When you budget for a wedding, you likely think of saving for the venue, catering, flowers, attire, and entertainment. But what about other unexpected wedding costs?
According to The Knot Real Weddings Study, the average cost of a wedding nationwide was $28,000 in 2021. With inflation adjustments, that price will continue to rise in the coming years. Where in the wedding world does all that money go?
Here is the average wedding cost breakdown from The Knot:
As you can see, the majority of the wedding budget goes toward the venue (30%), catering (23%), and band (13%), with wedding rings, photography, alcohol, and flowers all tied for fourth place (7%).
There are a lot of unexpected wedding costs that don’t make it onto the average wedding planning budget spreadsheets. What are these costs, and how much should you budget for them?
Read on to find out the top 10 unexpected wedding costs.
Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
While traditionally, the bridesmaids and groomsmen help foot the bill of the bachelor and bachelorette parties, a more extravagant party may require some contribution on the bride or groom’s part.
If you’re pushing for an overnight trip or a weekend getaway (What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?) then paying for your own plane ticket and chipping in for the hotel may be a big relief to your groomsmen or bridal party.
The cost of a bachelorette or bachelor party can vary wildly depending on the location, activities, and number of days. A 2021 study by The Knot found that “one in two females said they were willing to spend $1,000 or more on an upcoming [bachelor/bachelorette] event, while 54% of males said the same thing.”
If you’re looking to save money on a bachelor or bachelorette party, consider staying closer to home and shortening the number of days set aside for the event.
Bachelorette Party in St. Augustine on the Old Town Cycle Cruise
Marriage License
You can’t get married without a marriage license! Depending on where you live and the methods you use to obtain it, a marriage license will run you between $20-$100. You’ll also need to budget for the copy of your license, as it’s usually not included in the fee.
Gratuities
It is customary to tip some of your wedding vendors. From the musicians and florists to your wedding planner and stylists, so many people work hard to make sure you have an amazing celebration! The tip amount varies by vendor, however the average is about 20%.
Some vendors may have information readily available about suggested gratuities. If you’re unsure, just ask!
Nice gifts for some vendors (like your wedding planner) are a good idea too. Providing wedding photos from your professional photographer so your vendors can use them for their portfolios is always appreciated!
Postage
This cost is often overlooked. Sending letters in the mail is something that we do so infrequently these days that many people are unfamiliar with postage costs. It’s very important to factor postage into your stationery budget and invitation design. Here’s a breakdown:
- The current postage rate for a standard 1 oz letter is currently $0.73.* If you’re inviting 100 people, that’s $73 in stamps.
- If you have a 2 oz 1st class letter (common for larger/heavier wedding invitations), you’ll need two-ounce wedding stamps, which are $1.01.*
- The post office charges a non-machinable surcharge of 46 cents* for square envelopes, envelopes that don’t bend easily, and envelopes that have clasps, strings, or wax seals. Make sure to consider this surcharge when you design your wedding invitations.
- It’s customary to include the RSVP envelope** pre-stamped for the convenience of guests, and that’s another 73 cents per invitation.
*Values are current as of October 2024 but can change often. Make sure to check current postage rates.
**Cost-saving tip: You can save on postage by opting for an electronic RSVP!
Factor in save-the-date cards, thank-you cards for pre-wedding events like your bridal shower, and thank-you cards for the wedding itself, and you’re spending a few hundred dollars just on stamps. It really adds up when you think about it!
Victoria and Jorge’s wedding invitation suite with coordinating postage. Photo: Mechi Ausina Photography
Random Guests
Ok, maybe not random, but unexpected guests are a thing. Inevitably that cousin who RSVP’d “no” turns up, or Mary Sue comes with a plus one when she only RSVP’d for herself.
Fortunately, most venues and other vendors have a contingency plan for accommodating unexpected guests–to a point. Unfortunately, this will increase your final bill.
Gifts For The Wedding Party, Important Family, and Your Future Spouse
If you’ve ever been in a wedding, you probably know that it’s customary to give gifts to the bridal party and important family members. What you may not know is how expensive these gifts can be.
Monogrammed gifts, jewelry, and other trinkets are traditional gifts, but if you’ve got several wedding party members, or a large family, and give a few gifts each, you’ll be spending around $75-$150 per person. If you have the general average of 6 bridesmaids and 6 groomsmen, that’s between $900-$1,800 on the wedding party. If you have two parents each, that’s another $300-$600. You may end up spending over $2,000 on these gifts alone!
It’s also become customary for the couple getting married to exchange gifts the night before the wedding or on the morning of. Again, these gifts can range in type and value, but common gifts include jewelry, watches, cufflinks, photo albums, and other customized or personally meaningful items.
