ/untitled.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs4Y7vrJgZ/02..wardle-ceremony.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs4Y7vrJgZ/01.Rebecca-Mark-19.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs4Y7vrJgZ/05.Outside-Ceremony.jpg\"]"
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    {
      "id": "EE003136",
      "publicId": "eeBXLRP7Yz",
      "name": "Makeney Hall Hotel",
      "type": "venue",
      "description": "Makeney Hall Hotel is set within acres of landscaped gardens and offers a choice of stunning rooms for your special day - including our unique outside ceremony area. ",
      "seoUrlSlug": "makeney-hall-hotel-belper-derbyshire",
      "street": "Makeney Road",
      "town": "Belper",
      "county": "Derbyshire",
      "country": "England",
      "countryCode": "GB",
      "postalCode": "DE56 0RS",
      "currency": "GBP",
      "pricingIndicator": "$$",
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      "accommodationRooms": 46,
      "distanceFromOrigin": 71.2,
      "photos": "[\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeBXLRP7Yz/plav08lhykaugb9okiyq.png\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeBXLRP7Yz/DSC_7406.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeBXLRP7Yz/DSC_6344-Edit.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/eeBXLRP7Yz/DSC_7873.jpg\"]"
    },
    {
      "id": "CS00000819",
      "publicId": "csaZgjaAXN",
      "name": "Wood Hall Hotel & Spa",
      "type": "venue",
      "description": "Surrounded by over 100 acres of woodland and parkland, it is difficult to imagine a more idyllic place than the hidden treasure that is Wood Hall to have your perfect wedding.",
      "seoUrlSlug": "wood-hall-hotel-spa-wetherby-west-yorkshire",
      "street": "Trip Lane, Linton",
      "town": "Wetherby",
      "county": "West Yorkshire",
      "country": "England",
      "countryCode": "GB",
      "postalCode": "LS22 4JA",
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      "accommodationRooms": 44,
      "distanceFromOrigin": 73.3,
      "photos": "[\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csaZgjaAXN/005.Couple-Summer.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csaZgjaAXN/GeorgianCeremony14.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csaZgjaAXN/ItalianGardensCeremony9.png\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/csaZgjaAXN/ValentinaWeddings-newVavasour5.jpg\"]"
    },
    {
      "id": "CS00086211",
      "publicId": "cs4Y7dGkJ8",
      "name": "Shiningford",
      "type": "venue",
      "description": "Shiningford offers complete privacy for your celebrations, in the most peaceful of surroundings. In a beautiful rural location, it has grounds for tipi or marquee weddings.",
      "seoUrlSlug": "shiningford-carsington-derbyshire",
      "street": "DE4 4PS",
      "town": "Carsington",
      "county": "Derbyshire",
      "country": "England",
      "countryCode": "GB",
      "postalCode": "DE4 4PS",
      "currency": "GBP",
      "pricingIndicator": "$$",
      "thumbnail": "weddingsuppliers/venue/cs4Y7dGkJ8/ShiningfordPg2.jpg",
      "venueHirePriceMin": 6500,
      "venueHirePriceMax": 11000,
      "pricePerHeadMin": 0,
      "pricePerHeadMax": 0,
      "minWeddingPriceEstimate": null,
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      "reviewsStars": -1,
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      "capacityDining": 300,
      "accommodationRooms": 16,
      "distanceFromOrigin": 58,
      "photos": "[\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs4Y7dGkJ8/dronewedding3.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs4Y7dGkJ8/Autumn-wedding-Shiningford-2.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs4Y7dGkJ8/ShiningfordPg14LHS.jpg\",\"weddingsuppliers/venue/cs4Y7dGkJ8/Ellie-and-Tom-16-1024x683.jpg\"]"
    }
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  "page": 1,
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}

Client actions

✓ setWeddingLocation · 1ms
{
  "savedLocation": "Manchester"
}
Turn 6typed a message
OK, we talked — let us say £18,000.

£18,000 is a workable budget for around 60 guests in Manchester, especially because your smaller guest count gives you more room to choose where the money matters most. It’s below the 2026 UK average of £20,604, but plenty of couples spend less by flexing the day, season or venue style.

Keep 5–10% aside as a contingency, leaving roughly £16,200–£17,100 for planned spending. Your next useful decisions are the wedding month and the type of venue you both want.

Saved: Budget: £18,000

Tools, cost and writes
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executeClientActions
input {
  "actions": [
    {
      "type": "[Wedding] Update wedding field",
      "payload": {
        "name": "budget",
        "value": {
          "budget": 18000
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

Client actions

✓ [Wedding] Update wedding field · 191ms
{
  "confirmed": true
}
Turn 7typed a message
How should that split across venue, food and the rest?

For £18,000 and around 60 guests, the current working split is:

  • Venue: £6,150 (35%)
  • Food and drink: £4,370 (25%)
  • Dress and accessories: £1,491 (8%)
  • Photography: £1,184 (7%)
  • Rings and jewellery: £837 (5%)
  • Florist: £735 (4%)
  • Décor and hire: £551 (3%)
  • Transport: £470 (3%)
  • Menswear: £449 (3%)
  • Music: £443 (3%)
  • Favours, beauty, cake and registrar fees: £1,019 combined

The biggest decision is the £10,520 for venue plus food and drink, which is about 60% of the budget. These figures use a weekday and season as working assumptions, and currently leave out stationery, insurance, entertainment, live music, video and planner costs, so protect a contingency before committing the full amount.

