Wedding Costs Couples Forget to Budget for!
It's no secret that weddings are an expensive event. While most couples want the big expensive wedding, others don't and would actually rather put the money towards a house deposit or a holiday!
Yes, sticking to a budget is very important no matter how big or small that budget is, but it's extremely important to stick to your budget when you don't have the extra cash to fall back on.
So, to help you stay within your wedding budget I'm going to share with you our top wedding costs couples forget to budget for. Make sure that you include these costs in your wedding budget so there are no nasty surprises!
Postage:
Most couples tend to focus more on what kind of wedding invitations and save the dates they would like, they forget about how these are going to get out to their guests. Postage stamps are around $1.10 each, but the cost will depend son the thickness, weight and size of your invites, they can sometimes go up to $5.50 per invite, which can come up to quite a few hundred dollars. This may seem like a small expense now but these small costs all add up.
Undergarments:
When brides are looking for their dress they are more focused about what kind of jewellery they want, what kind of shoes they want to wear and what their hair and makeup is going to look like with the dress. Most brides completely forget about what kind of undergarments they need with the dress. Undergarments can be an expensive cost that average around $200-300
Hair and Makeup Trials:
Brides can sometimes have around 2 hair and makeup trials, to find what kind of style they want and what will work best with any veils or headpieces they’ve purchased. Trials can be around about $380 each and once you've had 2 trials work out what style you want it can come up to a few hundred dollars.
Stationery:
When I say stationery I don't mean invitations as such, I'm talking about envelopes, RSVP's, maps, stickers etc. These are also added costs!
Alterations:
Every bride is different and has a different body shape and a different style of dress they want. An off the rack dress may require some alterations and this may not be included in it's price. So, if you're about to go wedding dress shopping and you've got a budget of $2,500 I suggest that you spend $2,000 on your dress as alterations can sometimes be around the $500 mark.
Feeding Your Vendors:
Your vendors such as your wedding coordinator, photographer, videographer, DJ and MC are there for you most of the day. It is polite to feed them. If you're going to feed them make sure you include them in your guest numbers or inform your venue you have X amount of vendors that require meals. Today, most venues have a clause in their contract about feeding vendors. Vendors work on the go the entire day without breaks, feeding them is just your way of saying how much you appreciate their hard work 🖤
Delivery Fees & Bump in Fees:
Delivery and bump in (set up) may not be included in your wedding cake, flowers, marquee, or any decor you're getting delivered. It is worth paying extra to get these items delivered and set up. It’s worth the peace of mind!
Uninvited Guests:
You may have at least one of your guests that will turn up with their partner, brother, sister or even their cat to your wedding, or maybe that cousin who said they couldn’t come has just turned up.
Hotel Costs:
If you're a traditional bride to be and don't want to see your fiancee the night before your wedding, then be sure budget for a hotel. If you’re also wanting that extra special touch for the wedding night, you’ll need to budget for a hotel as well.
When you're setting your wedding budget It’s a good idea to slightly overestimate how much you are actually going to spend and how much you're prepared to spend. Give your budget a little bit of leeway so when you do come across an unexpected cost you do have that set aside in your budget that you can play with.
Happy Wedding Planning xx