Alexandra and Andrue exchanged meaningful gifts before their wedding at the Lightner Museum. Photo: Stephanie W Photography
Wedding Favors
Wedding favors aren’t a requirement on your wedding day, but many couples choose to offer a special treat or keepsake for guests. According to The Knot, the price of wedding favors averages between $1-$3 per guest, but can be higher or lower.
Check out this blog from our sister property, The Treasury on the Plaza, with 27 Unique Wedding Favors for Your St. Augustine Nuptials.
Clothes For Other Wedding-Related Events
When it comes to wedding attire, you’re not just buying a wedding dress and renting a tux for the big day. Most brides want to look stunning for all of their wedding-related events, so it’s time to factor in bachelorette party outfits, a rehearsal dinner look, a bridal shower dress, the morning of the wedding, and post-wedding brunch attire to your budget.
It’s become trendy for brides (and grooms!) to change outfits during the wedding itself. Bridal jumpsuits, sparkly dresses, and colorful dress changes are popping up at wedding receptions or wedding after-parties. These fashion statements range widely in price, but some may be similar in price to a wedding gown!
Add the groom-to-be for all of his pre-wedding events, and you’ve got some hefty price tags on your hands for several new outfits.
Décor, Rentals, and Signage
There’s often a lot more to your wedding decorations than just flowers. A lot of couples add additional rental furniture, ceremony backdrops, candles, votives, and other décor that help set the mood and personalize their wedding.
Don’t forget about signage and other print materials! You’ll often need a seating chart, table numbers, menus, ceremony programs, and more.
Alterations
Rarely does a wedding dress or suit fit perfectly. After all, our bodies are all unique!
Brides need to factor in the cost of alterations in their dress budget because, depending on their needs. Based on research from The Knot, alterations run between $700 to $1,000, but costs can vary depending on the seamstress, your location, and your alterations needs.
We know you may be thinking, ‘if it kind-of fits, I’ll just wear it,’ but the last thing you want on your big day is your straps falling during photos or your bra peeking over the top of your neckline.
While some grooms may rent their attire, others may want a bespoke suit or tuxedo. The more customized, the higher the cost will be. Alterations for a ready-to-wear suit typically aren’t as expensive as a bridal gown, but you still need to budget a few extra bucks to make sure you look sharp.
Rebecca’s gorgeous gown fit like a glove on her wedding day at the Lightner Museum. Photo: Hey Tay Photography
Additional Time
Do you want additional time at your venue on the big day to get wedding-ready? You may want to pay for additional time in your private suites.
Sometimes you have so much fun at the wedding reception that you don’t want the party to end! If you want additional time on the dance floor, there may be additional costs to continue the party.
Check your wedding venue and vendor contracts for details and costs related to adding additional time on your wedding day.
Accommodations & Spaces for Getting Ready
Unless you are getting married very close to where you live, most couples need a place to stay overnight before and after their wedding celebration. Hotel or vacation rental costs should be factored into your wedding budget, especially for destination weddings.
Many wedding venues include a space for wedding parties to get ready on the big day. Depending on the size of your group and the venue access time, you may need a separate location for everyone to do hair and makeup and change into their wedding attire. Couples often choose to reserve larger suites for everyone to be together, relax, and enjoy the start of the day. Costs will vary depending on the cost, location, and size of these accommodations.
Transportation
Another unexpected wedding cost we see fairly often is transportation. Is your wedding ceremony in a different location from your wedding reception? How will you get from one destination to another? Will you offer transportation to your guests to help them get to one or more of your wedding venues?
Have you thought about doing a cool wedding getaway at the end of your wedding reception? Many couples choose to leave in a cool vintage car, horse-drawn carriage, or other statement-making vehicle. Don’t forget to account for these costs in your wedding budget!
How to Control Those Unexpected Wedding Costs
Weddings are a time of excitement and celebration, but they do come with unexpected costs from time to time.
While it may be impossible to completely avoid extra costs, the best thing you can do is make yourself as aware of all costs as early in the planning process as possible, so you can budget accordingly. When speaking to vendors, ask them what is included in their initial pricing estimates, and what isn’t. Most vendor contracts lay out additional fees, and when they may come into play. Make sure to read everything carefully!
One of the ways to avoid unexpected costs is to find a venue with all-inclusive or semi-inclusive packages. At the Lightner Museum, we have an inclusive Intimate Wedding Package that includes all of your venue amenities, catering, bar, day-of wedding coordination, wedding cake, decor, DJ, and more. While there may still be additional wedding costs, this package gives you a clearer idea of the majority of your larger wedding costs up front!
If you’re interested in learning more about the Lightner Museum, we have a convenient virtual tour that you can walk through from the comfort of your home. Our team would also be thrilled to chat with you about your wedding and answer any questions, or schedule an in-person tour.
Click here to Contact Us, or give us a call at (904) 217-0077.
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