Watch Out For These Hidden Wedding Expenses
When most couples plan their wedding, they have a fairly clear budget within which they hope to stay. Once you have booked all of your vendors and ordered all of your wedding needs, you may think that you know what your total cost will be. Look out, though, because things are not always as clear as you may think. This is a list of the hidden wedding expenses that every bride and groom should watch out for.
Tips and taxes: Read your contracts very carefully. Do they include gratuities and any sales tax, or are those additional? Gratuities are customary for many vendors, including the caterer or venue's waitstaff, the band, the limo, the coatcheck, and so forth. If you are paying an additional 15-20% beyond the base estimate, that can really add up quickly.
Overtime: When you book your venue, photographer, and band, the contract will be for a set number of hours. Should you go beyond that block of time, the overtime costs are likely to be substantial. This is why it is important to be realistic when scheduling your vendors. If there is any possibility that you might want them for a little longer than their standard contract time, ask to pay a little more and schedule them for longer. It will likely be much less costly than paying overtime charges after the fact. You can also be very clear with vendors if you do not wish them to stay into an overtime period to avoid any surprises later.
Rental delivery and set up fees: If you are having a wedding that involves a lot of rentals, read the fine print of your contract. Very often, the price for your tent or tables includes only renting the item, not the labor involved in actually getting them there and in place. Some rental companies charge hundreds of dollars for delivery and set up, so it is important to find out in advance whether or not your rental agency includes these services in their price.
Alterations: The price of a wedding gown does not usually include the alterations, which can easily run upwards of £500 for a designer gown. This is not one of those expenses that can be avoided, either: bridal shops that claim to include alterations with the purchase of a gown have usually marked the dresses up to cover their costs on adjustments. When you order your gown, ask the salon what the average range is for alterations so that you can include them in your budget.
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Titanium Wedding Ring 14K Gold Band Bridal Jewelry Hot Gift Size 6 13 |  |
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£15.36 | 17m |
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100pcs Burgundy Rose Organza wedding Gift Bags 35x5 XFF1 | |
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£8.36 | 20m |
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30 Soap Candy Wedding Party Gift Boxes Packaging snow white S | |
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£11.69 | 22m |
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100pcs Pink Rose Organza wedding Gift Bags 120x90mm XFF2 | |
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£8.36 | 30m |
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UK Crystal Bridal Tiara Wedding Prom Crown headpiece Gift Clay flower Comb | |
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£12.59 | 36m |
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100Yellow Organza 27x35 Flare Wedding Gift Pouch Bag | |
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£5.66 | 37m |
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100pcs Red Rose Organza wedding Gift Bag pouch 35x5 XFF3 | |
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£8.36 | 40m |
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52 x White Silk Hand Fan In Silk Gift Bag WeddingParty | |
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£67.49 | 43m |
Personalization: So you found the perfect bridesmaid gifts and they are within your budget, great! But wait, the jewelry store wants how much to engrave their initials on those bracelets? Some stores will charge a hefty fee for engraving, so when you are shopping around for personalized bridesmaid gifts, find out the cost of the engraving and factor that into your gift budget. You will often get the best deal from an online retailer.
Cake cutting or corkage fees: If your reception venue allows you to use your own baker for the cake or bring in your own wine, ask if they charge any cake cutting or corkage fees. Many venues will, and sometimes the money that you save by bringing in your own cake or wine may disappear by the time that you have paid the surcharges. Find out early on so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to use an outside baker or wine shop or go through the venue.
As they say, forewarned is forearmed. Knowing about potential hidden or unexpected wedding expenses in advance is the best way to help you plan your budget so that you avoid any unpleasant last minute surprises and fees.
Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into one fascinating, Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. Personalized bridesmaid gifts are a very thoughtful way to show your appreciation for your attendants.
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