These darn extra expenses

Yeah it’s pretty insane. Even the “10% administrative fee”, down to the insane up charge for things. I mean don’t get me wrong and I know it’s a business and they’re trying to make money, but when you’re trying to charge someone $15 per candle when it’s the same exact one from the dollar store, it gets a little insane. Like when they try to charge you $600 for a couch that you’re going to be renting for five hours that probably no one will even be sitting on when you can actually buy that same couch at the store for less and own it.

Yes!!!! That is how I felt last year when I was looking into vendors! (I just got married this month on the 17th). I learned real fast that you have to a your venues if they come with table, chairs, linens or silverware. You have to ask your catering company for a quote that INCLUDES tax and gratuity. I also learned for make up and hair it’s cost extra to do a trial. Same with photographer, not all photographers include engagement session in their package especially if you’re doing al carte. The list goes on!!! Just be sure to ask up front what all is included and to ask for taxes, fees, and gratuity to be included in your price for quotes so you get no surprises!! And yes the wedding industry sucks lol we got lucky and found a venue within an hour that included everything!!! Good luck!

Absolutely! there are things that you don't even realize are needed and things definitely add up. borrow what you can from people to save money!

Thankfully this isn't me because my guest like is only about 65 and I don't need them too fancy, but invitations are so expensive. I didnt realize people spend 100s and 100s on them. My save the dates and invites will probably equal around 100

View Quoted Comment Aren’t invitations stupid expensive...
I made my own for less than 150 bucks. Haha I like them better than anything I would have found to purchase

View Quoted Comment It’s the freaking worst. Now I understand when people say “your wedding budget isn’t actually a budget. Always expect to pay more!”

View Quoted Comment Congrats!!! Yeah all those small details people overlook all the time. Luckily we read the fine print on every contract so we know what to expect. It’s the other things that’s aren’t stated and listed separately so people forget to ask about those things.
It’s these little freaking things all adding up as extra expenses that is driving me bonkers!

View Quoted Comment Exactly. Well said. I made my centerpieces with dollar tree items and it look like something from like Crate and Barrel 🤣

When I started planning, I was really surprised to see/hear there were cake cutting costs. Like, really? They have to be paid to cut the cake? I mean I guess I can see the reasoning but I'm already paying a ton for their services. My venue doesn't charge this.

Another one, again with the cake...I never realized that when people have flowers on their cake, they buy them from the florist at an extra expense. Or they buy fake flowers to add on. I just always thought the cake decorators incorporated the florals based on what you wanted. Now thinking about it, seems kind of stupid for me to not realize it haha because bakeries don't just have random flowers available to them.

Haven’t come across many yet because we’ve been diligent about what we’re willing to spend money on and doing the necessary research.

Weddings are expensive due to pressure from the industry. This includes unrealistic extravagant tv shows (Say Yes to the Dress, Four Weddings, etc). They know that brides want a certain look/vibe and they make sure that they charge out out the ass for it too because they know no one will bat an eye and will pay for it willing. In the same breath they guilt and punish couples who think outside the box.

Extra expenses were one of the reasons we chose not to go with an all inclusive venue. While they may have a low rental fee, they come at you with hugely expensive food/drink minimums that go way over budget by a couple zeros. They also did not negotiate out things we did not want. That’s not even considering adding more time. It’s cheaper in the end for us to do a blank slate venue and nearly all the ones we looked at include tables/chairs/kitchen, etc.

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My friend is wedding planning now and i definitely told her it's normal to go over budget because you just don't expect things to cost what they do or you don't expect to get things that add up

Hah! You think that’s bead I just had to buy salt and pepper shakers for all the tables and bread baskets for each table. This is nuts!

View Quoted Comment Stop you’re lying! Noooo, what!? That is just an insult haha.

All the little things add up! We opted to elope knowing it would be cheaper but we quickly experienced a spike in our original elopement budget. I guess we just can’t shake the original styled beach picnic idea so we have been throwing our money at vendors. I spent $300 on just decor for one picnic table setup... that’s a rug, several pillows, and some table decor... HOW?!? And I haven’t even found the table that’s gonna serve as our sweetheart picnic table. 😅😂

View Quoted Comment I kid you not. I know they’ll be other stupid stuff I forgot. I better check and make sure they’re supplying the toilet paper. Haha😂