As you and your significant other begin to get your wedding planning process underway, one of the most important steps is setting a budget that will give you the freedom to follow your creative passions, accommodate all of your guests and tie the knot against the backdrop you’ve always desired. However, weddings are big business and plenty of heads and hands will have to come together to make your special day happen, and as a matter of course, you will probably see your fair share of unexpected expenditures along the way.
As you prepare your wedding budget, it’s important to remember that vendors and other professionals may charge unexpected fees for their services that you may have to cover. Let’s go through some of the most common that you should ask your future vendors about before your full wedding budget is exhausted.
- Fuel Surcharges
In some cases when couples will outsource the addition of items like furniture, linens or tableware, it’s important to check with this vendor regarding any fuel surcharges. While some vendors may allow for free delivery, some may expand this service out into a line item that requires additional payment for services. This is especially common if vendors have to travel long distances for delivery, so make sure to go over the service’s full schedule of fees before committing.
- Day-of-Stationery
As much as you would love to create opulent wedding invitations and save-the-dates, it’s important to remember that there will be plenty of stationery to print to serve on your wedding day! Escort cards, programs, place cards, menu cards and more can dent your budget very quickly, so make sure you spread these costs out and allocate your resources for those items which need a bigger aesthetic punch.
- Wedding day meals
While you may have planned your wedding reception meals down to the last detail, it’s important to remember that the groomsmen and bridesmaids will need to eat during the day before your big event! This doesn’t have to be something truly extravagant, but putting together some bagels and coffee for breakfast and some sandwiches for lunch will ensure that your bridal party isn’t starving by the time you walk down the aisle!
- Alterations
Sure that wedding dress may fit perfectly in the store, but you should set aside a small portion of your budget for any unexpected alterations that you or your significant other may need before the big day. Some salons/tailors charge a flat fee for these services, while others will charge for each individual alteration, so be sure to give yourself a significant cushion to absorb these expenses if the need arises.
- Gratuities
Last but not least, you should set aside about 5 to 10 percent of your budget to cover the various additional gratuities that may be needed to compensate the many people that will help your wedding come together. While venue/caterer/DJ costs may already have gratuities included, there are many other workers that shouldn’t be overlooked. These include bartenders, waiters, limo drivers, hair stylists and many more that you should plan for.