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#19 200 9.2s
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getBudgetBreakdown
input {
  "category": ""
}
output {
  "result": {
    "projected": true,
    "currency": "GBP",
    "target": 18000,
    "totalEstimate": 18000,
    "totalActual": 0,
    "assumptions": {
      "theirs": {
        "guests": 60
      },
      "stoodIn": [
        "weekday and season"
      ],
      "excluded": [
        "video",
        "liveband",
        "entertainment",
        "planners",
        "Insurance",
        "stationery"
      ]
    },
    "allocation": [
      {
        "name": "Venue",
        "supplierType": "venue",
        "share": "35%",
        "estimate": 6150,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Catering (Food and Drink)",
        "supplierType": "catering",
        "share": "25%",
        "estimate": 4370,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Wedding Dress and Accessories",
        "supplierType": "dress",
        "share": "8%",
        "estimate": 1491,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Photographer",
        "supplierType": "photo",
        "share": "7%",
        "estimate": 1184,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Wedding Rings and Jewellery",
        "supplierType": "jewellery",
        "share": "5%",
        "estimate": 837,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Florist",
        "supplierType": "florist",
        "share": "4%",
        "estimate": 735,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Decoration and Hire",
        "supplierType": "decoration",
        "share": "3%",
        "estimate": 551,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Transport",
        "supplierType": "transport",
        "share": "3%",
        "estimate": 470,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Menswear",
        "supplierType": "menswear",
        "share": "3%",
        "estimate": 449,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Music",
        "supplierType": "music",
        "share": "3%",
        "estimate": 443,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Favours and Gifts",
        "supplierType": null,
        "share": "2%",
        "estimate": 408,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Beauty, Hair and Make-Up",
        "supplierType": "beauty",
        "share": "2%",
        "estimate": 306,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Cake",
        "supplierType": "cakes",
        "share": "2%",
        "estimate": 306,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Registrar Fees",
        "supplierType": null,
        "share": "0%",
        "estimate": 300,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Announcements",
        "supplierType": null,
        "share": "0%",
        "estimate": 0,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Honeymoon",
        "supplierType": null,
        "share": "0%",
        "estimate": 0,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Wedding Night Bridal Suite",
        "supplierType": null,
        "share": "0%",
        "estimate": 0,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Marquee",
        "supplierType": "marquee",
        "share": "0%",
        "estimate": 0,
        "booked": 0
      },
      {
        "name": "Extras",
        "supplierType": null,
        "share": "0%",
        "estimate": 0,
        "booked": 0
      }
    ]
  }
}
Turn 8typed a message
Is £3,000 enough for a decent photographer?

Yes. £3,000 is enough for a very good full-day photographer in the UK. Bridebook’s 2026 figures put full-day photography at an average of £2,024, with quotes commonly reaching about £2,500, so £3,000 gives you room for a highly experienced photographer or extras such as a second shooter or album.

For your £18,000 budget, that would be about 17%, rather than the current £1,184 allocation. I’d protect the £3,000 if photography matters to you, then find the extra roughly £1,800 by flexing décor, transport, favours or the venue/date, rather than cutting coverage. Check that the quote clearly includes hours, edited digital images, travel, a backup plan and delivery times.

