You’ve set your wedding budget, chosen the perfect venue, and booked your dream photographer — but before you start celebrating your savvy spending, there’s one thing many couples overlook: unexpected wedding costs.

It’s surprisingly easy to underestimate the full cost of a wedding. Between tips, taxes, and last-minute add-ons, expenses can sneak up fast. To help you avoid any budget stress down the road, here are some of the most common unexpected wedding costs that couples often forget — and how to plan for them.

1. Marriage License Fees

Before you can say “I do,” you need a legal marriage license — and yes, there’s a fee for that. Depending on your location, it could cost anywhere from $50 to $150. Some places also charge extra for certified copies, which you’ll need if you’re changing your name.

📌 Tip: Check your local government’s website ahead of time and budget for 2–3 certified copies if needed.

2. Vendor Gratuities and Tips

Many wedding vendors don’t include tips in their initial pricing. Gratuity is often expected for caterers, bartenders, hair and makeup artists, DJs, delivery drivers, and more.

💡 Helpful idea: Create tip envelopes in advance and assign someone you trust to hand them out on the big day.

3. Dress Alterations

You found the dress — amazing! But alterations can cost anywhere from $50 to $500+ depending on how much needs to be adjusted. Many couples also forget to budget for steaming or dry cleaning before and after the wedding.

4. Postage for Invitations (and RSVPs!)

That gorgeous wedding stationery you ordered? If it’s heavy, oversized, or oddly shaped, it may require extra postage. And don’t forget you’ll need stamps for your RSVP envelopes too.

5. Beauty Trial Runs

You’ll want to do a trial run for your hair and makeup before the wedding day to make sure you love the look. This is often charged separately from the wedding day rate — and it’s totally worth it!

6. Welcome Bags and Guest Favors

If you’re planning on giving welcome bags to out-of-town guests or offering wedding favours, those little gifts can add up fast, especially if you have a large guest list.

7. Vendor Meals

Your vendors (like photographers, videographers, and band/DJ) are likely working through dinner — and it’s standard to feed them. Many caterers offer discounted “vendor meals,” but you still need to factor this into your headcount and cost.

8. Dress and Suit Accessories

It’s easy to forget about shoes, jewelry, undergarments, ties, cufflinks, and even the cost of steaming or pressing attire before the wedding.

👞 Tip: Make a full outfit checklist for both partners early on to avoid last-minute purchases.

9. Wedding Day Emergency Items

You don’t want to be stuck without a sewing kit, fashion tape, stain remover, or pain reliever on your wedding day. Most couples forget to budget for these tiny (but crucial!) items.

Save yourself the stress and pick up a ready-made Wedding Day Emergency Kit that includes all the essentials in one convenient pouch.

10. Overtime Charges

If your reception runs over schedule — even just 15 minutes — some vendors charge overtime fees. This is especially true for venues, DJs, photographers, and transportation companies.

⏰ Tip: Build a little buffer time into your timeline and confirm overtime policies with each vendor.

11. Clean-Up and Breakdown Fees

Some venues include cleanup in their packages — others don’t. You may need to pay for additional staff, equipment rentals, or trash disposal.

12. Thank You Cards and Post-Wedding Stationery

After the big day, you’ll want to send thank-you notes. If you had a large guest list or received lots of gifts, this can be a significant cost in printing and postage.

Final Thoughts

Budgeting for your wedding isn’t just about the big ticket items — it’s the small, often-overlooked expenses that can tip the scales. The good news? Planning ahead means fewer surprises and less stress as your day approaches.

Start a “hidden costs” line in your wedding budget spreadsheet and build in a 5–10% buffer just in case. You’ll thank yourself later.

💖 Want more wedding planning tips? Explore the blog for budget-friendly guides, planning checklists, and heartfelt ideas to make your big day unforgettable.

Save this post for later!