Hidden Wedding Costs Every Couple Needs To Know About

Hidden wedding costs can sneak up on even the most diligent of couples. It’s easy to forget to check whether a supplier’s service charge is included, for example… Only to find out a week before your wedding that you need to cough up an extra few hundred pounds! Nightmare.

So what should you look out for? Well, luckily for you, we’ve asked our experts and got the inside scoop. Read on to find out the hidden wedding costs you’d never think the budget for. We promise your wallet will thank you!

Psst! If you want to make even bigger savings, Bridebook is home to the most powerful wedding budget planner available. Simply enter your total wedding funds and in just one click, you’ll have your personalised wedding budget breakdown. Wave goodbye to spreadsheets and penny-pinching!

bridebook.co.uk hidden wedding costs uk

1. If you’re getting married in a church and want an organist, bellringer or choir, check if it’s included. It rarely is, meaning you’ll need to budget extra for the add-on.

2. Watch out for where you’re getting married when estimating costs! An off-site civil ceremony tends to cost more than a ceremony at a registry office.

3. Remember that you’ll rarely pay the base rate for your wedding dress. Wedding dress prices often don’t include the cost of any potential alterations – and you’ll usually need around three fittings to get it just right!

4. Don’t forget any delivery costs that come as extra. Many suppliers, from florists and cakemakers to hair and makeup artists, will charge a premium when delivering from a certain distance.

Bridebook.co.uk wedding stationary tips and prices

5. It’s a sneaky one, but check whether or not envelopes are included in the price of your wedding stationery. Can you believe they sometimes aren’t?!

6. Another stationery-related one for you: consider the cost of stamps – especially if you have family abroad! Depending on the weight of your invitations and how far they’ll have to travel, stamps can rack up fast.

Bridebook.co.uk wedding catering hidden costs

7. Feeling peckish? Plan in advance what you and your wedding party will snack on while you’re getting ready on the big day, even if it’s just some homemade sandwiches. Remember, you’ll probably be nervous. You might also have had a little something to drink… And we all know how easy it is to spend a small fortune on takeout when hunger strikes!

8. While reusing flowers from your ceremony at your reception can be a quick way to save a few bucks, you’ll need to check beforehand if you’re travelling between venues that it’s actually as cost-effective as you think. Your florist may well charge a fee for the extra work they’ll do to relocate displays between different locations.

9. If you’re filming your wedding, some musicians may charge a fee to have their performance filmed. Ask in advance so you’re not surprised on the day!

10. Don’t forget to tip! Make sure your wedding venue (or caterer) includes any compulsory service charges in their bill from the start. It can be an unpleasant (and costly!) surprise to have another 12.5% added to your bill at the last minute.

11. Something many couples forget is that their wedding team (think your photographer, videographer, entertainer, band or DJ, etc.) – may well be expecting to be fed. They won’t necessarily expect the same meal you’re serving your guests – although this can be an easy way to kill two birds with one stone – but do check their contracts, as some will stipulate hot meals be provided. Whether it’s part of their contract or not, we’d always advise that best practice is to make sure your suppliers are provided for.

12. Definitely don’t forget about corkage fees. This is a charge many venues will add onto alcohol bought elsewhere – and it can add up fast. This means that even if you found alcohol for sale at bargain prices, it might no longer be cheaper than buying from the venue once you consider how much the venue will charge you to serve it.

13. If you’re having a marquee at your wedding, make sure to take out insurance to cover any potential damage. It’s not worth the risk of going without!

14. One detail it’s easy to forget – but impossible to avoid – is transport! How are you getting to your ceremony, from there to your reception, and finally back to your accommodation? Whether you need a car, a tractor or a horse, factor the cost of that wedding transport in.

15. We know, we know – we sound like a broken record. But don’t forget about VAT! Check whether or not it’s included and read the small print to avoid any surprises.

16. Your main focus might be on your wedding day but it’s important to budget for any post-wedding spending, as these costs can be significant. For example, you might need to dry clean clothing, buy thank you notes for your guests, and so on.