Tools, cost and writes
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Requests
#21 200 10.0s
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getBudgetBreakdown
input {
  "category": "photo"
}
output {
  "result": {
    "projected": true,
    "currency": "GBP",
    "target": 18000,
    "totalEstimate": 18000,
    "totalActual": 0,
    "assumptions": {
      "theirs": {
        "guests": 60
      },
      "stoodIn": [
        "weekday and season"
      ],
      "excluded": [
        "video",
        "liveband",
        "entertainment",
        "planners",
        "Insurance",
        "stationery"
      ]
    },
    "allocation": [
      {
        "name": "Photographer",
        "supplierType": "photo",
        "share": "7%",
        "estimate": 1184,
        "booked": 0
      }
    ]
  }
}
getCoachReference
input {
  "topic": "supplier-booking"
}
output {
  "topic": "supplier-booking",
  "content": "# Supplier Booking (Coach Reference)\n\nHow to help couples book suppliers in the right order, at fair prices, after\nproper comparison. The core coaching insight: **book in scarcity order.** The\nsuppliers that book out furthest ahead, and that other decisions depend on, come\nfirst. Get the sequence right and nothing good gets missed because it was left\ntoo late.\n\n## The booking order (and why)\n\nVenue is always first (see `venue.md`) — it sets capacity, catering, date and\nstyle. After the venue is confirmed, work down roughly in this order. The logic:\nthe best individual suppliers in popular categories (especially photographers)\nget booked 12+ months ahead, and some decisions depend on others (you can't\nfinalise stationery before the design and details are set; catering may be tied\nto the venue).\n\n1. **Photographer** — books furthest ahead; the most \"named-talent\" category\n   where the best are gone first. Prioritise right after the venue. → then\n   **videographer** (decide first whether you want video at all).\n2. **Caterer** — if not venue-provided. Often tied to the venue's rules.\n3. **Florist** and **cake maker**.\n4. **Reception music** (live band or DJ) and **ceremony music**.\n5. **Hair, makeup & beauty** (trials needed before the day).\n6. **Wedding fashion** runs in parallel and has its own long lead time — dress\n   orders + fittings can take many months, so start browsing early even though\n   it's not \"scarcity-booked\" like a photographer.\n7. **Stationery** — save-the-dates early; invitations once details firm up.\n8. **Transport**, **specialists** (celebrant, toastmaster, entertainers),\n   **décor/hire** — later, once the style is set.\n\n> When a couple asks \"what should I book next?\", anchor to this order *and* their\n> timeline stage (`planning-timeline.md`). Don't let them jump to a cake maker\n> before the venue is confirmed.\n\n## Average supplier spend (2026 UK)\n\nUse these to answer \"is this a fair price?\" and to frame trade-offs. They're\naverages — actual prices vary by region, date and scope.\n\n| Supplier | Average spend |\n|---|---|\n| Venue hire (excl. catering) | £6,040 |\n| Catering — reception | £5,406 |\n| Catering — evening | £2,002 |\n| Marquee / tipi | £4,633 |\n| Dress | £1,532 |\n| Planner | £1,543 |\n| Videographer | £1,514 |\n| Photographer | £1,484 |\n| Decoration | £1,404 |\n| Florist | £1,187 |\n| Reception music | £1,061 |\n| Rings / jewellery | £1,057 |\n| Menswear | £859 |\n| Ceremony music | £845 |\n| Other entertainment | £844 |\n| Transport | £593 |\n| Toastmaster | £514 |\n| Celebrant | £504 |\n| Accessories | £449 |\n| Hair styling | £417 |\n| Make-up | £394 |\n| Stationery | £378 |\n| Cake | £360 |\n\n**Photographer by duration:** <half day £519 (£200–£800); half day £911\n(£350–£1,690); full day £2,024 (£600–£2,500); more than full day £1,780. 68% of\ncouples book a full day. (Note the £1,484 *average* spend above blends all\ndurations — quote the duration-specific figure when relevant.)\n\n**Cake by source:** professional designer £395 (44% of couples use one); venue/\ncaterer £313; non-traditional dessert £269; family/friend £181; high-street £109.\n\n## Helping couples compare and decide\n\nCouples trust AI most for **finding/comparing suppliers and writing enquiry\ndrafts** — lean into that. When comparing shortlisted suppliers:\n\n1. **Match to vision first, price second.** A photographer's *style* (light/airy\n   vs dark/moody, documentary vs posed) matters more than a small price gap. Tie\n   the recommendation to the look the couple described.\n2. **Compare like for like.** Same coverage hours, same deliverables (album,\n   prints, digital files, highlight reel), travel included or not.\n3. **Check the practicalities** the price hides: deposit and balance schedule,\n   travel/accommodation charges for remote venues, supplier meals, overtime rates.\n4. **Read reviews** — UK couples read ~6.9 reviews per supplier; reputation is a\n   real signal.\n5. **Make a recommendation** with reasoning, then leave the choice with them.\n\n## Enquiries\n\nCouples often feel frustrated by slow, generic supplier responses early on. If\nhelping draft an enquiry, make it specific — date, venue, guest count, exact\ncoverage/deliverables wanted, and a direct ask for an itemised quote — so the\nfirst reply is actually useful and comparable.\n\n## Saving without cutting what matters\n\nMost categories have a \"How to save money on [X]\" article in the knowledge base\n(find via `article-index.md`). General levers: book a half-day photographer if a\nfull day isn't needed; DJ instead of (or alongside a short set of) live band;\nin-season flowers; cake as dessert; serve the cake from the venue/caterer rather\nthan a separate designer if budget is tight. Always protect the categories the\ncouple has said matter most — find the savings elsewhere.\n\n## Sources\n\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/reports/report-2026-wedding-costs-breakdown.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/tools/tool-wedding-planning-checklist-guide.md`, and category-specific\nprofessional guides (photography, flowers, entertainment, cake, catering,\nstationery, transport) via `article-index.md`.\n",
  "articles": [
    {
      "slug": "pro-photography-styles-and-hiring-guide",
      "title": "Wedding Photography: Styles, Albums, and How to Hire the Right Photographer"
    },
    {
      "slug": "wedding-photographer-checklist",
      "title": "Wedding Photographer Checklist"
    },
    {
      "slug": "wedding-prices-photography",
      "title": "Wedding Photography Prices UK: How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost?"
    }
  ]
}
Turn 9typed a message
Where do couples usually overspend?

The biggest overspends usually come from venue and catering extras, rather than one dramatic purchase:

  • Service charges and gratuities: often an added 10–15%.
  • Drinks and corkage: bringing your own alcohol can still cost £5–£15 per bottle.
  • Décor and hire: lighting, linen, chairs and sound may sit outside the venue price.
  • Guest numbers: every extra guest adds food, drinks, stationery, seating and favours.
  • Small “optional” details: alterations, trials, supplier meals, travel and overtime quietly accumulate.

