We all know how important it is to stick to your wedding budget. So, to help you make sure your wedding budget is absolutely accurate, here are some unexpected wedding costs that you may not be aware of.
While these costs aren't huge on their own, forgetting to budget for £30 here and £50 there, and so on, will quickly add up. So, to make sure your wedding budget is as true to reality as possible, here we have 16 wedding costs you need to be aware of, from surprising extras to easy-to-overlook essentials.
Extra Supplier Costs
You'll want to ensure your suppliers are well looked after on your wedding day. So, it's worthwhile remembering that they'll probably need some food, drink and (depending on where they are based) their travel costs covered. For example, your photographer will be working long hours and likely be on their feet for most of the day, so they may ask for a meal to be provided to keep them going. If they do require refreshments, you'll need to let your caterer know in advance.
If you are unsure about what the cost of these extras will amount to, before you book and put your deposit down on any suppliers, check where they’re based and how much they'll charge for travel, whether they'd like a meal and whether there are any other additional expenses you'll need to be aware of just so you have a really clear picture of what's needed and can work it into your budget.
Extra Venue Costs
When choosing your wedding venue, it's worth remembering that tailored and personalised packages will have some wonderful extras that may come at an additional cost. As a rule of thumb, we always recommend that you read your contract carefully to see if there are any potential extra charges that can put your agreed price up. For example, some venues will have a fee for any suppliers that you use who are not on their approved list.
Other costs can include additional security, cleaning costs, increased hire costs for after midnight and cloakroom staff. Your venue will want to ensure you don't get caught out and over spend, so they will be happy to talk you through any additional costs. Just ask about them during your showround or in one of your planning meetings.
Postage
You have all your invitations paid for, beautifully written, addressed and ready to go. You may have had a stationery budget, but more than likely you have forgotten to add in the stamps! When it comes to wedding stationery, it's all too easy to forget the cost of postage. Depending on the number of invites you're sending, the weight and whether you are sending overseas, your stamps could end up bumping up your stationery budget more than you thought! Speak to your stationer about the estimated weight and size of your invitations so you can ensure you budget for the correct postage.
Hair and Makeup Trials
You've put the cost of a hairstylist and makeup artist into your budget - but have you remembered to include the cost of additional trials? Trials are absolutely necessary to ensure you are completely happy with your wedding look. Many artists will include the cost of one trial in their quotations prior to booking. As a trial involves using their time, expertise and products, many make-up and hair artists will also charge for any additional trials that you need. While we always recommend communicating well with your artist and preparing for your trials in advance, you may not find your perfect look on the first time. So, we recommend keeping some funds aside just incase you need more than one trail.
Plus, if you don't end up needing it, you can always spend your additional funds on some luxurious beauty treatments before your wedding!
Wedding Insurance
Don’t forget your wedding insurance! You want to be covered for all potential scenarios so this little extra cost could save you a lot of money if things go wrong. After all, you wouldn't spend £10,000 on a holiday and not get travel insurance! Check exactly what each policy covers before making your choice - you want the most comprehensive policy your budget allows. On average, most couples only have to spend around £100 on wedding insurance so it's a worthwhile, minor cost!
Alterations and Accessories
Your alterations may be included in the cost of your wedding outfits. However, unless you're going fully bespoke, wedding dresses and suits often need some professional alterations for a perfect fit. So, make sure you have built alterations into your budget or contingency funds. Your boutique or tailor will either be able to help you with the alterations in house or give you a recommendation of an alterations specialist who can assist you. Where they do this in house or work with a specific supplier, they may also be able to give you an idea of price!
Also, don't forget to budget for your outfit accessories. Many couples budget for the key items (i.e. dress and suits), but don't forget about the other important aspects of your wedding outfits, such as underwear, jewellery, fragrance, hair accessories and shoes!
Pre-Wedding Treatments
While you may have set money aside for your professional hair and makeup on the wedding day, remember to keep in mind any pre-wedding beauty treatments you may want to indulge in. This includes everything from facials, dedicated skin care and laser treatments to spray tans, teeth whitening and waxing. In the final run-up to the wedding, you may also be getting last-minute beauty treatments done. For example, hair colour, eyebrows, lashes, hair extensions and mani/pedi appointments. So, choose your salon well in advance so that you can easily build these costs into your budget.