While we can’t guarantee that covers absolutely everything, those are the top things we’d look out for – and even they could save you hundreds of pounds! One final tip is to make sure you note everything down in one place and make sure the terms of all your arrangements are crystal clear to both parties. That way, you’re on top of everything – and you won’t need to worry about any unexpected surprises!

You Might Also Like…

Happy Planning!

8 Things To Do Now That You’re Engaged

You’re engaged, congratulations! You’re about to embark on one of the most amazing journeys of your life – and you’ve got your soulmate by your side. You’re on this rollercoaster together, and we promise it’s going to be full of love, surprises and celebration. So enjoy the ride!

As the realisation of what’s to come sets in, you might be wondering what happens next. Where do you start? Who do you tell first? How do you tell them? When should you start planning your wedding? How do you start?

Because there are so many things to do, things can get overwhelming quite quickly. But don’t worry, we’re here to guide you in the right direction and help make the next couple of weeks a lot easier, with a checklist for making sure you have everything covered.

So, in this post, we’re going to outline a step-by-step guide for everything you should do after you get engaged, from the order you should tell your family and friends to when the right time is to start making those bookings.

The wedding planning video course: kickstart your wedding planning

Now that you’re engaged, it’s time to start planning your dream wedding, but where to start? In this video, Bridebook founder (and qualified wedding planner!) Hamish Shephard breaks down your wedding organisation into 5 easy steps so you can plan stress-free and kickstart your wedding to-do list.

1. Spread the Word

You’re engaged to the love of your life – and it’s time to let everyone know! Call your nearest and dearest to tell them your big news.

 2. Call in the A Team

We bet some of the first people you call will end up being key players in your wedding party. They might be your maid of honour or your best man, if you have one. Make an event of it and ask them to be by your side at your wedding over a drink or a meal out. Then start having a think about who else you want involved. Our number one piece of advice is to choose the people you love – not the people you feel obligated to have. You should be surrounded by your favourite people in the world. 

3. Make the Papers

It’s not for everyone, but you might want to follow tradition by announcing your engagement in the local (or even national) newspaper. It’ll make your parents’ days, for sure. Historically, engagement announcements included lots of details about the couple’s backgrounds, families and so on. Nowadays, though, it’s up to you what you include. 

4. The Social Media Shout Out

If there was ever a time to shout about something on social media, it’s now! Whether you post a cute engagement selfie with your partner to your Instagram, update your Facebook relationship status or even make a cheeky TikTok, savour this moment. It’s time to pop the champagne… Again! 

5. Look After Your Ring

Have you ever worn anything so precious? So thoughtful, so sentimental, so valuable… Okay, now we’re freaking ourselves out thinking about losing it! Get your ring insured. ASAP. Then you can stop worrying and start showing it off! “Sorry, just let me hold that for you. Oh, this? Just my engagement ring. What’s that, I’ve shown it to you already? My bad…” You’re only engaged once – milk it!  

6. Get the Party Started 

It’s party time. Get a date in the diary to celebrate with everyone that matters. Just remember that anyone who’s invited to your engagement party is likely to expect an invitation to the wedding too… But that’s only according to “tradition” (who’s that?) – so if you want a blow-out bash, go for it! Plus, if you anticipate having to fill your guest list with second cousins at your parents’ behest, now’s the time to leave them off the list and party on down with your nearest and dearest. 

7. Get Papped!

We’re sure you’ll want to remember this period in your lives forever so make sure to document it with an engagement photoshoot! It’s a great opportunity to get to know your photographer and to get used to being in front of the camera. Think of it as a test run before your wedding – so get your smiles ready! 

8. Think Big Picture

Before you make any proper decisions about your wedding date, start off by sussing out what’s going to work for your nearest and dearest. Are there any other weddings happening that year? Does anyone have a big holiday booked? You don’t want to commit to a date, only to find out your best friend can’t make it. If you already know where you want to get married, have a think about when it’ll look its best. Will it really shine in summer or is it the perfect location for a winter wedding? (If you don’t know where to start looking, check out our wedding venue directory – it’s the best in Europe!)

