10 Hidden Costs of Weddings

TLC posted a great article of hidden costs for a wedding. All of these are fees and costs to be aware of. Talk to your vendors and make sure everything you discussed and agreed upon is put down into a contract. This includes but is not limited to arrival and departure time, fees, overtime fees, travel expenses.. etc.

1) Venue Fees
It's important to read the fine print of any venue contract before setting your heart on that location. There are many additional fees associated with almost any venue, from overtime to cleaning charges, and some of these may make or break the deal. For example, that reception hall may require dripless candles that you have to purchase from them -- at $5 a pop. Or their lovely white chairs -- at $10 apiece. Some even have contracts with caterers that lock you into their menu and service options. So be sure to ask before mentally committing.


2) Cake Cutting Fee
One of the last things you think you'll get charged for is the cutting of your cake. After all, you bought it from a separate bakery, and the cake already cost you a small fortune. The fee is really a provision for the plates and forks, and then the subsequent washing of those plates and forks. Everything costs something, right? Fees can range from 50 cents to three bucks a slice. Cupcakes might be a cheaper alternative. 


3) Guest List
When your aunt's BFF comes with a husband and three children, these additions to the headcount mean more mouths to feed, more chairs to sit in, more wine to sip, more cars to park, more silverware to eat with and more glasses to drink out of. Because you don't want to hurt any feelings, the body count can add up quickly. And because many of these expenses are on a per-head basis, the tab is going to reflect that. Get a number in your head, and work backward from there. If that second cousin twice removed needs to go, then so be it.


4)  Bar Set Up Fee
Even when you decide to take cost-cutting measures, there are still hidden fees you can incur. For example, if your venue allows you to supply your own booze for the bar to avoid their costly markup, you'll probably still end up paying a bar set-up fee or a corkage fee that can quickly eat up all your savings. But the good news is they'll probably throw in the glasses free of charge.


5) Overtime
Most fees for wedding services and venues are based on a set amount of time. Your venue, band, DJ, photographer and videographer are all likely to be on the clock, so make sure you understand exactly how long you have and plan accordingly before chicken dancing till the wee hours.


6) Postage
f you're hoarding your Forever stamps, a regular envelope will cost you 44 cents to mail. But special envelopes -- the kind you'll probably use to complement your fancy invitations -- get an extra surcharge. Tack on stamp costs for the RSVP envelope, and you're well over $1.00 per invitation, which doesn't even include the cost of the design and printing of the actual invite. If you want to be really thorough, remember to budget yet another stamp for thank you notes.


Note: Sometimes people forget to write their name on the RSVP card before returning it to you, so spend a few extra minutes numbering the backs and keeping a corresponding list. This is a big time saver in the long run


7) Delivery Charge
The great part about the wedding industry is its full-service feature. You can have your fairy tale setting delivered right to the doorstep of your reception hall. Sure, we'll deliver your dress from the tailor - just sign here. Tables and chairs, food and flowers, linens and glassware -- anything your heart desires will land in the right place at the right time. But you're gonna have to pay the people who make it happen.


8) Gifts for the Wedding Party
The people that accompany you down the aisle are the most special ones in your life. You've got your childhood best friend, your closest friend from college, two sisters and a sister-like cousin, and of course, your two favorite work compadres. And don't forget their escorts, the seven accompanying groomsmen in your husband-to-be's lineup. They've all dedicated a lot of time and probably a good deal of coin to stand up with you on your big day, so all 14 are candidates for a lovely remembrance from you. With the average attendant gift expenditure hovering around $50 a person, you do the math.


9) Tips
Just like tax, gratuities and tips are often left out of the initial wedding budget. Your caterer may tack a whopping 25 percent gratuity onto your bill for the privilege of serving their chicken skewers and manning the beef carving station. It's in the fine print, so be sure you read over your contracts and estimates carefully. According to some industry insiders, it's customary to also have tips ready for the band, DJ, photographer, florist, cake delivery, hairdresser, coatroom attendants, limo driver, bartenders and servers.


10) Sales Tax
When quoting your budget to a vendor, it's easy to forget Uncle Sam's piece of the pie. An extra 6 to 10 percent adds up quickly -- especially on bigger purchases -- and can create a cost overrun that leaves your benefactors feeling less than joyous. Make sure to check all vendors' estimates to make sure tax is included in the total.


Smartmoney.com reports the average wedding cost in the United States is $23,657, not including the engagement ring or honeymoon!!  


Smartmoney.com reports the average wedding cost in the United States is $23,657, not including the engagement ring or honeymoon!! Just remember that there are many ways to cut down costs. Keep checking my blog for helpful hints to keep costs down!