Do you know about the hidden wedding costs? The ones that aren’t quite obvious? The costs that may or may not apply to your wedding, but if they do, you’re completely surprised by them?
We all know that most couples end up paying a premium for their wedding, even if they skipping things and reducing their guest count in an effort to save money. And, we know that there are inevitably some items we will splurge on, while others we will skip or save on. Unfortunately, we can make lists, find information from the internet, and ask others, and yet, if we aren’t careful, there will still be hidden wedding costs that we never considered until well into wedding planning.
The great news is that once you know, you know. And when light is shed on wedding costs that may come up, they are no longer hidden. You’ll be able to plan and budget for the costs that are important to you, and even change course if it’s just too much.
10 Hidden Wedding Costs That Will Sneak Up On You
Luckily this post should help you recognize lesser known wedding costs that may impact your budget and sanity. No, not all of these will apply to every wedding. Whew! This is a good thing! However, some will likely impact yours, unless you’re already being incredibly diligent with the fine print of your wedding planning. At the very least, after reading this post, you’ll be able to look into what you should plan for, or ask about.
Here we go!
1. EXTERNAL CATERERING
Some venues will provide catering. Others will require you to hire an external caterer. Each has costs to it, but the second situation can get a lot trickier.
If your venue provides catering, you’re likely to learn how much it costs when you book your venue. There is usually a minimum food and beverage bill that your venue requires, or a set price that you’ll be able to plan for. However, if you hire an external caterer to bring food to your venue, or cook it there, they may have unexpected costs for the transportation, setup, and service of the food.
While booking your catering, and venue, look into the costs and small print in the contract. Find out if there are any extra fees, on either end, for hiring external catering. Ask about beverages, and the extra costs associated with that. Add every little cost up before you book, so you know exactly what to expect when the bill comes.
2. BUILDING A KITCHEN
I once wrote a post about how Discount Wedding Venues Can Cost You More. In it, I go over blank slate wedding venues that need to be magically transformed to host a wedding. Only, it’s not magic. It often takes extra supplies and materials, setup time, and take down time, and more people who need to help or be hired. And, each of these things can add up.
Which brings me to the second item on this list – building a kitchen. If you have a wedding venue that does not have a kitchen, make sure you book a caterer with up front fees on what they will need to set one up. And no, we’re not talking about building your typical kitchen. It could just be the cost of a couple ovens and tables. Or, it could be refrigeration and a generator. But still, it could be a hidden wedding cost that you weren’t expecting.
3. CAKE CUTTING COSTS
Yes, your venue may charge you to cut your cake. Just saying.
If your venue is making your cake, or has a relationship with a cake vendor, this fee may not come up. It all depends on the venue. However, most venues don’t make cake. And, there actually is effort when it comes to cutting one. If it’s a large cake, there’s a skill level that goes into cutting it. Plus, your venue may be providing knives, plates, and utensils. And, they could be stuck with the clean up of the cake once your guests are done with it.
All of this can result in unexpected, hidden wedding costs of about $2 – $3 per slice of cake. This can really add up! So, when you look into venues, ask about their cake cutting policies. And, if you love the venue, but don’t want to pay for them to cut the cake, think about skipping the cake altogether.
4. LOADING AND UNLOADING TIME
It would be so easy if you could order an item, it was delivered and set up, and then at the end of the night, it was taken away. For no extra charge.
However, weddings don’t typically work like that.
If you are having an installation, lighting, draping, a tent, rented chairs or tables, or anything else that requires a specialized or involved delivery and removal, you’re likely to pay for it. And by “it”, I mean all of it. The travel time to bring the goods to you, set up, and take away. If your wedding is on a Saturday, in the evening, you’re likely to pay more, because it may be during “off” hours. If you have a specific time that items need to arrive, again, there could be more fees.
Unfortunately, you probably really want the item(s) to be delivered, so just expect there will be charges with all of it.
5. SAVINGS ON KIDS AND VENDORS MEALS
This isn’t really a hidden wedding cost, but rather a hidden wedding expense.
