From the moment a proposal is accepted, it seems like the happy couple barely have time to bask in the glow of their engagement before they have to start planning every minute detail of their wedding. Almost every single bridal magazine out there will recommend setting a budget first so that you know how much you can afford to spend on big things like the venue, dress, and catering, and then you don’t panic when you can’t afford little things like flowers and centrepieces. However, despite all your planning, there is always something that gets overlooked. If it happens to be something expensive, it can throw the whole budget off balance. Here are a few necessities that you might have forgotten to include in your budget.
Wedding planner
While you’re sorting out your budget, you need to decide right away whether you’re going to need a wedding planner. Most couples want to plan the day themselves, maybe with help from their family and friends, and that’s fine. But as time goes by everyone gets caught up in their own lives, so they may not have time to advise you on which invitations to send out or go with you to try cake samples. Whereas a wedding planner is paid to make these things their priority. Planning a wedding is one of the most stressful things a person can go through, so you need to make sure you have enough support. If you think even for a second that your friends might not always be by your side, it’s best to factor in the cost of a wedding planner right away.
Registration costs
All your hard work could be for nothing if the marriage isn’t legal. According to the UK government website, you must give at least 28 full days’ notice at your local register office, and include details of where you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. You each need to pay a £35 fee when you attend the register office to give notice. You also have to pay £46 to register a UK marriage or civil partnership if you have the ceremony at a register office, but may be more at other venues, so be sure to ask the registrar or religious minister for details. The marriage or civil partnership certificate costs £4 on the day of the event or £10 after. Make sure you factor all these costs into your budget, and find out if your choice of venue will incur any extra costs.
Insurance
So many things can go wrong at weddings; vows get forgotten, rings can get lost, venues can cancel or double book your reception, dresses don’t fit, and so much more. With the average cost of weddings exceeding £24,000, you and your partner stand to lose a lot of money if things don’t go according to plan. Your wedding is the best day of your life, so you don’t want to spend the weeks leading up to it stressing out. Give yourself peace of mind by taking out wedding insurance. Specialist sites such as www.wedinsure.co.uk offer several levels of cover for issues such as cancellations, supplier failure, and rearrangement. For the low price of £20 you could get £2,500 to cover these big worries. Cover for bigger weddings can cost up to £195, but the amount of protection for your wedding also increases. So many people take out loans for weddings, so it’s worth considering some extra protection.
Accessories and alterations to suits
Even the most perfect wedding dress will require some alteration, particularly for brides and bridesmaids who are trying to lose a bit of weight before the big day. Unfortunately, there are no set prices for a certain kind of alteration; they vary depending on the material of the dress, the type of skirt, and whether or not you just want the front altered, or the whole skirt. Bridesmaid’s dresses will also have their own costs. The groom’s suit might also require altering if the fit isn’t quite right.
You should also save room in your fashion budget for the extras such as your veil, shoes, undergarments and/or shapewear, and jewellery. Although you might be able to save on some of these by making them your something borrowed. Remember don’t forget to find a good manicurist, who can give you some fantastic wedding nail ideas, so when the rings are exchanged, your nails will look fabulous.
Stationary
Even if you decide to save a few pennies by sending your save the date cards and invitations via email or social media, you still have to consider any stationary you might use on the day. This includes programs, escort cards, place cards, menu cards, and any other day-of needs you may encounter. Not to mention the thank you cards after the day is over. If you do decide to send paper invitations you should always remember to weigh the envelopes carefully, because the last thing you need is to spend more money on postage than you need to.
Unexpected guests
Believe it or not, you can end up with more guests than you expected at your wedding. A guest who RSVP’d “no” will turn up anyway, a clueless friend will show up with an uninvited plus one, or your cousin will bring her kids even though you specifically said no kids were invited. This is not a situation you can control, nor do you want to burn bridges by kicking people out. Instead, talk to the caterers about setting aside a few extra plates and place setting just in case. If no unexpected guests show up, then someone can have seconds.
Supplier meals
Although they’re at your wedding to work, your photographer, videographer, and DJ need to eat. The good news is, feeding them will cost less than feeding your wedding party.
Extra charges
Always make sure to read the fine print on your bills from venues and suppliers; things like delivery fees, corkage, VAT, overtime and service or cleaning charges might not have been factored in at the start. It makes for a very unpleasant surprise at the beginning of your married life.
