Wedding planning has officially begun, but you’ve suddenly found yourself knee-deep in unfamiliar terms, contracts, and payment dates. Ease the confusion of wedding vendor costs with a clear understanding of how these numbers add up, so you can clearly see where all of your money goes.
Wedding vendor costs don’t have to be overwhelming. Let this bride’s guide help you put together your special day. Knowing the ins and outs will make the process stresses and hidden costs disappear, and you canhelp move things along with a wedding planning checklist here to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
Read the Contract
Contracts are probably the hardest part to wrap your head around, but crucial to understand because they spell out the wedding vendor costs in detail. Most brides are dealing with multiple vendors and unclarified statements could get messy quickly. It’s easy to avoid this “he said, she said” problem down the road simply by knowing what you’re signing ahead of time. Make sure all “promises” are put in writing!
Changes to retainer deadlines, the fee schedule, and any additional services should be noted in writing. Ask any questions before signing to make sure you understand what you’re getting into, whether it’s about payment timelines or vendor provisions. This way, you won’t have to worry about doubling back later and you’ll avoid future headaches.
Ask for An Itemized List
There’s nothing wrong with asking vendors to include an itemized list in their quotes. This paints a clear picture of how much each vendor is costs, clarifies their offerings, and helps ensure you haven’t forgotten anything.
When they provide a statement outlining every service they cover, you can see exactly how much that service is costing you, where the money is going, and whether anything is missing and needs to be added, either as an add-in by the vendor or through an additional party. Any included services you don’t need can then be eliminated. Knowing where the budget is spent keeps you in control and on track for the big day.
Payment Options and Timing
You won’t be footing the entire bill at the start or at the end of the wedding—you’ll pay it in stages. Outlining each vendor’s pay schedule helps you work out your finances according to those deadlines. Most vendors require a deposit at the start, and they all have different policies regarding cancellations or refunds. Add each of your payment deadlines to your wedding timeline to keep things on track.
Everybody wants to manage their cash flow and ensure they can pay without falling short. Get a handle on wedding vendor costs by being honest about what you have to work with, so booking parties can make your vision come to life.
The Hidden Costs
Many people forget about the hidden price tags in wedding vendor costs until they start putting their list together. The main vendor costs are easy to check off: venue, caterer, photographer, band… but what about those other costs? Items such as linen, set up, decorations, and cake cutting, are pricey yet sometimes forgotten important items.
Couples also forget about taxes and gratuities in addition to the main charge. Again, these quickly add up and you want a firm understanding beforehand to keep track of the total price. You’ll also want to budget for this so you know how much you have to spend elsewhere.
The Wedding Date
Similar to booking a vacation, the wedding date plays a part in determining the cost. Saturdays continue to be the most popular—and priciest, day of the week to book a wedding. Weekdays and Sundays are inexpensive alternatives for ceremonies and receptions. June and September weddings cost more, when the weather is neither too hot nor too cool for outdoor venues. Demand is lower in the early spring and November, and lower demand means vendors are willing to charge less.
Booking your wedding venue and other parties has a price tag that changes depending on the season and day of the week. Don’t forget to keep those factors in mind when budgeting your overall wedding vendor costs.