For your £18,000 and 60 guests, ask every venue for a fully itemised quote, including VAT, service charge, corkage, minimum guest spend, evening food and overtime. Keep the 5–10% contingency intact, especially while the month and venue are still undecided.

Tools, cost and writes
Took
10.8s
Requests
#23 200 7.6s
Model
gpt-5.6-luna
Locked capabilities
0
Steps / finish
2 · stop
Model calls
1 · 47394 tokens · extractor 6065ms
Last call
in 42863 (cache read 20521) · out 240 · total 43103
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getCoachReference
input {
  "topic": "budget"
}
output {
  "topic": "budget",
  "content": "# Budget (Coach Reference)\n\nHow to help a couple set, allocate, protect, and stretch their wedding budget,\nusing real 2026 UK figures. The budget isn't a constraint — it's the\ndecision-making framework. Once a couple knows what they have, every other choice\ngets easier. Lead with that framing.\n\n## Setting the budget (do this before booking anything)\n\n1. What can they genuinely afford from savings — without touching the emergency\n   fund or taking on painful debt.\n2. Family contributions — have the conversation *early* and get a **specific\n   number**, not \"we'll help out\". 29% of total UK wedding spend now comes from\n   family.\n3. Savings + confirmed contributions = total working budget.\n4. Add a **5–10% contingency**. Unexpected costs always arise.\n\n## What UK weddings actually cost (2026)\n\n- **Average spend: £20,604** (excl. honeymoon and engagement rings); **£25,815**\n  including them.\n- The spread is huge — ~25% spend under £10,000, ~25% spend over £26,000, 10%\n  over £35,000. Don't anchor a couple to the average; anchor to *their* number.\n- Gen Z spend ~12% less on average (£18,485 vs £21,016), mostly via midweek dates.\n- Regional: London highest, South East/South West above average, Scotland rising;\n  the North, Wales and Northern Ireland below average.\n\nUse these to reassure (\"plenty of couples have a lovely wedding for £12k\") or to\nreality-check (\"£8k for 150 guests in London will need real trade-offs — let's\nlook at the levers\").\n\n## Allocation framework\n\nStandard planner percentages as a *starting point*, then adjust to priorities.\nEvery time you raise one category, lower another — the total doesn't change.\n\n| Category | Suggested % | On £20,000 |\n|---|---|---|\n| Reception (venue + catering) | 45% | £9,000 |\n| Photography / Videography | 10% | £2,000 |\n| Dress / suits | 8% | £1,600 |\n| Entertainment | 7% | £1,400 |\n| Florist | 5% | £1,000 |\n| Ceremony | 3% | £600 |\n| Stationery | 3% | £600 |\n| Cake | 2% | £400 |\n| Transport | 2% | £400 |\n| Hair / makeup | 1% | £200 |\n| Rings, favours, gifts, other | ~14% | £2,800 |\n\nCommon adjustments: music lovers push entertainment to 10–12%; photography-first\ncouples push that to 12–15%; foodies load the catering. Always rebalance, never\ninflate the total.\n\n> If the couple has a live Bridebook budget, use *their* personalised allocation\n> (which varies by budget tier, guest count, day and season) rather than these\n> generic percentages. Venue + catering typically run 50–55% of the real budget.\n\n## The two biggest levers\n\n**Guest count** is the most powerful variable after total budget. Every extra\nguest adds catering, drinks, favours, stationery and seating. Cutting 20 guests\nfrom a 120-person wedding can save £1,500–£3,000. Combined venue + catering median\nis **£117.10 per head** (up 23% year on year). Cost per head falls as numbers\nrise, but the total still climbs — fewer guests is the cleanest saving. UK couples\nare already inviting ~11% fewer guests than in 2024.\n\n**Day and season.** Off-peak months (Oct–Apr) can cut venue costs by up to 40%\n(Jan–Feb cheapest). Weekday weddings save significantly; Sunday sits in between.\nThis is how couples have kept venue+catering spend roughly flat despite per-head\nrises — flex the date before cutting the vision.\n\n## Saving strategies that actually work\n\n- **Guest count and date first** (above) — biggest impact, least compromise.\n- **Cake as dessert** — removes a separate dessert course, and the cake gets eaten.\n- **Cocktail-style reception** instead of a formal sit-down can be much cheaper.\n- **Limit the bar** — welcome drink, wine with the meal, toast drink, then cash bar.\n- **In-season flowers** — peonies in June are cheap; in December they're imported\n  and costly. Ask the florist what's in season on the date.\n- **Use the venue's existing features** rather than hiring decor to cover them.\n- **Repurpose ceremony flowers** at the reception.\n- **Digital invitations** (or physical invites with details pushed to a wedding\n  website) cut stationery sharply.\n\nFor category-specific saving tips, the knowledge base has a \"How to save money\non [X]\" article for almost every category — find it via `article-index.md`.\n\n## Hidden costs to build in from day one\n\nThese are what catch couples out — name them early so they're not a nasty surprise.\n\n- **Service charge / gratuities:** many venues add 10–15%.\n- **Corkage:** £5–£15 per bottle if you bring your own drinks.\n- **Overtime:** running past the agreed finish is often charged at 1.5–2× rate.\n- **Venue extras:** chair covers, linen, lighting, sound — often not in the base fee.\n- **Dress alterations:** £200–£500. **Hair/makeup trials:** £50–£150.\n- **Supplier travel/accommodation and meals** for remote venues or full-day suppliers.\n- **Admin:** marriage certificate copies, name-change fees.\n\n## Family contributions — protect the relationships\n\nAssign each contributor's money to a **specific supplier or category** (\"Mum and\nDad are covering the flowers and cake\") rather than a vague pot (\"the reception\").\nWhen people fund a specific element, their input naturally stays contained to\nthat element — this preserves the couple's creative control while making\ncontributors feel valued. Keep them updated on \"their\" supplier, top up quietly if\ntheir amount doesn't cover the full cost, and never compare one contributor's\namount to another's. (Family/money tension is one of the most common stress\npoints — see the escalation note in SKILL.md.)\n\n## Monthly check-in\n\nWhen coaching budget over time: total spent vs budget on track? New quotes\nlogged? Deposits due this month? Are overspends in one area offset by savings\nelsewhere? Is the contingency intact?\n\n## Per-supplier average spend (2026 UK)\n\nUse these to answer \"is this a fair price?\" and to ground trade-offs. Full table\nand durations in `wedding-stats-2026.md`; key ones: venue hire £6,040 (excl.\ncatering), reception catering £5,406, photographer £1,484 (full day averages\n£2,024), dress £1,532, florist £1,187, reception music £1,061, cake £360.\n\n## Sources\n\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/professional/pro-budget-management-guide.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/tools/tool-wedding-budget-breakdown-guide.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/reports/report-2026-wedding-costs-breakdown.md`.\n",
  "articles": [
    {
      "slug": "the-ultimate-wedding-budget-breakdown",
      "title": "Wedding Budget Breakdown: How to Allocate Your Wedding Budget"
    },
    {
      "slug": "pro-budget-management-guide",
      "title": "Professional Budget Management Guide: How to Plan, Track, and Control Your Wedding Spending"
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-traditionally-pays-for-what",
      "title": "Wedding Etiquette: Who (Traditionally) Pays For What?"
    }
  ]
}
Turn 10typed a message
How can we save on flowers without it looking cheap?

