A wedding can be one of the most expensive events in a person’s life. In fact, according to statistics, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is $27,000 as of 2022. There are so many things that have to be paid for that the numbers add up quickly and can be quite staggering. Everybody looks to save money on a wedding but it is still going to be expensive no matter what.
Adding to the problem is that there are a lot of hidden expenses that you might not account for. To properly budget, you have to have a detailed accounting of every expense. If there are ones you weren’t expecting then you may have to sacrifice something that you didn’t want to. In this article, we will go over some of these unexpected expenses so you won’t be blindsided.
1 – The wedding party
Everybody knows that you have to get some gifts for the wedding party. It’s very common to have the wedding party gifts accounted for in the budget.
What may not make it into the ledger are some of the other expenses that come about for the wedding party. For instance, there is the wedding rehearsal that is done sometime before the wedding itself. This is done so that things can be choreographed and everybody knows how the ceremony is supposed to go.
This is another obligation that the members of the wedding party have to take time out for. Usually, there is a dinner planned for after the rehearsal. Since the rehearsal is usually done after work, most people don’t have time to get dinner ready so taking them out to eat is a gesture that shows your gratitude.
2 – Wedding insurance
One expense that is not something many people expect to pay but probably should is wedding insurance. Things can happen and a wedding can end up getting canceled. Having insurance to cover the losses is actually money well spent.
Wedding insurance can also cover things that happen at the wedding itself or at the reception. For instance, if people get food poisoning or there is an injury then you will have some coverage in case somebody tries to sue you.
3 – Additional time
The people working your wedding are there for an agreed-upon time frame. The DJ, the photographer, and the caterer are all there working and are not part of the celebration. This means that they will likely have a stipulation in their contract that if the wedding lasts longer than expected that they will be compensated for staying longer than they had agreed to.
If they have a package that includes the longest time they will stay then that is the one to choose if you feel that your party guests won’t be in a rush to head home.
4 – Travel fees
If you plan to have a wedding on the beach and choose to have a local photographer or caterer take care of the wedding then you will likely be charged some fees for traveling beyond their normal radius.
Be aware that this can add to the cost and think about hiring somebody in the area where you plan to have the wedding.
