It’s no secret that weddings can be expensive. But even after budgeting for the big-ticket items, many couples are surprised by the hidden and forgotten wedding costs. From thank-you cards to taxes, there are a lot of little expenses that can add up quickly.

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most common hidden and forgotten wedding costs. We’ll also provide tips on how to budget for them effectively.

Easy-to-miss & Forgotten Wedding Costs

The main items and parts of the wedding are usually budgeted for, the dress, venue, food and drink, but what are the things that couples usually forget to budget for –

Insurance

Your wedding could be one of the most expensive things you ever pay for, so it is worth having insurance in case something goes wrong. Wedding insurance can cover a variety of unexpected problems, from bad weather to supplier cancellations.

Before purchasing a policy, be sure to read the fine print carefully. Some policies only cover certain types of events, and some have exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

Contingency Fund

Typical projects go around 10% over the original budget. Weddings typically go much further and doubling your original estimate is not unusual.

From the start decide what is important to you both and split your budget accordingly.

Those Little Things

Larger things once booked sometimes have smaller things that need arrange and also need paying for.

If you are getting married in a church, remember, that you will have to pay extra for an organist, a bell ringer, or a choir.

Beauty Treatments

The bride is not the only one who needs to look her best on the big day. Grooms often get their hair cut and styled, and they may also want to get a manicure and pedicure.

And if you have bridesmaids, you may be expected to pay for their hair and make-up too. 100% recommend getting in the pros if your budget allows it, so to make sure it does, factor it in from day 1.

Don’t forget to budget for these little extras!

Hotel Accommodation

Hotel Accommodation

You’ve budgeted for the venue, the room for your wedding night, the honeymoon, but what about an early flight it might mean an extra night near your airport?

Think about arrangements for your wedding party too. Make sure this is clearly communicated are you paying for the Best Man’s room or is he?

Service Charges, Tips and VAT

Double-check all your agreements and contracts with suppliers and venues to make sure you’re aware of costs that don’t appear on your bills.

Don’t build a budget based on quotes, think about VAT and enquire about service charges, especially from your venue.

Make sure your wedding venue (or caterer) includes the service charge in the bill. It can be an unpleasant surprise to have another 12.5% added to your bill at the last minute.

Don’t forget about corkage fees. Even if you found alcohol on a massive bargain, it may not make a difference when you consider how much the venue will charge you for serving it.

Delivery Fees.

Don’t forget any delivery costs. Some florists, cake makers, etc. will charge a fee when delivering to your venue or where you are getting ready.
Supplier Meals

Provide nourishment for your wedding team: photographer, videographer, entertainer, band or DJ.

They won’t be expecting the same meal as your guests necessarily but check their contracts, as some do stipulate hot meals especially if they will be there all day.

Over-time Costs

Some suppliers will be lenient and hang about should your day go slightly off course (as weddings normally do).

Time is money! Some suppliers may be booked for a specific length of time or charge by the hour – check your contracts!

In any case, make sure you stick to your time plan (i.e don’t be late for your ceremony!) or be prepared to pay your photographer over-time costs.

Dress Alterations

After much deliberation you have found your perfect wedding dress, the budget is set, and the one you fall in love with comes in under budget, happy days!

So you then go ahead and order that expensive tiara and designer shoes. Yeah, budget met! But slow down, last-minute wedding nerves leaves you a couple of inches short on your waist and you need last-minute alterations!

Bridal Party Gifts

The chances are you have been thinking of this from the getgo, but chances are you left them off your budget spreadsheet! Even if you’re just getting bouquets for your mums and maids, they can run up a hefty cost, so be prepared and plan ahead!

Postage Costs

Posting your invites and thank you cards actually can cost the thick end of £100 – so make sure you account for it in your budget!

Post Wedding Costs

There are often a few loose ends to tie up, and one that many people forget to factor in is wedding dress cleaning and storage options.
Budget in any post-wedding spending, for example, dry cleaning the wedding dress, thank you notes, a wedding album etc.

Include Yourselves

The most important people and such an easy mistake – always remember to count yourselves in head counts! You’d be surprised how many times couples don’t count themselves in the final figures!

When it comes to wedding costs, it’s often the hidden and forgotten costs that can really add up. From service charges and tips, to delivery fees and over-time costs, there are a lot of potential expenses that you may not be aware of.