As a first (and only, I would hope) time bride, it is so difficult to get a real handle on all the different line items, fees and charges that end up creeping into the budget as plans solidify.
My fiance and I are trying to decide between several different options in terms of location, type of venue, and style and size of the wedding and I want to make a responsible decision. What I am concerned about is that we will book something that sounds great and then all the sudden there are more and more “little” things and fees that keep adding up that we didn’t anticipate.
I would really love if you past-brides can shine some light on what caught you off guard or what you might not have thought of when planning your estimated budget. If you could include the following I would be forever in your debt:
– Type of venue(s): Restaurant, resort, hotel, park, church, community hall, etc.
– Inclusive venue or multiple vendors (did you go with a venue that provided the food, alcohol and service staff, for example. What did it all include?)
– What fees, gratuities, charges, etc. crept up on you that you hadn’t anticipated when you put together your initial budget? (was there an extra charge for something you assumed was included? Gratuities or taxes? Cost overages? Etc)
– What questions do you wish you had asked that you didn’t? How would asking those questions have saved you time, money or stress?
