5 Wedding Costs You Probably Haven’t Budgeted For – But Really Need To

Wedding planning is a complicated process that involves a lot of details and coordination. What it doesn't have to include is surprise expenses.

Here, we’ve broken down some common costs that most engaged couples don’t think about when they are planning their budget for their wedding. Read on to stay informed, so that you aren’t caught unaware when these unexpected expenses pop up.

1. Hair and Makeup Trials

When budgeting for hair and makeup, make sure you don’t forget about the fees for a trial.

Many stylists will offer brides the chance to do a trial run before their wedding day. Since trials are an additional fee, you may be tempted to skip it. However, I highly recommend that you do not.

To get the best results on your wedding day, your stylists need time to get to know your specific makeup and hair needs. What foundations best match your skin tone? What color palette best compliments your features? One Lake Fungs Barn bride knew she wanted an updo, but at her hair trial, the stylist realized that the bride’s hair was too thick for regular bobby pins to hold the updo in place. The stylist switched to extra large pins on the wedding day, and the updo stayed in place. Without the trial, the stylist wouldn’t have known to bring the correct pins, and the hairdo would’ve come undone before the bride even made it to her reception.

The trials are also a way for you to see if you actually like a look or not. A smokey eye may look great on the random girl whose photo you found on Pinterest, but it might not compliment your features. Giving yourself the budget to have a hair and makeup trial ensures that you are getting the best results possible on the big day. In Richmond and central Virginia, the fee for one trial is about $100.

2. Wedding Gowns and Tuxes' Alterations, Cleaning, and Preservation

Are you shopping for your dream wedding dress or tux? Don’t forget that you will 100% end up paying more than the number on the price tag.

Aside for the sales tax, many brides and grooms also pay for alterations. Every body is unique, and alterations go a long way in ensuring that you look your best on the wedding day. We’ve even had couples who’ve gone through two or three rounds of tailoring. Not every tailor will work on a wedding dress, so brides, make sure that you find a reputable tailor who can handle bridal gowns and budget for the cost of the alterations.

In addition, after the wedding, many people opt to preserve their outfits. Some do it for sentimental reasons. Others want to pass their ensembles down to their children in the future. Cleaning and preservation are also additional costs that many people forget, but it’s a must-do if you want to hang on to your dress or suit.

Feeling a little stressed at the costs mentioned so far? Don’t worry! We have a relationship with a dress boutique that carries wedding dresses, bridal accessories, tuxedos, and bridesmaid gowns. We are proud to offer an exclusive discount to our couples to keep costs low.

3. Vendor Meals and Tips

Your vendors will do everything they can to make your wedding day a dream come true. We know this, because we are a wedding vendor and fulfilling our couples’ vision is our top priority.

However, vendors are still humans, and they won’t be able to do their best work if they’re hungry.

When your caterer asks for the final head count, make sure you include your planner, photographers, videographers, and DJ in that number. Is it going to cost you a little more? Sure. But ensuring that the people who are working your wedding are fed means that they’ll have more energy to make your vision a reality.

It is also customary to tip your wedding vendors. This list includes the vendors mentioned above, as well as your caterers, your hair stylist, and your makeup artist. (Note that you might have the same person doing hair and makeup. In this case, only one tip is expected.) The easiest way to handle the tips is to put the money in clearly labelled envelopes and give them to your planner or a trusted family member/friend at the beginning of the day. Delegate to them the task of handing out the tips before each vendor leaves, and then you can focus on enjoying your wedding!

4. ABC License

Planning on serving alcohol at your wedding? You need an ABC license.

The Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Authority issues many different types of licenses. If this is your first time planning a wedding, the many choices listed on the website can be daunting. However, all you need is a simple banquet license.

Also called a one-day license, the banquet license is for private events where guests will consume alcohol at no cost of their own. While the application is not difficult, you should apply for the license at least two weeks before your wedding date to allow for processing times. The application fee is $40. Once you have the license, print it out and display it in a frame by the bar.

Ready for this step? Apply for your license here.

5. Single Day Insurance

No one ever plans for mishaps. Unfortunately, they have a habit of happening when they happen, regardless of our feelings. And when you mix a large gathering of people and alcohol, your chances of running into accidents inevitably increase.

A single day insurance covers you in case mishaps like injuries or damage to the venue occur. Please note that many venues, including Lake Fungs Barn, requires that you purchase single day insurance. So it’s a good idea to check in with your venue as soon as possible to see if this is a requirement.

To make this process as easy as possible for you, here at Lake Fungs Barn, we work with an insurance company to provide couples with a pre-filled out form. However, our couples are also welcome to purchase it from their own insurance companies if they’d prefer.

Now that you know what to look out for, you can be confident in knowing that you are prepared and have a more realistic wedding budget.

And if you’re ready to book specific vendors and find your dream venue, let’s talk.

vendors in cover photo

venue & planning: Lake Fungs Barn

photography: IYQ Photography

hair and makeup: Dena Leann Artistry

flowers: Sunshine Florist & Gifts

DJ: Shawn Minor

cake: Publix

officiant: Chris Karol

dress: Blue Sage Bridal

rentals: Classic Party Rentals

catering: Luca’s Italian Restaurant

vendors in article photo

venue: Lake Fungs Barn

caterer & bartender: Autumn’s Catering & Cafe

DJ: All About The Music

photographer: TG Imagine Photography