Planning a wedding is an exciting journey filled with dreams of beautiful venues, stunning outfits, and memorable moments. While most couples focus on big-ticket items like the venue, catering, and attire, it's often the smaller, hidden costs that can catch you off guard. These overlooked expenses can add stress to your planning process and potentially push you over budget. To help you stay prepared, here are 15 wedding costs that couples commonly forget to budget for—along with practical tips to manage them effectively.
1. Postage
When sending out your save-the-dates, invitations, and thank you cards, postage costs can quickly add up. If your invitations are bulky or oversized, you may also need to pay extra postage fees. Additionally, consider the cost of postage for RSVP cards if you’re including them with your invitations.
2. Wedding Insurance
While no one wants to think about things going wrong on their wedding day, wedding insurance is a smart investment. It can cover everything from venue cancellations to supplier no-shows. However, this is an often-overlooked expense when planning a wedding budget.
3. VAT
Many wedding suppliers, especially in the UK, quote prices excluding VAT. When you receive the final bill, the addition of 20% VAT can come as a shock. Make sure to clarify whether VAT is included in the initial quotes to avoid unpleasant surprises.
4. Ceremony & Legal Admin
Whether you’re having a religious or civil ceremony, there are often fees involved for the officiant, marriage licence, and any necessary legal documentation. These costs vary depending on your location and the type of ceremony you choose.
5. Supplier Travel Expenses
If your wedding is in a remote location or your suppliers are travelling a considerable distance, you may be asked to cover their travel expenses. This could include mileage, fuel costs, and even overnight accommodation if needed.
6. Late Finishes
Venues and suppliers often have set time limits, and if your celebrations run over, you might face extra charges. Check your contracts for overtime fees and factor this into your budget, particularly if you’re planning a lively party that could go on late into the night.
7. Wedding Cake Extras
While the cake itself might fit neatly into your budget, there can be hidden costs for things like cutting and serving fees, delivery charges, or even additional design elements that weren’t part of your original quote. Be sure to ask your baker about any potential extra costs.
8. Delivery and Set Up Fees
Many suppliers, including florists, rental companies, and caterers, may charge additional fees for delivering and setting up items at your venue. These costs are often not included in the initial quote and can vary depending on the complexity of the setup and the distance involved.
9. Wedding Outfit Alterations
Your dream wedding attire may need alterations to achieve the perfect fit, and these costs can vary widely. Budget for potential tailoring expenses for both the bride and groom, as well as for bridesmaids and groomsmen if you're covering their costs.
10. Beauty Trials
Most brides plan for hair and makeup on the wedding day but forget to budget for the trial sessions beforehand. Trials are important to ensure your look is exactly what you envision, but they often come with an additional fee.
11. Wedding Transport
While you may have accounted for your own transportation to the venue, don’t forget about transport for the wedding party and potentially even guests. Coach hire, shuttles, or additional taxis can increase costs, especially if your venue is in a remote location.
12. Wedding Party Gifts
It’s traditional to give thank you gifts to your bridal party, parents, and anyone else who helped with your big day. These tokens of appreciation can add up quickly, so make sure to include them in your budget.
13. Outfit Dry Cleaning and Storage
After the wedding, you may want to preserve your dress or store other special outfits. Professional dry cleaning and storage solutions can be costly but are worth it to keep your attire in pristine condition.
14. Breakages
Accidents happen, and if anything is broken, lost, or damaged during your wedding, you may need to cover the costs. This could include venue property, rented items, or even glassware and tableware used by your guests.
15. Thank You Cards & Gifts
Once the celebrations are over, it’s thoughtful to send thank you cards to guests and suppliers. Budget for stationery, postage, and possibly small thank you gifts to show your appreciation.
Conclusion
Planning a wedding involves juggling many moving parts, and it’s easy to overlook some of the smaller expenses. By keeping these often-forgotten costs in mind, you can avoid surprises and ensure your wedding budget remains on track. A well-prepared budget will help reduce stress and allow you to focus on enjoying your big day, knowing that every detail has been thoughtfully planned.