Wedding Party Gifts
As well as potentially paying for their outfits, there may be extra wedding party treats, such as 'Will you be my bridesmaid?' proposal gifts or getting-ready robes to consider. Also, after a year or so of planning and prep with your wedding party, it's a lovely gesture to give them something to say thank you for all their hard work. Of course, don’t forget to budget something in for your parents or anyone who has helped significantly. It doesn't have to be costly, the emphasis should be on remembering them!
Additional Meals
If you're spending the wedding morning at a hotel or in self-catering accommodation, you'll definitely need some food to keep you going. You’ll also need provisions for anyone getting ready with you. And then, of course, there's your newlywed breakfast the next day. Whether you're planning a romantic brunch or a hungover get-together with your guests, make sure you add the costs of this to your budget.
Additional Ceremony Fees
Whatever type of wedding ceremony you're having, there may well be some costs you haven't considered yet. For a civil ceremony, for example, you have to pay to give notice, as well as for registrars' fees and the cost of any copies of the wedding certificate you need. At a church wedding, there's a set fee, but you may want extras such as an organist, bellringer or choir on top of this. We recommend speaking to your officiant about these costs to make sure you've budgeted enough for them.
Don't forget: if one or both of you plans on a change of surname, there may be associated costs there too!
Additional Transport
Be very clear in advance about how your wedding party is getting to the venue, particularly if you're not getting ready together. You may have a specific vehicle ready for you, but you need to budget in the cost of getting the rest of the wedding party to the venue on time. Also, while you’re generally not responsible for how guests get to and from your wedding, you may choose to provide transport, such as a coach, if moving guests from one location to another. Plan out exactly what you need and include these costs into your budget.
Top tip: In your contingency funds, make sure you have enough money for a taxi to and from the venue in case anyone in your wedding party experiences a breakdown. While it may not be needed, you'll know that you have a back-up plan if the worst happens!
Corkage and Cakeage
Another unexpected cost to be aware of is corkage and cakeage. If you are opting to bring in your own wine or champagne, corkage is usually discussed with your venue in the beginning. Be sure to find out what the exact charge is before you buy your drinks and make the final decision on whether to supply this aspect yourself. Also, some venues charge a cakeage fee if you're having a wedding cake not made by their in-house or preferred caterers. Again though, this fee is usually discussed upon initial meetings and before you agree your package.
Extra Little Details
The little touches are what make a wedding and there are all kinds of little details available to you. We recommend keeping some budget aside for those unexpected purchases and small additional details as you probably won't know about most of them when you start planning! You never know what gorgeous venue decor or unique elements that you could discover you want halfway through planning and it would be a shame for you to miss out due to not including it in the budget.
Remember, if you don't spend these contingency funds, they are a brilliant bonus for your honeymoon or to spend on your home after you are married.
Outfit Dry Cleaning and Storage
Want to keep hold of your wedding outfit? Chances are, after many hours of celebrations, you'll need to have it dry cleaned! Also, you’ll need a plan for storing it. There are many different storage solutions, but these may come at a cost. Speak to your tailor or bridal wear stockist, they will be able to advise you on the best ways to store and care for your wedding outfits and may even be able to provide the necessary equipment or specialist storage boxes for them.
Thank-You Cards
After the big day, you'll want to thank all your guests for joining you on your special day. If you are having a bespoke stationery suite made, you can get some 'Thank You' notes made ahead of time. Depending on the size of your guest list, this is something that can really add up. Don't forget, this adds another round of postage to your budget! The likelihood is though, these will be a small and simple card , so you shouldn't need to worry about weight unless you are also providing a gift.
Wedding Planner or Coordinator
If wedding planning starts to get on top of you, there's always the option of hiring a wedding planner - or an on-the-day coordinator. A planner can massively lower your stress levels and while they may seem like an additional cost, they can actually save you money in the long run! They'll know about all of these unexpected costs as well as have the connections and the knowledge to negotiate on prices. The sooner you bring your wedding planner into the picture, the more likely they'll be able to help you save on certain costs. If you want to go without initially, it may be worth building this in to the contingency fund in case you decide to bring in assistance later.
This list of hidden costs may seem long and overwhelming - don't worry! Many of these costs will not increase your wedding budget significantly at all! Simply being aware of these unexpected wedding costs is more helpful to avoid adding any extra stress to your wedding plan when you come across an unexpected fee.