The best savings come from making flowers feel intentional rather than abundant:

  • Choose in-season blooms and let your florist lead the recipe. Imported or out-of-season flowers cost more.
  • Use foliage, branches and a restrained palette to add volume and texture without filling every surface.
  • Put flowers where they photograph and where guests spend time: the bouquet, ceremony focal point and top table, rather than every table.
  • Repurpose ceremony arrangements at the reception.
  • Use candlelight and the venue’s existing features to create atmosphere, instead of paying for a large floral installation.

For your current budget, the working flower allowance is £735, so I’d ask for two designs at that figure: one flower-led and one foliage-and-candlelight version. The second usually gives more visual impact for the money without looking sparse.

Tools, cost and writes
Took
12.0s
Requests
#25 200 8.7s
Model
gpt-5.6-luna
Locked capabilities
0
Steps / finish
2 · stop
Model calls
1 · 51530 tokens · extractor 7196ms
Last call
in 46585 (cache read 22438) · out 226 · total 46811
Cost
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getCoachReference
input {
  "topic": "design-and-details"
}
output {
  "topic": "design-and-details",
  "content": "# Design & Details (Coach Reference)\n\nHow to help couples create a wedding that feels cohesive and personal — the look,\nfeel and atmosphere — rather than a collection of nice-but-unrelated bits. This is\nPhase 3 territory (after the venue and key suppliers are booked). The central\ninsight from professional designers: **start with feeling, not theme.**\n\n## Start with feeling, not a literal theme\n\nMost couples pick a colour and scatter it everywhere, or latch onto a literal theme\n(\"Great Gatsby\", \"rustic barn\") and stamp it on every surface — which tends to look\nforced or cheap. Coach them away from that. The goal: a guest walks in and thinks\n\"this just feels like *them*\", without being able to point at a single \"theme\"\nobject. Subtlety reads as sophistication.\n\nIf they have a meaningful inspiration (say, where they met), translate its\n*essence* into palette, materials and small touches — not literal props.\n\n## The sensory exercise (the best tool here)\n\nColour is only one dimension. Ask about all the senses — it pulls a scattered\nPinterest board into a coherent direction:\n\n- **Texture:** heavy/rich (velvet, brocade → opulent, dramatic), light/airy\n  (chiffon, organza → romantic, ethereal), natural/raw (linen, wood, stone →\n  organic, relaxed), or sleek (glass, marble, chrome → modern, architectural).\n  Texture preference reveals more than colour: velvet-and-candlelight and\n  glass-and-clean-lines are completely different weddings even if both picked\n  \"emerald green\".\n- **Scent** (the most emotional sense): herbal, citrus, floral, warm/spiced, or\n  green/outdoorsy — guides flowers, candles, even the cocktail menu.\n- **Sound, taste, touch:** string quartet or DJ? canapés or sharing platters?\n  crisp white linen or soft cotton? gilt chairs or hay bales?\n\nA single strong sensory answer (e.g. \"soft textures, warm scent, low light\") often\n*is* the design direction, whatever colour they land on.\n\n## Working with colour\n\n- Be braver than the default \"[colour] + ivory\". Use the colour wheel:\n  **complementary** (opposite — energy/contrast, e.g. deep blue + burnt orange),\n  **analogous** (adjacent — harmony, e.g. sage + seafoam + pale blue), or\n  **monochromatic** (shades of one colour — striking when done well).\n- Draw inspiration from interiors, fashion, art, travel and nature rather than\n  wedding media (which follows narrow trends — interiors trends tend to show up at\n  weddings 12–18 months later).\n- **Research the venue before fixing the palette.** Wall colours/finishes,\n  flooring, fixtures (beams, chandeliers, stained glass) and natural light all\n  change how a colour reads — a scheme that clashes with the room is a costly\n  mistake. Visit at the wedding's time of day, and ask the coordinator what works\n  in their space (free expert advice).\n\n## Sequence matters\n\nDon't let couples lock a theme before they have a venue — they'll spend months\nforcing ideas into a space and budget that don't fit. The professional order:\n\n1. Book the venue (it dictates architecture, scale, light, atmosphere).