Weddings can be expensive, which is why budgeting is so important. But an unexpected cost can throw that wedding budget totally out of whack.
Keep your wedding budget in tact by factoring in a contingency fund for those unexpected costs. We also suggest checking out our Cost Breakdown Series to see expenses from real Palm Beach Weddings.
To help you alleviate any surprises in the planning process, we put together this list of hidden wedding costs. Use this to keep your wedding budget on target!
1. Postage
Everyone always remembers to order Save the Dates and Invitations plus the printing costs but tend to overlook postage. Not only do you have the postage for the outer envelope but for the RSVP return envelope.
Keep in mind that if your invitation is larger than standard stamp rate or is a shape that is not a rectangle, there will be additional postage. To prepare, take a sample of your invitation to the post office to get an estimate on cost.
2. Taxes and Gratuity
One of the most commonly overlooked expenses are tax and gratuity, but it can add up quickly. If you are quoted $80/person from your Palm Beach wedding caterer, this number does not include the “++”. Make sure to ask for the final total when getting quotes.
Remember that any vendor that is providing a physical product has to charge tax by law. Make sure to ask for final amounts from florists, photographers, etc. in order to fully plan.
3. Delivery and Set-Up Fees
Palm Beach rental companies are great for getting all the pertinent wedding items for throwing an amazing wedding – like tables, chairs, and gorgeous tableware. But don’t get blindsided by the delivery and set-up fees.
When requesting quotes, ask for the total amount with these fees added in to make an informed decision based on your budget. The rental company will need to know the location of delivery and timing of drop-off in order to give you the most accurate pricing, so have that readily available for them.
4. Credit Card Processing
While some Palm Beach wedding vendors accept credit cards with a processing fee, that isn’t true for all vendors. When inquiring with each vendor, ask if they charge a fee and what that fee totals.
On the flip side, some vendors will offer a discount for NOT using a credit card. If you are flexible with payment type and the vendor offers the discount, it’s definitely something to consider!
5. Wedding Party and Parent Gifts
Wedding party gifts are usually one of the last items on the to do list, so they are often overlooked in the budgeting process.
Of course, you aren’t expected to give gifts to your friends and family. However, it’s a wonderful way to show your appreciation for their support on your big day.
Depending on the size of your wedding party, these gifts can add up quickly. So, start thinking about them when working on your budget.
6. Vendor Tips
Though we already touched upon gratuity earlier, this is a little different. Wedding caterers, in particular, add gratuity to the overall total invoice. However, other wedding vendors may not add in gratuity.
If you are hiring a wedding planner, band, dj, photographer, hair and make-up, or other vendor that offers a service, then you want to consider giving them a tip.
Tips are highly personal in terms of amounts, but we recommend getting cash and placing them in sealed, marked envelopes the week of the wedding. Then on the wedding day you can hand out the envelopes to your Palm Beach wedding vendors that do an excellent job.
7. Extra Hours
Wanting to party to go into the wee hours of the morning will cost extra. Typically, receptions are 5 hours long. Though you may want to keep partying, the extra hours fees can add up.
From the additional venue fees to late night snacks, rocking dj to photographer, all you wedding vendors will charge to stay later.
If you know you want to extend the party, request the pricing in the beginning so you can budget accordingly.
As you can see, there are some some hidden wedding costs that can affect your Palm Beach wedding. Make sure to remember these when working on your wedding budget.
