Don’t get blindsided by unexpected fees on your big day
It’s no secret that wedding planning can be (and usually is) stressful. There are a lot of moving parts to account for, after all—finding a venue, selecting a date, planning the aesthetics, hiring vendors, and so on and so on. Through it all, wedding expenses can add up. Compounding this aspect of wedding planning for many couples is the prevalence of hidden wedding costs.
Wedding budgets are important to set and even more important to stay within. That’s why hidden costs can become frustrating. The best course of action is to know what to anticipate and account for it in advance so you won’t be blindsided. In this blog, we’ll help you out in that regard.
Vendor Service Fees and Gratuities
We’ll start with one of the most common hidden wedding costs. It lives in the fine print of vendor contracts. Catering, bar, and rental services often add automatic service charges that can be upwards of 25%. The surprising part about these fees is that they’re separate from gratuities; this often catches couples off-guard.
The upside? Union Mills Public House handles the catering and bar services, and we make it a priority to be upfront about prices. Intentionally hiding fees just to achieve that initial enticement isn’t great for business, in our opinion, so we opt for transparency. In addition, we’re sure to partner with vendors who treat their customers with similar respect.
Gratuities are a big part of vendor payments, as well. While many vendors don’t add mandatory gratuities into their costs, it’s considered a courtesy in the world of wedding planning: one that sometimes isn’t considered until the last moment.
Venue-Related Extras
The venue you choose is one of the most important aspects of your wedding, setting the stage for the entire ceremony and celebration. Depending on which venue you choose, additional fees and how they’re handled vary greatly. You may run into extra costs for setup, breakdown, furniture, decor pieces, and more. Luckily for Union Mills Public House guests, all of these things are factored into the total bill, so you won’t be blindsided by hidden wedding costs from us.
One thing that can’t be factored into the final cost before the event is overtime fees. Sometimes, weddings go a little longer than expected. In such cases, there is an additional fee for the extra time. This is something nearly every venue adds on, including us. In the interest of transparency, we will let you know what these fees will be in case you need to utilize the services associated with them.
Attire and Beauty Add-Ons
Wedding attire is more than just the gown and suit. There are plenty of other things to consider that you may not see coming if you aren’t familiar with the process:
- Alterations
- Specialty undergarments
- Veils, shoes, and jewelry
- Any other accessories you want to include in your outfit
There’s also beauty services to consider. You’re aware that having your hair done will cost money, but keep in mind you’ll also need to pay for the hair and makeup trials, travel fees, and day-of touch-ups. These may all be added after the initial quote due to varying circumstances. The best way to plan for this is building a buffer into your attire budget to account for alterations and the like.
Guest Experience Costs
You want your guests to enjoy your big day to its fullest, but crafting that experience can come with sneaky wedding expenses if you aren’t careful. Consider things like:
- Transportation to and from hotels
- Welcome bags
- Printed itineraries
- Directional signage
These are just a few examples, as every wedding is different. Another common issue is last-minute guest list changes. Even just a few extra guests can tick your expenses higher and higher, so it’s best for every couple to have a “just in case” buffer in their wedding budgets.
Stationery and Paper Goods
Stationery is all-too-frequently an afterthought in wedding planning, despite being a necessity. You have to factor in costs for all manner of paper-related items like save-the-dates, invitations, programs, menus, seating charts, and signage. When you add them all up, they can quickly turn into big hidden wedding costs. These costs can go even higher if you opt for premium paper and expedited shipping (best not to procrastinate).
Here’s a small tip: Consider digital stationery where possible. Some couples choose to send their save-the-dates, invitations, and even menus via email.
Day-Of and Post-Wedding Expenses
Many brides and grooms are lured into a false sense of security, thinking that once the big day arrives their expenses are all finalized. It’s a common assumption that can cause plenty of stress once you realize there can still be costs on or even after the wedding.
A few examples of day-of expenses:
- Marriage licenses
- Officiant fees
- Vendor meals
And then there are post-wedding expenses to factor into your wedding budgets:
- Professional dress cleaning
- Photo albums
- Print orders
- Thank-you cards
Plan Smart So You Can Celebrate Fully!
There are plenty of hidden wedding costs that can catch you by surprise if you don’t know what to expect. Hopefully you’ll have a better idea of what to look for after reading this blog. The best course of action you can take is aiming for realism over perfection and including a “backup” fund for unforeseen expenses. Setting aside 5%–10% will help you cover any of these wedding expenses as they come up, so you can keep moving forward without your planning being derailed.
At Union Mills Public House, we value transparency. Leading up to (and even after) your wedding, we aim to be as transparent as possible when it comes to fees. The rest is up to you. Employ a bit of thoughtful planning and you can truly enjoy your big day!
If you’re ready to start planning, we would love to be part of your love story. Get in touch to see the venue and schedule the big day!
