Build one planning source of truth
Budget, guest count and vendor commitments affect each other. Keeping them in one workbook reduces the common problem of a guest list changing without the catering or budget plan being updated.
Track committed versus paid
Booked cost and cash already paid are different. The dashboard separates committed spend, paid spend and remaining committed obligations so upcoming cash needs stay visible.
Use RSVP counts for operational planning
Track invited and attending counts separately. Pending RSVPs should not be treated as confirmed headcount for final catering or seating decisions.
Keep vendor next actions visible
A vendor directory is more useful when it includes the next deliverable and due date, not just contact information.