There you have it: the first eight things to do after you get engaged. Now, isn’t it time for you to pour yourself another drink and go celebrate some more?

You Might Also Like…

Happy Planning!

Wedding Etiquette: Who (Traditionally) Pays For What?

You’re engaged to your best friend, your partner in crime, your ride or die — and now it’s time to start planning the big party!

Now, the first thing on your mind is likely to be, “How much is all of this going to cost?”… and the second is probably, “But how are we going to pay for it?” But don’t panic! We’ve got a super powerful budget tool which uses thousands of couples’ real budgets to estimate the total cost of your wedding and then break that down so you have a good idea of exactly what each part will cost.

Some families offer to help the newlyweds-to-be celebrate the most magical day of their lives, and we’re here to give you the lowdown on who (traditionally) pays for what. So once you’ve calculated your budget and seen how much everything’s going to cost, you and your partner can both let your families know what they can help with! At the end of the day, it’s whatever works for you and your family…but this is a great place to start!

If you don’t want to know about the “why”s and “how”s of these costs and want to get straight into what each side of the family should pay for, skip ahead to the cheat sheet below!

wedding etiquette: who traditionally pays for what

Who pays for the engagement party? This expense is traditionally covered by the bride’s family since they often host the engagement party at their house as a way to welcome and bring together the two families (usually for the first time!). However, whichever family is feeling the most generous can offer to host or throw the engagement party. 

Who pays for the rehearsal dinner? Since the bride’s family pays for the engagement party, the rehearsal dinner is traditionally paid for by the groom’s parents. They should only spend what they’re comfortable with, however, and hosting a small soirée the day before the wedding is more than enough!

Who pays for the wedding rings? The wedding rings are a split cost between the bride and groom’s families. The groom’s family pays for the bride’s ring and vice versa. 

Who pays for the wedding flowers? The bouquet should be a gift from the groom to the bride. For an extra romantic twist, the groom could even pick wildflowers for the bride’s bouquet. On the other hand, the bride’s side of the family will traditionally pay for all the floral decorations. 

Who pays for the bridesmaids’ dresses and ushers’ suits? The bride’s side of the family traditionally pays for the bride’s wedding dress and the bridesmaids’ dresses. Increasingly, however, bridesmaids are paying for their own dresses. It really depends on what your budget is, the type of dresses you want your bridesmaids to wear, and whether or not that’s within their price range! To avoid confusion later, we’d recommend discussing this as early as possible with your wedding squad.

Don’t know where to buy your bridesmaid dresses? Check out our ultimate list of the best places to get bridesmaid dresses!

As for suits for the best man and the ushers? Unless they’ll be matching or require special suits, the ushers should pay for them themselves. If the suits need to be tailor-made, however, it’s an expense that the groom’s side should cover. 

Who pays for guests’ accommodation? Traditionally, each side of the family pays for their own guests’ accommodation. However, this really depends on what the families are comfortable with, and most guests pay for their own accommodation nowadays. Just make sure you mention this on your information sheet!

Who pays for the honeymoon? Traditionally, it’s the groom who pays for the honeymoon. Today, however, most couples split the cost, with many also asking for donations towards their honeymoon instead of wedding gifts. This is a relatively new tradition which likely stems from the fact that people are getting married later and often already live together by the time they tie the knot. That means they probably don’t need (or want) a new toaster or a 24-piece dinnerware set!

What Each Family Traditionally Pays For: A Cheat Sheet

Bridebook.co.uk bride looking into mirror getting ready

Bride and Bride’s Family:

  • The wedding dress or outfit (and any accessories that come with it)
  • Bridesmaids’ dresses and accessories (NB. Nowadays, more and more bridesmaids pay for their own attire)
  • Any accompanying outfits for the bride (for example, going-away or honeymoon outfits)
  • Hair and makeup (along with other beauty treatments)
  • Transportation to the ceremony for the bridal party
  • Transportation to the reception venue for the bride and groom
  • Photography and/or videography
  • Flowers
  • Venue hire and decorations
  • Wedding cake
  • Catering
  • Wedding favours
  • Drinks
  • Entertainment
  • Wedding stationery
  • The groom’s wedding ring
  • Engagement party
  • Wedding insurance
  • Overnight accommodation for close family
  • Presents for the groom’s family

