32 Unexpected Wedding Expenses to Budget For

If you have not gotten married yet, you will discover that weddings are one of the most expensive life events that you will ever encounter. Many people start off with the mindset of wanting to save money but still have a nice wedding and they quickly realize that those two desires do not often go hand in hand. As you start planning for the wedding, the expenses start to stack up in a way that you never expected. Much of this can be planned out in advance, and this article is not necessarily written to save you money on these costs but to give you a more realistic outlook on the expenses involved in planning your big day. This will allow you to more accurately predict costs and save accordingly.

Below is our list of 32 unexpected wedding expenses to budget for:

1. Engagement photo shoot – Most people want to have professional engagement photos taken for keepsakes. This expense tends to range from $500-2500.
2. Gym membership – You will likely want to get fit for your wedding to look great in that white dress. If you do not already own a gym membership, this can vary from $20-200 per month. Alternately, you may go to Bridal Bootcamp classes or a personal trainer, which are even more expensive.
3. Pre-wedding beauty treatments – Facials, acne treatment, tanning, and other skin and spa treatments may be a necessity. This can cost anywhere from $100-1000+.
4. Eyelashes – Many women will want to wear fake lashes and many makeup artists will charge extra for this.
5. Bachelor and bachelorette parties – These can vary from Vegas trips to nice dinners to beach parties, and despite the fact that the bridesmaids and groomsmen are expected to pay, you will undoubtedly end up spending some amount of money on this. You may have to pay for your airfare to Las Vegas or your Uber rides back and forth to the luxury resort you spend the weekend at.
6. Dance lessons – You may want to take dance lessons with your husband or wife, or prepare for the father/daughter or mother/son dance. Dance lessons range from $50-150 per session and you will probably want to take at least 3-10 lessons, depending on how naturally coordinated you are.
7. Asking your bridal party by taking them all out to a nice meal or giving them some cute or meaningful gift should be an expense that shows up in your budget.
8. “Save the dates” and wedding invitations can easily cost $1,000 or more. You can find some savings by doing the “save the dates” via email. Keep in mind that postage alone for a thick wedding invitation can be $1 per piece of mail. This will add up quickly if you have a large guest list.
9. Prenuptial agreement – Not everyone gets one, but some people need a prenup for financial reasons and others just want to protect themselves. This can cost anywhere from $200-1000+.
10. Welcome bags and delivery fees – You may provide nice welcome bags for your out of town guests, which can really vary in price. Many hotels also charge $2-5 per bag to deliver them to the guests’ rooms.
11. Umbrellas and boots if you are getting married in an area prone to rain. Flip flops for the women to change into on the dance floor if you are expecting a hardcore night of dancing.
12. Wedding dress alterations – This cost is not included in the cost of the wedding dress itself, and can range from $250-500. Be sure to negotiate when you purchase your dress.
13. Hair and makeup test sessions – You may want to try out a couple of different looks ahead of time. Each of these sessions can easily cost $100.
14. Outfits for the pre and post-wedding events – Are you holding a rehearsal dinner? An out-of-town welcome dinner? A brunch the morning after the wedding? Is your photographer taking photos of you while you are getting ready? You and your beau will likely want nice outfits for these events, so budget some money here.
15. Shoes and other accessories – This applies to both the bride and groom. You may both want new shoes, watches, jewelry and other accessories to wear on your special day.
16. Place setting cards, dinner menus, programs and other stationary can cost more than you expect and these are fairly standard practices at most weddings.
17. Vendor meals – You will be expected to provide a meal to your vendors. This could be your wedding coordinator and team, wedding band or DJ, photographer and videographer and any other vendors you expect to be in attendance.
18. Delivery and setup – Nearly every vendor will charge delivery and setup fees as well as breakdown fees at the end of evening. From the florist to the wedding band, these items can cost up to hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
19. Marriage license – You will need to spend some time and money arranging for the proper paperwork, and going to city hall to submit these documents and pay for processing.
20. The hotel room – If your wedding is at a hotel, they will likely include one night for free, but if you want to stay there the night before you will have to pay. If you and your man are keeping it traditional, he will need a separate room as well. If you are not getting married at a hotel or resort, you will need to arrange a place to stay for a minimum of 1-2 nights.
21. Meals for the “getting ready” portion of the day – You and your bridesmaids and groomsmen will need to eat and maybe drink throughout the day. You will be expected to provide breakfast and lunch (and mimosas?) on the day of.
22. Gifts for the parents – You will especially want to plan for this if your parents are contributing financially. You will want to show appreciation through a thank-you gift.
23. Planning for an extra person or two – There will undoubtedly be someone who forgot to RSVP or someone who shows up uninvited, or brings a +1 despite not receiving permission. You should plan for an extra two meals just to be safe.
24. Up lighting for the reception space – You will especially want some colorful up lights if you are expecting a wild dance party to proceed after dinner.
25. Photography and videography – While not an unexpected cost, you should be made aware that this cost will likely be a minimum of $3,500-$5,000 for a professional service. The best photographers and videographers often charge $4-5k each.
26. Hair and makeup – This expense is not just for you! You will have to pay for your bridesmaids, mother and mother-in-law, etc.
27. Cake cutting fees – Expect to pay $1-$3 per slice.
28. Cake knives – These special keepsakes can cost anywhere from $50-150.
29. Corkage at dinner – Some venues charge corkage of $1-2 per guest.
30. Emergency kit – You will want to prepare a kit with emergency hair spray, toothpaste, floss, hair brushes, etc.
31. Overtime – Overtime can add up quickly. If you run even half an hour late, you can expect to pay the venue and each vendor an overtime fee. This can easily cost thousands of dollars per half hour.
32. Non-approved vendor costs – If you opt out of using professional vendors and take things into your own hands, many venues will charge you a fee of 15-30%.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully this will open your eyes to all of the costs that may have never even crossed your mind. On top of all of this, it may even be smart to budget for anything that you may have not been able to expect or predict by setting aside $1,000 for an emergency wedding cash reserve. I am sure one of your cousins will spill wine on the carpet, or one of your uncles will break a glass. Who knows what minor incidences will occur the day of the wedding that you will end up paying for?

Plan for these 32 unexpected wedding expenses and budget for them accordingly and you will end up feeling less financial pain on your big day. If many of these expenses were to hit you unexpectedly, you could easily go into debt or lose your mind the day of your wedding, and we want you to be able to enjoy your special day and not stress about unplanned expenses. Now get out there and start planning!