One of the first tasks every newly engaged couple will put their minds to is devising a wedding budget. Having a wedding budget that suits your finances, and is realistic and in line with your expectations, takes some doing, not to mention a lot of research. Yet even ultra-organised brides-to-be encounter a few surprise costs as wedding planning gets underway.
To ensure you have no nasty shocks to contend with when organising your special day, we’re here to share the most commonly forgotten wedding costs.
Wedding insurance
Purchasing wedding insurance could potentially save your wedding should the worst happen. We’ll let WeddingWire explain how:
“Wedding insurance pays for lost deposits, property or personal damage, stolen goods and loss of use. Extra coverage can also include jewellery protection, wedding dress damage, ‘change of heart’, and more. Some wedding insurance policies also pay for a new wedding if you have to postpone or cancel the event.”
There are many instances where having wedding insurance could save you lots of time, effort and money. We are clear about the advantages of obtaining wedding insurance with all our couples. In fact, for those marrying at Bourton Hall or any other Country House Weddings venue, insurance isn’t just a want but a need.
As of January 2024, all couples must acquire wedding insurance within 21 days of booking. If they don’t, their wedding will be cancelled. Wedding insurance gives peace of mind to the couple and the venue, so it should be made a priority.
Postage costs
There’s something extra special about going old school with printed save-the-dates and wedding invitations. Having a more formal invite land on your loved one’s doormat certainly has an air of occasion to it, yet there’s one cost that those going digital with their wedding invitations won’t have to foot the bill for.
Postage costs certainly add up, especially if you are sending both save the dates and wedding invitations to a long list of guests, and offering stamped addressed envelopes for the return of their RSVPs. Couples sending thank you cards post-wedding will also have additional postage costs to budget for.
Service extras
As with booking any service, enlisting a wedding supplier comes with its admin. Even tasks that are integral to the wedding ceremony (such as giving notice) have associated fees, which need to be budgeted for. If your chosen wedding vendor is registered for VAT, you should also make sure the prices you are quoted are inclusive of this cost.
VAT and admin fees aren’t the only extras that could go hand-in-hand with hiring a particular wedding service. Your vendor may require you to foot the bill for additional costs, such as travel expenses, food and drink, late finishes, delivery and setup fees, or equipment hire.
Wedding coordination
Having the support you need on the day is crucial to you being able to sit back, relax and enjoy every moment. Instead of relying solely on family and friends, many couples choose to enlist professional help courtesy of an on-the-day wedding coordinator.
Here at Bourton Hall, our Personal Wedding Managers are here for you, meaning you won’t have to enlist additional on-the-day support at extra cost. As well as assisting you on the day, they provide their help and expertise from up to six months before your wedding date to keep planning stress to a minimum.
Alterations and accessories
While choosing your bridal gown or suit will be your main mission, it takes a few more accessories to complete your wedding outfit.
Wedding underwear, jewellery, perfume or aftershave and other toiletries, hair accessories, and footwear all need to be included in your budget. You should also budget for alterations, with extra fittings likely to be required if you’re purchasing your wedding dress online.
Venue charges
Some wedding venues charge extra fees for various services, including cleaning, cloakroom staff, cake stands and knives, decorations, and food tastings. As an all-inclusive venue however, we make it simple for marrying couples by including a lot of necessities in our packages.
Whether choosing our Classical or Intimate package, or our one- or two-day Luxe option, you can rest assured that you’ll find the essentials and extras to make your wedding day dreams come true. You can find further details about all our wedding packages here.
