Throughout the years of being wedding planners and coordinators, one of the conversations we’ve had with brides who end up hiring us closer to the wedding day is how they had established a budget, had seen a list provided in social media, or by a friend that had a list of what they need for a wedding and yet there were things not on the list that they ended up spending on. Which also meant they had blown their budget.
The truth is that many of those lists you find are a point of starting and not a complete list. Every wedding is different, and the lists will vary. However, there are a few hidden costs that should not remain hidden since they affect the overall budget.
The first hidden cost is the wedding dress alterations and extras. Many brides walk into the wedding dress shopping experience thinking that they have a budget in place for the wedding gown, forgetting that headpiece(s), undergarments, shoes, alterations, adding a bustle, and steaming can at times double the cost. Most of the alterations include hemming the length of the dress, changing the back from zipper to corset lace-up, adding chest support, and either taking in or letting out the waistline. According to The Know Real Weddings Study, the average cost of a wedding dress was about $2000. If you have an elaborate gown with lace detailing, horsehair, rhinestones, or more, we suggest setting aside $3000-$4000 for your wedding dress budget.
Another hidden cost that many couples get hit with is event insurance. Nowadays, many venues are requiring couples to purchase event insurance. This cost will vary based on the city and location of your venue, whether it is indoors or outdoors, and if alcohol is being served. The best way to allocate that to your budget is to once you have booked your venue, call an insurance company that provides event insurance and get a quote. That way you can add it to your budget.
Another hidden cost that couples forget to allocate money for in their budget is vendor meals. Many vendors who are working the day of your wedding will have it in their contracts that you must provide meals for their staff. When speaking with your caterer, make sure that you are delivering those numbers with your total guest counts. Many caterers will have an extra fee if meals must be added at the last minute.
Another fee that brides tend to forget is the cost of hair and makeup trials. Some stylists will create packages for the day off for the bride and her entourage, but the fee for the trial before that day is a different cost. Sometimes if you book special packages, they will include one free trial for the bride, but if you want to see a style on one of your bridesmaids, it will cost extra. Same with the makeup.
One of the fees that seem to surprise couples is the food-tasting fees. Some caterers will allow you to taste for free a specific number of items from their menu. If you change your options and want to schedule a second tasting, be prepared to pay a fee. Other caterers will charge a fee for the food tasting that can be later applied to the overall contract if you decide to go for that caterer.
The last of the hidden wedding costs that we have seen surprise couples are the wedding printouts. Anything that has to do with invitations, seating charts, programs, menus, etc. Most couples budget for the invitations and forget about the other printing needs.
Our suggestion to avoid these hidden costs? Hire a wedding planner who will help you create a realistic budget and who will help you find vendors that fit your budget and will alert you of extra costs that you might miss.
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