\n2. Meet key suppliers (florist, caterer, stylist) for what works there and in season.\n3. *Then* develop the theme around reality.\n4. **Thread it through every element** for cohesion: stationery, flowers, table\n   settings, cake, food/drink, and personal details (ties, accessories, shoes).\n   Consistency is what separates a designed wedding from a pile of nice things.\n\n## The design brief (give every supplier the same vision)\n\nCoach the couple to write a one-page brief and share it with florist, caterer, cake\nmaker, stationer — everyone touching the look. It saves money and prevents the\nmuddle of sending each supplier different Pinterest links. Include: 3–5 feeling\nwords (\"warm, intimate, candlelit, organic\"); a palette of ≤3–4 colours (one\ndominant, 2–3 accents); key textures/materials; photos of the actual venue spaces;\nseasonal notes (blooms, light, indoor/outdoor); budget parameters; and 5–10 mood\nimages (chosen for feeling, not specific items).\n\n## Threaded elements — quick coaching notes\n\nThese each have full cost data in `supplier-booking.md`/`wedding-stats-2026.md` and\ndeep articles via `article-index.md`; here, focus on the *design* angle:\n\n- **Flowers:** in-season blooms are dramatically cheaper and look right for the\n  date — ask the florist what's seasonal (peonies are cheap in June, costly imports\n  in December). Greenery/foliage stretches a floral budget; repurpose ceremony\n  arrangements at the reception.\n- **Cake:** style and presentation should echo the palette/textures; serving it as\n  dessert saves a course and means it gets eaten (44% of couples use a designer;\n  average ~£360–£395).\n- **Stationery:** the first and last touchpoint of the theme (save-the-dates →\n  order of service, menus, place cards, table plan). Digital or\n  website-led options cut cost sharply.\n- **Favours & gifts, table settings, lighting:** small consistent touches in the\n  palette do more than one expensive installation.\n\n## Budget reality & evaluating ideas\n\nProp-heavy looks (suspended florals, neon, custom builds, lounge furniture) run\ninto the thousands — budget honestly if that's the goal. Otherwise reassure: a\nconsistent palette + good flowers + **candlelight** creates atmosphere as well as\nany installation, far more cheaply. Cost-effective levers: candles, greenery,\nthe venue's own draping, sentimental personal items, dimmed/uplit ambient lighting.\n\nWhen evaluating any design idea (or pushing back on one from family), use practical\nquestions, not taste: **Is it safe?** (flames near fabric, slip/trip hazards,\noverhead installs) **Will it fit the venue?** (doors, ceiling, fire exits) **What's\nthe trade-off?** (\"that £2,000 arch is the evening band, or 4 hours of\nphotography\") **Is it logistically feasible?** (who sets it up, how long, does it\nsurvive the weather). \"I think that's a fire risk with the draping\" is a\nconversation; \"I don't like it\" is an argument.\n\n## Sources\n\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/professional/pro-creating-wedding-theme-sensory-design.md`,\nplus category professional guides (flowers/seasonal, cake, stationery,\nentertainment) via `article-index.md` under Flowers & Decor, Food & Drink,\nStationery, Entertainment & Music.\n",
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      "title": "Creating Your Wedding Theme: A Sensory Design Approach to Atmosphere and Style"
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      "slug": "pro-wedding-flowers-seasonal-guide",
      "title": "Wedding Flowers by Season: The Complete Guide to Bouquets, Buttonholes and Floral Styling"
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    {
      "slug": "digest-decor-flowers-ideas",
      "title": "Decor, Flowers & Styling Ideas"
    }
  ]
}
Turn 11typed a message
Given all that, what should we do first?

Your next step is Begin Exploring Venues! The venue fixes your date, capacity, catering options and much of the style, so it’s the decision that makes the rest of the budget easier to judge. Use your 60 guests and £18,000 total budget as filters, then save a small shortlist rather than trying to choose immediately.

