It is important to keep hidden wedding costs in mind so you are not surprised by the total cost of your wedding, even if you are planning a smaller affair.
As far as parties go, weddings tend to be some of the most expensive. Even planning for a small event can cost a fortune, especially when you don’t take time to think about all of your expenses. Weddings have lots of hidden costs and fees that couples tend to forget about while planning. Unfortunately, you need a somewhat accurate figure for what everything is going to cost you before you can feel confident in your ability to pay for your wedding. To achieve this goal, you’ll need to do some investigation into common hidden wedding costs to avoid being blindsided by expensive surprises.
Fixing Your Attire
After you’ve said yes to the dress, you might feel like you can check off a vital task from your wedding to-do list. Unfortunately, the journey toward a perfect look doesn’t often end with selecting the right outfit. In many cases, brides and grooms purchase dresses and tuxes long before the big day arrives. While this makes sense, it doesn’t always take into account that weight can fluctuate in a short amount of time. This means you could very well be looking at a situation where you need to have alterations made.
Though dress or tux alterations are quite common, plenty of couples don’t take this service into consideration when budgeting. If you’re still early in the planning process, you might not be sure whether you’ll require alterations of any kind. To keep yourself prepared for additional wedding costs, be sure to set aside a bit of additional cash for this service should you require it. You might also find it useful to budget for other services like cleanings, pressings, and anything else that might arise in regard to your clothing.
First Time Around
Clothing is one area where you need to budget a little extra, but there are other wedding costs related to your appearance. Hair and makeup can be a big deal for a bride on her wedding day. If you have never used a particular stylist before, you might feel like you need to do a “test run” before your big day arrives. Also known as trials, these preliminary appointments are wildly important to determining whether or not you feel satisfied with the stylist you have chosen.
Failing to book a trial for hair or makeup can easily cause you more harm than good. The last thing you want is to show up to your appointment on the day of your wedding and leave feeling like you look horrible. Avoid this by setting aside additional money in your budget for hair and makeup trials. Inquire with stylists about how much a trial costs. While it doesn’t usually cost the full amount, a trial can still have a hefty price tag. Do your research and shop around to find a price you feel comfortable with.
The Very Important License
Though this can seem obvious to some, there are many people who forget all about their marriage licenses until the last second. Though you can acquire a license whenever you need one, you also need to make sure you have money set aside for the paperwork and any additional fees attached. Look up the specific regulations and fees for your area early on. This way, you will know exactly how much you need to incorporate into your wedding costs to get all of the official documents for your wedding signed, sealed, and delivered.
Hidden fees can be a pain in the neck, but budgeting for surprises can minimize the stress. Start saving early and look into the costs of various services to make sure you’re covering all of your financial bases.