You’re probably already aware that you’ll need to feed any kids and vendors who attend your wedding. What you may not know is that you can save on their meals. Those providing the food for your wedding will often have special prices for kids and vendors.
Kids meals are usually much more basic than adult plates, and usually cost less money. And, vendor meals don’t need the same type of attention. They aren’t served the same way as guest meals, and may even be simplified sandwiches or salads, which can be eaten cold when the vendor isn’t busy. Be sure to ask about and schedule any of these meals, so you don’t end up paying full price for everyone.
6. PARKING COSTS
If you’re getting married in a location with a busy parking situation, you may be asked to pay for parking attendants, valets, or dedicated spaces. In some cases, you may want to provide this to your guests, or it’s optional. In other situations, it could be something that you’re required to pay for and provide based on the vendor’s contract with you. This is typically something that you’ll see if you’re getting married at a hotel or large event space.
To help prepare for paying for parking, look at the fine print of your contract, and ask your venue before you sign a contract. Some venues will surprise you, in a good way. And others will have their parking fees wrapped into their overall venue fees. But still, parking can be one of those hidden wedding costs that impact couples who aren’t prepared for it.
7. CORKAGE FEES
When people first learn what a corkage fee is, they are often surprised. So, I’ll take a second to explain it to you just in case.
A corkage fee is an extra charge that a venue has when a patron brings their own bottle of wine to consume. The fee can range from $5 to $20, depending on the venue and their policy. Remember, this is just for them to open the bottle for you, provide a glass, and help pour it. In some cases, it will also be to help keep the wine chilled. The fee is not for the wine itself.
If you are bringing your own wine to your venue, ask ahead of time about corkage fees. Find out how you can avoid them (usually it’s by buying wine from your venue, if applicable). If you can’t avoid them, budget for it.
8. ADMIN FEES
Oh, admin fees. We see them everywhere. They are usually at the bottom of a contract, lumped in with taxes and gratuity. And, we never really know what they mean.
Admin fees are sort of like a service charge, for sales coordination. They are not a tip. They are for services that your venue, rental, caterer or professional coordination is providing to you, for your wedding. Typically, it’s a flat rate or small percentage of your overall contract. However, you should ask about them before you sign any contracts. Find out if they are negotiable, and plan for them if they aren’t. Spoiler alert – they usually aren’t.
9. TAXES
The ninth lovely item to make the list is taxes. And look, this isn’t really isn’t one of those super hidden wedding costs. We all know that taxes are coming. What we may not know is on what.
In most locations, there will be taxes applied to any goods, foods, and beverages. They can also be applied to service charges or admin fees. The amount that you pay in taxes varies by location. If you are having a destination wedding, look up their tax rate and policies before you book. I’m serious. You never know if you’re choosing a place with a 15% tax rate over a place with a 6% tax rate. And, if your wedding is big enough, that difference can make a big difference.
10. PREFERRED VENDORS
This isn’t really a true hidden wedding cost, but it can definitely impact how much you spend on your wedding. A preferred vendor is when a venue requires you to hire a certain vendor that they have already vetted and approved, instead of hiring whomever you’d like.
If you are getting married at a typical wedding venue, you’ll likely be given a list of preferred vendors by your venue. In some cases, you can deviate from these vendors if you’re able to provide the right paperwork and insurance from outside vendors. You may also have to pay more to hire other vendors. However, in other cases you’re not able to.
The upside is that preferred vendors take a lot of guess work over who to hire. And, preferred vendors know the venue well and things should go smoothly. The downside is that preferred vendors may be more expensive than other vendors. And, you’re not able to shop around for the best price.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
If you’re not careful, hidden wedding costs can creep up on you really fast. And, they can add up. The best piece of advice I can give you? Look at your contracts. Ask questions. Really sit down and think about ways to save money (if this is important to you). Often, with intention you can save a ton. Hopefully this post helped you see some hidden costs that may impact your wedding. Happy wedding planning!
More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice:
Pros & Cons of Renting Your Wedding Dress
9 Reasons Why You Should Pay For Your Own Wedding
Do You Need A Wedding Planner, or Day Of Coordinator?
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