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When you're planning a budget for a wedding, it's easy to only focus on the high cost items in your budget. A budget conscious bride or groom will want to be aware that the prices for small items may add up to a big chunk of change. Plan on devoting about 10% of your total budget to these extra costs. This will avoid small incidental costs from causing you to go completely over your budget. Consider how these ten items will make a difference in your wedding budget:
1. Alterations- Both brides and grooms will want to look their best on their wedding day and that means making sure their attire is as presentable as possible. Bridal dresses often have intricate bead work and the material that they made out of can be difficult to work with. The intensive time required by seamstresses or tailors to custom fit your bridal gown will result in a high up charge for services. You should plan on spending at least $ 100 for your alterations, although at some bridal shops the cost of alterations can be higher than the cost of the gown itself! You will also want to ensure that your gown is pressed before the Big Day which may cost a small fee. The cost of tuxedo alterations for the groom is often significantly less than bridal gown alterations, but you should budget $ 25 to $ 50 for groom's tuxedo alterations.
2. Bridal gown accessories and undergarments- Brides often forget or underestimate the cost of their bridal accessories and undergarments. Your wedding day is not the day to wear just any old bra and panties. You will want a bra that properly supports your figure and can not be seen through your wedding dress. Many brides use a corset bra which typically costs over fifty dollars. Some brides choose to have supportive cups sewn into their dress which can add money onto your alterations fee. If your dress is form fitting you may want a girdle type garment to hold in your stomach. If you have an A line or ballroom gown, your dress will probably require a crinoline which can cost over $ 50 in a bridal shop. You may also want to accessorize your bridal look with a veil or haircomb. Many brides are surprised to find that veils can cost hundreds of dollars on their own.
3. Bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts-Your bridesmaids and groomsmen have probably spent a lot of time and money making sure that your wedding day is perfect. You'll want to honor them by providing them with a gift as a token of your appreciation. A larger bridal party should budget more in this category than a bridal party with only 2 or 4 people.
4. Although favors are usually a small item when priced individually, at a medium to large size wedding the cost of these small trinkets can really add up. An average favor costs between $ 1.50 and $ 3.00. Unless the items are prepackaged, you will need to box or bag them yourself and should count on a minimum of.50 to $ 1.50 for each favor's packaging in addition to the favor itself.
5. Personalized decorative items- Your wedding is a day you will want to personalize and make all your own. It can cost more than you think to personalize all those napkins, match books, and aisle runners though. The key to staying on budget in this area is selecting a few key elements that will be personalized. Using the same printer to personalize all of your items may earn you a discount in bulk pricing.
6. Programs- The price of creating programs is dependent on whether or not you want them professionally printed or are planning to print them yourself. Complex programs with multiple pages or intrete designs will add an additional expense. Even if you decide to just print your programs at home, plan on spending $ 40 for printer ink, staples, and cardstock paper. Print-at-home program kits may be available at your craft store for under $ 20 but you still need to use about a cartridge of ink depending on the amount of guests and your printer model. Professionally printed programs can cost between $ 1- $ 5 a program.
7. Taxes and gratuities- This cost will vary depending on your state but plan on setting aside 15% to 22% of your reception's food and drink budget for taxes, gratuities, and service charges. If your caterer is a separate entity than your reception site, you may be charged these fees for both elements. You will also want to set aside money to tip your hairdresser, limo driver, officiant, etc. In the United States a 15% to 20% tip is standard for these services.
8. Licensing fees- Everyone who gets married requires a license to do so. Licensing fees vary heavily by state but can run anywhere from a few dollars to over one hundred dollars. Some states will grant a waiver of fees or allow a discount if a premarital class is taken. In addition to the regular licensing fees, you will most likely be required to pay anywhere between $ 5 and $ 20 for copies of your marriage certificate. A person who changes their name will require several copies which can equate to over $ 100 just for the cost of copies of your marriage license.
9. Overcharges for missing guests / extra guests- If you're having a meeting meal your caterer will require you to give them a final headcount a week or two before the wedding. Usually if a guest cancels between the time you send in your final count and the time of your wedding, you will still be charged for their meal. On the other hand, if you have guests who show up unexpectedly you will need to pay extra for them as well.
10. Stamps- At first glance, the cost of postage may not seem like a large expense, but the cost of stamps can add up. If you send out 100 invitations you will be paying $ 44 to send the invitations plus $ 44 for the RSVP's. That's a minimum of $ 88 extra dollars to spend on stationary. Most invitations will cost over 44 cents to mail though. The odd shape of many invitations can add anywhere from 17 cents to a $ 1 onto the base price of your postage. Plus, you will want to consider how much it may cost you to mail Save the Date cards and thank you notes after the wedding. Unless your wedding is very small, plan on spending over $ 100 on your postage alone.
These small items may add well over a thousand dollars to your wedding budget. Be sure to consider all of these incidental costs when planning your wedding budget.
