When you’re so busy planning your big day, it’s easy to overlook hidden costs. Here are five expenses you left out of your wedding budget but need to consider.
1. Stationery Expenses You Left Out of Your Wedding Budget
You know you need to account for the wedding invitations ‘and other stationery’ but it’s useful to break this down into each element. Once you have decided what you would like, you can cost it all up to make a final decision. Here are several additional stationery items you could add into your budget:
- Save the Date cards
- Invitations with reply cards and added information on travel, accommodation and gift list
- Thank you cards after the wedding
- Posting box/wishing well for wedding cards, essential if you are having a cash gift list
- Postage to send all of the above plus additional postage if you are stamping each reply card to ensure replies (don’t forget to add an ‘RSVP by’ date if you are not sending reply cards)
2. Stag and Hen Night Expenses You Left Out of Your Wedding Budget
You might not have added your stag and hen celebrations to your wedding budget but it’s another related cost that does need to be accounted for. And if you’re planning a weekend away you might have to add hundreds to your budget. Here’s how having a good time can add up:
- Invitations (and postage unless emailing)
- Travel to and from your destination
- Accommodation if you are staying overnight
- Spending money for meals and all activities, whatever you choose to do
- Hen and stag accessories and keepsakes
3. Wedding Cake Expenses You Left Out of Your Wedding Budget
Once you have your quote from the cake maker, that’s not the end of your wedding cake costs as your cake maker or venue might not provide any of the following, but you might want to:
- Personalised or decorative cake topper
- Cake boxes, napkins or bags for guests to take away a slice of wedding cake
- Cake boxes to send a slice of wedding cake to anyone who was unable to attend the wedding (remember to factor in postage for this)
- Cake slice and serving set
4. Wedding Decoration Expenses You Left Out of Your Wedding Budget
You might be so focused on your ever-growing wedding flowers budget that you overlook all the other decorations you will want or need for your venues, reception tables and even your wedding car, items include:
- Table centrepieces to give each table a focal point
- Decorative wall,door and window accessories like bunting
- Chair decorations to tie in your colour scheme
- Place cards, table numbers, menus and a table plan
- Car ribbons, flowers and signs
5. Thank You Gift Expenses You Left Out of Your Wedding Budget
It is customary to thank your bridal party for helping you with your wedding planning and for their role on the day. Here are the people you may want to give a thank you gift or keepsakes to:
- Best man
- Bridesmaids
- Flower girls and page boy
- Mothers of the bride and groom
- Fathers of the bride and groom
- Ushers
- Your bride or groom
And finally, while it’s a good idea to build in a contingency, it is also worth considering the expenses you left out of your wedding budget so you can make sure you account for everything before you start spending. You’ll find hundreds of other gorgeous gifts and wonderful wedding accessories and decorations in the Confetti Shop.
