It’s no surprise that wedding planning can sometimes get pretty challenging, especially when it comes to creating your budget – and sticking to it! Having a wedding is expensive as it is, meaning it’s super important to fully prepare yourself from the very start. However, even if your budget is meticulously planned, some hidden wedding costs are bound to arise, leading to overspending.
To avoid exceeding your wedding budget, carefully review your supplier contracts and check everything included in the price. But, to be extra cautious, you should familiarise yourself with some of the most common hidden wedding costs.
Hidden Wedding Costs You Should Keep An Eye Out For
The average UK wedding cost for 2025 is around £25,000. Still, as previously mentioned, couples usually overlook hidden wedding costs, making them reevaluate their budget.
Here are the additional wedding costs you should consider, as well as tips on how to avoid them.
Event Rentals
The venue will most likely take up the biggest portion of your wedding budget. However, you need to consider what kind of venue you’re booking to avoid hidden wedding costs.
Namely, there are two types of wedding venues – ones that include catering and other features and ones that don’t. While pricing is pretty transparent for the former group, you need to be careful with your budgeting if you’re just renting out the space.
In most cases, these kinds of venues provide only the basics, such as the event space and toilets. In other words, you should cover everything else. This can be related to services such as catering, on-site coordination, and decor. Still, you should not forget about things like tableware, lighting, and sound equipment.
To avoid these hidden wedding costs, read the fine print carefully. A wedding planner can help you with this, but if you’re taking the DIY approach, keep an eye out for all the details.
Insurance
All couples have this ideal vision of their big day, where everything goes off without a hitch. But, like most things in life, everything doesn’t always go according to plan. Unfortunately, your wedding is no exception.
No matter how prepared you think you are, sometimes things can go wrong. For instance, there might be a sudden downpour, the suppliers may get something mixed up, or, worst of all, your venue cancels your booking at the last minute. Before you start pulling your hair out, know that wedding insurance can protect you from most of these occurrences.
Surprisingly, insurance is a common hidden wedding cost as most couples don’t factor it into their budget, thinking they won’t need it. Still, you’re well aware that things can go south at any time, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Luckily, insurance providers offer different tiers of insurance, meaning you don’t have to purchase the most expensive one. Simply determine what you want to be covered and choose the policy that fits your criteria.
Delivery & Travel Costs
If you aren’t hiring local wedding suppliers, you should know that some of them might ask for a transportation fee. After all, how else would you deliver over 100 chairs?
When it comes to these additional wedding costs, suppliers will either charge you per mile or have a fixed fee depending on where your venue is. Additionally, if you’re hosting a destination wedding, these expenses could drive up the cost even more, so be sure to budget carefully.
While most suppliers include transportation in their rates, it’s better to ask upfront just to be on the safe side.
As for how you can avoid this hidden wedding cost? Just go local! With a quick research, you’ll discover countless local suppliers that will perfectly fit your vision. Just conduct your interviews thoroughly before booking, ask anything that might interest you (especially when it comes to the cost), and you’ll be all set!
Postage
It’s so easy to lose track of time once you start designing your wedding stationery. Considering all your options, stopping your creative flow can be quite challenging! When it’s all done, the feeling of having your wedding suite in your hands is simply second to none!
Of course, most of your stationery details will go to the guests. How else would they know that an epic celebration is coming up? But while you may have factored in the design of your suite in your wedding budget, you may have forgotten about postage.
It may come as a surprise, but postage can really drive up the UK wedding cost, especially if you have guests who live far away. Additionally, if you’re including RSVP cards, be sure to include a stamp as well. The last thing you want is for your guests to have unnecessary expenses.
If you want to save up on postage, sending out digital invites is the easiest thing to do. Even though they’re not the same as printed stationery, you can include as many details as you want since you won’t have any additional printing costs. In any case, it’s always a good idea to have at least one copy of your suite printed out as a cherished keepsake.
Late Finishes
We all know that weddings are some of the most exciting affairs which can sometimes last until the morning. While venues with a central location have strict curfew policies, those found in the countryside can be pretty flexible with the closing hours. Still, this flexibility comes with a cost.
A late finish is the final hidden wedding cost you should keep an eye out for. But, unlike all the previous ones, this one can’t be planned. Let’s face it – you and your guests will have a good time, and if the venue allows it, there’s no reason to stop the celebration.
Nevertheless, to avoid any last-minute surprises, ask your venue manager how much you will have to pay for a late finish.
Now that you know what kind of hidden wedding costs to expect, nothing’s stopping you from creating a perfectly planned wedding budget. Be as thorough as possible, and don’t hesitate to ask all kinds of questions. By being efficient, you will have the celebration of your dreams without any unwanted surprises!
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