Unexpected Items That Will Ruin Your Wedding Budget
When Jay & I first got engaged we wanted different things: He wanted a wedding, I wanted to elope.
I won that battle (-; mostly because he said he would be ok with us eloping if we bought a house first so I instantly agreed because I wanted that too!
Even with eloping though, we had to set a budget, just like any couple getting married, and that got me thinking about all the little details that a lot of couples probably don’t factor into their budget.
Some might apply to you, others may not, but all are definitely things that don’t get mentioned enough and can surprisingly eat away at your wedding budget.
1. Vendor meals
Yes, you have to feed your vendors.
Not all of them, but any who are there for the reception, such as your DJ/band, photographers, and wedding planners.
Make sure you read all of your contracts. Jay and I only require a hot meal for weddings that are 6+ hours but we certainly won’t turn down a tasty elopement brunch (-; I’ve heard some Charleston venues charge $60 per vendor meal, so again, read the contracts and get an accurate head count from the vendors you need to provide a meal for.
2. Postage
Mailing out Save the Dates and wedding invitations (and if you’re including a return stamp for RSVPs) to 100+ people at $.49 cents a pop is going to add up rather quickly. Tech savvy couples are saving money by having guests RSVP online!
3. Tips
While you don’t have to tip every vendor at your wedding (though trust me when I say we are always grateful when it does happen!), you NEED to tip the caterers/servers, makeup artists, delivery people, and transportation!
4. Sales tax
This one is probably the biggest budget buster on this list.
Charleston has a sales tax of 9% on tangible items! For example, if you purchase a $5000 wedding dress in Charleston you will be charged $450 in sales tax. Your venue is $15,000? Add another $1350 to that, plus a service charge most likely.
Luckily, if you order a wedding album with us and you DO NOT live in South Carolina, we don’t have to charge you sales tax!
5. Gifts
Not everyone gives gifts on the wedding day, but set a budget if you plan to! People who usually receive gifts on the wedding day: you and your partner (gifts from each other), the wedding party, both sets of parents and grandparents. This can also apply to welcome bags for guests at their hotel.
Personally, we think you should save your money and skip the gifts or invest it in a cool experience that everyone at the wedding can enjoy! Oooor invest it in your honeymoon!
Katie + Jay of Catherine Ann Photography are Charleston SC Based Wedding & Elopement Photographers specializing in candid & fun wedding photos that feel like you!
Ready to book your wedding with us? Get in touch here!