Bridebook.co.uk Groom fixing boutonniere

Groom and Groom’s Family:

  • The groom’s outfit
  • The best man’s suit and ushers’ outfits (NB. As with the bridesmaids, these now tend to be bought by the groomsmen themselves)
  • Groom’s going-away outfit
  • Transportation to the ceremony for the groom and best man
  • Transportation for the bride and groom from the reception
  • Buttonholes for all the groomsmen
  • Civil or religious ceremony fees
  • Church fees (plus any extras like church music and bell ringing)
  • Registration office and other venue fees
  • Passports and visas for the honeymoon
  • Travel and accommodation for the honeymoon
  • Spending money for the honeymoon
  • Travel insurance for the honeymoon
  • Bride’s engagement and wedding rings
  • Presents for the bridesmaids, ushers and best man
  • Presents for the bride’s parents
  • Press announcement for the wedding
  • Wedding night hotel

So, that’s how wedding costs have been broken down historically. That said, and there’s no reason that this should be how yours are split. Especially now that couples often get married later in life than they used to, financial situations are somewhat different to when these rules were first drawn up.

Whatever you and your beau decide, make sure you keep on top of it with our free wedding planning tools, and everything will be just fine! You can also download our free Bridebook app. It’s the easiest way to plan your wedding!

You Might Also Like…

Happy Planning!

11 Wedding Guest List Arguments All Couples Have (And How To Resolve Them)

Bridebook.co.uk Guests drinking champagne


Cutting down your wedding guest list can feel like you’re Hercules battling the Hydra – cut one person, and two more grow back in their place! But it has to be done, whether it’s because you need to save a few bucks or because they just! won’t! fit! in your venue. Remember, a bigger guest list means a bigger budget… or choosing between a champagne reception and serving your uncle’s homebrew!

The moment when you and your partner combine lists and discover the number is bigger than you ever imagined is always a dark day. To avoid disappointment for either of you – and the ruthless cull that has to follow – try using our Guest List Tool. It’ll do all the adding up, sorting and tracking, meaning you both stay on top of numbers.

Sadly, as brilliant as our Guest List Tool is, it can’t fight your battles for you. (Not yet, anyway. We wish!) So if you think your other half is being unreasonable (or maybe you just need to get something off your chest!), we’ve got some tips to help you navigate the tricky terrain of the wedding guest list.

“Your parents have a longer list… But they’re not paying as much as mine!”

Yikes. Straight in at the deep end, then! We can almost guarantee that both sets of parents will want to invite a long list of their friends, regardless of whether or not you like them…or whether they can pay towards the extra cost. As a rule of thumb, we’d say that if they’re not immediate family or your other half hasn’t seen them in the past ten years, you have a right to question them.

“I don’t want children!” (*pause* “At the wedding, not with you!”)

Now, this is a decision that lots of couples struggle to make personally, never mind between the two of them. But if a child-free wedding is what you want, you should be reassured that you’re not a bad person for requesting this. You’re also not the only one – lots of couples do. Not only is it an easy way to cut costs and numbers (and, dare we say, stress levels), but it might even be more welcome among your guests than you’d expect! After all, it gives parents a proper night off to enjoy themselves.

“You don’t even like your work friends!”

Work friends are tricky. The key question to start with is whether they’re friends your partner happened to make through work…or if they really are work friends. Either way, it’s worth considering that not only can a blanket ban rub your fiancé up the wrong way, it might well make for an awkward office atmosphere for them post-honeymoon. Why not compromise and invite a handful of them to the drinks and dancing, if not the ceremony? That way, everyone’s happy… But you’re still not paying full whack!

Bridebook.co.uk Guests Sharing Food

“Why are you inviting your ex?”

