Hidden Wedding Expenses

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.

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.

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.

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.

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