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getUpcomingTaskAdvice
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    {
      "taskGroup": "c4bacd65-bbfd-4918-90af-7cc55dd40ec5",
      "taskGroupTitle": "Begin Exploring Venues!",
      "intro": "Nothing gets you into the wedding planning mood like taking a look at some of the stunning venues available to couples in your area. From rustic barns to modern warehouses, there's sure to be something that tickles your fancy. Go on, take a peak!",
      "period": "Aug 2026",
      "monthsBeforeWedding": 10,
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          "id": "059a1cab-6a79-4b2a-b5ac-be5ab6984fd1",
          "name": "The first step is always the venue, so get into the wedding zone by browsing some of our favourites! Our <Link to='/advice' name='Advice' /> section is a great place to start too.",
          "done": false
        },
        {
          "id": "247345f3-26a7-4732-b4bf-c2b22b6b1ec8",
          "name": "Familiarise yourself with our <Link to='/search' slug='venue' name='Search' /> tool, and take advantage of the different filters available.",
          "done": false
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          "id": "e081f485-1012-40bc-ba0e-d6d1e1926f6a",
          "name": "Start saving your favourites in your Shortlist! Don't worry, just ideas is a good place to start for now.",
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        }
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      "advice": [
        {
          "slug": "pro-venue-selection-expert-guide",
          "articleTitle": "Venue Selection: The Expert Guide to Finding Your Perfect Wedding Venue",
          "contentLayer": "professional",
          "excerpt": "Your venue sets the tone for everything -- the atmosphere, the menu, the decor, even what your guests wear. It is likely the single biggest decision (and biggest expense) of your wedding planning, so it pays to approach it methodically. This guide gives you the professional framework that wedding planners use to evaluate venues, adapted so you can do it yourselves.",
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          "slug": "pro-creating-wedding-theme-sensory-design",
          "articleTitle": "Creating Your Wedding Theme: A Sensory Design Approach to Atmosphere and Style",
          "contentLayer": "professional",
          "excerpt": "Most couples approach wedding themes the wrong way. They pick a colour, scatter it across everything, and hope for the best. Or they latch onto a literal theme -- \"rustic barn,\" \"Great Gatsby,\" \"winter wonderland\" -- and try to stamp it onto every surface. The result often feels forced, disconnected, or like a party supply shop exploded.\n\nProfessional wedding designers take a different approach. They start with feeling, not theme. They think about atmosphere, not decoration. And they use all five senses -- not just sight -- to create a wedding that feels genuinely immersive and personal.\n\nThis…",
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      "why": "The venue is the decision everything else hangs off — it fixes your date, your capacity, your catering options and half your style, and the good ones are booked a year or more ahead."
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  "why": "The venue is the decision everything else hangs off — it fixes your date, your capacity, your catering options and half your style, and the good ones are booked a year or more ahead.",
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      "groupName": "Start Your Guest List"
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      "groupName": "Outline Your Budget"
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Turn 12typed a message
What is a realistic per-head catering figure for 60?

For your plan, the current catering allowance is £4,370, or about £73 per guest for food and drink. That’s a sensible starting point for 60 guests, but it will be tight if it includes a full bar, canapés, three courses and evening food.

Bridebook’s 2026 UK average for reception catering is £5,406, which would be about £90 per guest at your numbers. When comparing venues, check exactly what the quote includes: drinks, canapés, evening food, VAT, service charge and corkage. Your combined venue plus catering allowance is £10,520, or about £175 per guest, so a venue with a stronger catering package may still work even if its headline hire fee is higher.