We’d never want to make assumptions but this can be a ticking time bomb. Now, if you’re one of those lucky few who’s genuinely on good terms with their ex (and importantly, whose partner is on good terms with them too!), more power to you. Invite away! But there are no prizes for inviting an ex out of awkwardness or some kind of weird obligation – so if you don’t have a good reason to (e.g. you’re actually still close friends), we’d give it a miss. Remember, you’ll also be risking a fair few awkward conversations: “So, how do you know the happy couple?” “Oh, erm…” Our advice? Only invite exes in exceptional circumstances.

“It doesn’t feel like our wedding anymore!”

Managing a wedding can feel like a balancing act. Yes, you want the details to be perfect and to keep everyone happy… But you still need to think about the big picture (and vice versa!). This is never more apparent than when you’re putting together your guest list. Sure, maybe those extra six guests from Mum and Dad’s timeshare won’t actually feel like such a big deal on your big day… But if it’s overwhelming you right now, you need to let your parents know.

“Shall we just bloody elope?”

Every couple will have this moment… And you know what, some of you might decide you should! But take a minute and pour another glass of wine before making any hasty decisions. We promise that nine-and-a-half times out of ten, it’ll be worth it in the end!

Bridebook.co.uk Bride and groom walking down drive

“We’ll have to not invite some of your family.”

Chances are, one of you will have a significantly larger family than the other. To deal with this, try to assign rough portions of your guest list to each one of you early on so that you both know what you’re working with. You might do this equally and split the list into quarters: one for each of your families and one for each of your extras. Or you might decide to reflect on the size of your respective families: if your partner has a much bigger family than you (but is still close to them!), you could decide to give them a third for their relatives and yourself a quarter. Either way, your boundaries will be a bit more obvious – and so will overstepping them!

“We can’t not invite them – they’ve just got engaged.”

This is where you need to be firm with your decision. Lay down the law and stick to it – avoid any grey areas or sneaky exceptions. For example, many couples have a “No Ring, No Bling” policy, meaning a guest can only bring a plus one if they’re married or engaged. That said, given that many people choose not to marry nowadays, another way to keep your guest list a little leaner is by making decisions based on how long a couple have been together.

“Well, they invited us to their wedding…”

Look. Weddings aren’t tit for tat, and you should never feel obligated to invite someone to yours, just because they invited you to theirs. Planning a wedding is too hard (and too expensive!) for that. This is the bottom line: invite the people you want to spend the best day of your life with… And ideally, no one else!

“We’re treating our friends like they’re numbers!”

Maybe you are, but the reality is that this is what all couples have to do eventually. At one stage or another, you’ll start to feel like all your wedding guests have a pound sign hanging above their heads. Planning a wedding is a balancing act. Inevitably, you start to think about how one less guest means getting back their equivalent in booze, flowers or cake. But before you make any hasty decisions, think about how much that person means to you. This feeling won’t last forever – you’ll forget it as soon as they’re there at your big day. We promise, they’re worth every penny… But if you really don’t feel like they are, then it might be time to make a cut!

Bridebook.co.uk Wedding Party Sequinned Bridesmaids dresses and sunglasses

“It’s still! Too! Big!”

If you feel like you’ve done everything you can and your guest list is still just too big, it’s time to get pragmatic. Sit down with your partner and split your guest list into the A List and the B List. Sound cruel? Not at all! Many couples even plan ahead and print two sets of RSVP cards with different dates: an earlier date for the A List and a later date for the B List (to be sent out after the A List have said they can’t make it). A word of warning though: try not to let the B List know they’re the B List. Cher might get away with it in ‘Clueless’… But there’s no guarantee that you will too!

Got another guest list dilemma you want solved? Check out our Instagram, TikTok and YouTube channels. We might have already answered your question – and if not, drop us a line in the comments. But we reckon once you’ve sorted out these ones, you’ll be pretty much good to go. Send those invitations out – and once your RSVPs come flooding in, keep track of them with our state-of-the-art Guest List Tool. Then it’s onto budget blow-outs…

You Might Also Like…

Happy Planning!

Top 10 Tips For Choosing Your Dream Wedding Venue

If you’ve started planning your wedding, you’ll already know that finding your perfect venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make. So with that in mind, here’s our expert guide on how to find the right venue for you.