Tools, cost and writes
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getBudgetBreakdown
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output {
  "result": {
    "projected": true,
    "currency": "GBP",
    "target": 18000,
    "totalEstimate": 18000,
    "totalActual": 0,
    "assumptions": {
      "theirs": {
        "guests": 60
      },
      "stoodIn": [
        "weekday and season"
      ],
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        "liveband",
        "entertainment",
        "planners",
        "Insurance",
        "stationery"
      ]
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        "share": "25%",
        "estimate": 4370,
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getCoachReference
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output {
  "topic": "budget",
  "content": "# Budget (Coach Reference)\n\nHow to help a couple set, allocate, protect, and stretch their wedding budget,\nusing real 2026 UK figures. The budget isn't a constraint — it's the\ndecision-making framework. Once a couple knows what they have, every other choice\ngets easier. Lead with that framing.\n\n## Setting the budget (do this before booking anything)\n\n1. What can they genuinely afford from savings — without touching the emergency\n   fund or taking on painful debt.\n2. Family contributions — have the conversation *early* and get a **specific\n   number**, not \"we'll help out\". 29% of total UK wedding spend now comes from\n   family.\n3. Savings + confirmed contributions = total working budget.\n4. Add a **5–10% contingency**. Unexpected costs always arise.\n\n## What UK weddings actually cost (2026)\n\n- **Average spend: £20,604** (excl. honeymoon and engagement rings); **£25,815**\n  including them.\n- The spread is huge — ~25% spend under £10,000, ~25% spend over £26,000, 10%\n  over £35,000. Don't anchor a couple to the average; anchor to *their* number.\n- Gen Z spend ~12% less on average (£18,485 vs £21,016), mostly via midweek dates.\n- Regional: London highest, South East/South West above average, Scotland rising;\n  the North, Wales and Northern Ireland below average.\n\nUse these to reassure (\"plenty of couples have a lovely wedding for £12k\") or to\nreality-check (\"£8k for 150 guests in London will need real trade-offs — let's\nlook at the levers\").\n\n## Allocation framework\n\nStandard planner percentages as a *starting point*, then adjust to priorities.\nEvery time you raise one category, lower another — the total doesn't change.\n\n| Category | Suggested % | On £20,000 |\n|---|---|---|\n| Reception (venue + catering) | 45% | £9,000 |\n| Photography / Videography | 10% | £2,000 |\n| Dress / suits | 8% | £1,600 |\n| Entertainment | 7% | £1,400 |\n| Florist | 5% | £1,000 |\n| Ceremony | 3% | £600 |\n| Stationery | 3% | £600 |\n| Cake | 2% | £400 |\n| Transport | 2% | £400 |\n| Hair / makeup | 1% | £200 |\n| Rings, favours, gifts, other | ~14% | £2,800 |\n\nCommon adjustments: music lovers push entertainment to 10–12%; photography-first\ncouples push that to 12–15%; foodies load the catering. Always rebalance, never\ninflate the total.\n\n> If the couple has a live Bridebook budget, use *their* personalised allocation\n> (which varies by budget tier, guest count, day and season) rather than these\n> generic percentages. Venue + catering typically run 50–55% of the real budget.\n\n## The two biggest levers\n\n**Guest count** is the most powerful variable after total budget. Every extra\nguest adds catering, drinks, favours, stationery and seating. Cutting 20 guests\nfrom a 120-person wedding can save £1,500–£3,000. Combined venue + catering median\nis **£117.10 per head** (up 23% year on year). Cost per head falls as numbers\nrise, but the total still climbs — fewer guests is the cleanest saving. UK couples\nare already inviting ~11% fewer guests than in 2024.\n\n**Day and season.** Off-peak months (Oct–Apr) can cut venue costs by up to 40%\n(Jan–Feb cheapest). Weekday weddings save significantly; Sunday sits in between.\nThis is how couples have kept venue+catering spend roughly flat despite per-head\nrises — flex the date before cutting the vision.\n\n## Saving strategies that actually work\n\n- **Guest count and date first** (above) — biggest impact, least compromise.\n- **Cake as dessert** — removes a separate dessert course, and the cake gets eaten.\n- **Cocktail-style reception** instead of a formal sit-down can be much cheaper.\n- **Limit the bar** — welcome drink, wine with the meal, toast drink, then cash bar.\n- **In-season flowers** — peonies in June are cheap; in December they're imported\n  and costly. Ask the florist what's in season on the date.\n- **Use the venue's existing features** rather than hiring decor to cover them.\n- **Repurpose ceremony flowers** at the reception.\n- **Digital invitations** (or physical invites with details pushed to a wedding\n  website) cut stationery sharply.\n\nFor category-specific saving tips, the knowledge base has a \"How to save money\non [X]\" article for almost every category — find it via `article-index.md`.\n\n## Hidden costs to build in from day one\n\nThese are what catch couples out — name them early so they're not a nasty surprise.\n\n- **Service charge / gratuities:** many venues add 10–15%.\n- **Corkage:** £5–£15 per bottle if you bring your own drinks.\n- **Overtime:** running past the agreed finish is often charged at 1.5–2× rate.\n- **Venue extras:** chair covers, linen, lighting, sound — often not in the base fee.\n- **Dress alterations:** £200–£500. **Hair/makeup trials:** £50–£150.\n- **Supplier travel/accommodation and meals** for remote venues or full-day suppliers.\n- **Admin:** marriage certificate copies, name-change fees.\n\n## Family contributions — protect the relationships\n\nAssign each contributor's money to a **specific supplier or category** (\"Mum and\nDad are covering the flowers and cake\") rather than a vague pot (\"the reception\").\nWhen people fund a specific element, their input naturally stays contained to\nthat element — this preserves the couple's creative control while making\ncontributors feel valued. Keep them updated on \"their\" supplier, top up quietly if\ntheir amount doesn't cover the full cost, and never compare one contributor's\namount to another's. (Family/money tension is one of the most common stress\npoints — see the escalation note in SKILL.md.)\n\n## Monthly check-in\n\nWhen coaching budget over time: total spent vs budget on track? New quotes\nlogged? Deposits due this month? Are overspends in one area offset by savings\nelsewhere? Is the contingency intact?\n\n## Per-supplier average spend (2026 UK)\n\nUse these to answer \"is this a fair price?\" and to ground trade-offs. Full table\nand durations in `wedding-stats-2026.md`; key ones: venue hire £6,040 (excl.\ncatering), reception catering £5,406, photographer £1,484 (full day averages\n£2,024), dress £1,532, florist £1,187, reception music £1,061, cake £360.\n\n## Sources\n\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/professional/pro-budget-management-guide.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/tools/tool-wedding-budget-breakdown-guide.md`,\n`references/knowledge-base/articles/reports/report-2026-wedding-costs-breakdown.md`.\n",
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      "slug": "the-ultimate-wedding-budget-breakdown",
      "title": "Wedding Budget Breakdown: How to Allocate Your Wedding Budget"
    },
    {
      "slug": "pro-budget-management-guide",
      "title": "Professional Budget Management Guide: How to Plan, Track, and Control Your Wedding Spending"
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      "title": "Wedding Etiquette: Who (Traditionally) Pays For What?"
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