If you don’t know where to start, have a scroll through Bridebook’s Venue Search. We’ve got the biggest and best wedding venue directory in Europe, so it’s a sure-fire way to find “the one”!

The wedding planning video course: finding your dream venue

In this video, Bridebook founder (and qualified wedding planner!) Hamish Shephard gives his tips on finding your wedding venue in three easy steps. Whether you’re after initial wedding venue ideas or wondering what questions to ask your wedding venue, this is the video for you.

1. Think about what you both want

This day is about you and your partner, and your venue should reflect that! Work together to find a venue that suits both of your tastes. Whether you choose a modern loft, a beach wedding or a grand country house, make sure it’s what you both want.

2. Stick to your budget

We know, it’s not our most romantic advice – but it is important. And we promise, you can find a gorgeous venue, even on the tightest of budgets! Sit down with your partner and work out how much you want to spend on your venue early on so you know what you’re working with. Need somewhere to start? Your Bridebook has a handy Budget Calculator which will let you know in seconds how much of your budget to spend on your venue.

3. Consider what locations work best

Where you get married is one of your most important decisions. Between you and your partner, it’s likely there are friends and family spread out across the country (or even the globe!) so choosing the right location is key to making sure as many people as possible can attend. Keep travel connections in mind if you’ve got people coming from far and wide. If you have elderly relatives you’d love to be there, think about how far they can reasonably travel too.

4. Think about how much space you need

How long is your guest list? Who’s on your A List and who could you do without? Do you want 300 people in attendance or would you rather just have you, your partner and ten close friends? Thinking about how many people will be there and what you want to happen on the day is key to picking the right venue. You don’t want hundreds of people crammed into a space that’s too small for them and the ten-piece band you’ve booked… But you also don’t want fifteen people spread out across an enormous hall.

5. Keep lighting in mind

One of the most frequently overlooked elements of any wedding day is the lighting – but we can’t stress how important it is. After all, there’s no point in spending thousands on a gorgeous venue if no one can see it! Make sure to check out what lighting packages the venue offers and whether it will complement the space and work with your wedding theme. If you want a few pointers, our top tip would always be to stay well away from fluorescent and ultraviolet lighting (unless you’re having a glow in the dark wedding, of course!). And if all else fails, explore options for creating your own lighting.

6. Listen to recommendations

On your big day, the number one thing you’ll want is for things to run smoothly from dawn until dusk. So do your research! Read reviews and get recommendations of potential venues to make sure you get five-star service.

7. Make a list of must-haves

Sit down with your partner and write a list of non-negotiables. These are your must-haves, the things you and your partner absolutely can’t do without on your wedding day. If you have your heart set on a particular caterer and a venue can’t accommodate that, they’re out. On the other hand, if you decide an ice sculpture is just the thing and they’re willing to make that happen, you might just have found your dream venue!

8. Keep an open mind

You won’t love every venue – but it might just be the venue you least expect that takes your breath away! Even if you think you know what you want, try to keep your mind open to new ideas, themes and locations. You might be surprised at what you find in our directory and how you feel when you visit it. Ever thought about tying the knot in a riverside cabin, at the zoo or in a gorgeous picturehouse?

9. Visit more than once

We can’t stress this enough. Always go and see your top venue choices at least two or three times before you make a decision. There’s no rush to sign on the dotted line, we promise. Take your time because your choice of venue affects every other choice you’ll make.

10. Wait for “the feeling”!

Okay, so this is something you’ll only know when you feel it. It’s a bit like getting butterflies… It’s the moment you step inside a venue and know it’s perfect. You can see yourself walking down the aisle, you can see yourself surrounded by your loved ones… That’s “the feeling” we’re talking about! And it means you’ve found your venue.

Hopefully, that’s helped get you well on your way to finding your perfect venue! Now you know the basics, you can use Bridebook’s Venue Search to start looking for “the one.” You can filter by name, capacity, type and style, as well as location. You can also use Bridebook for the rest of your wedding planning, including managing your budget, creating your guest list and booking the rest of your wedding team. 

You Might Also Like…

Happy Planning!