The Obvious Costs Aren’t the Problem
Most couples budget carefully for the big-ticket items: the banquet, the photographer, the gown and suit, the rings. Where budgets actually break down is in the smaller, easy-to-forget items that add up across the full planning timeline.
Commonly Forgotten Line Items
- Vendor deposits and rebooking fees — many vendors require non-refundable deposits, and any date or venue change can trigger additional charges.
- Hair and makeup trials — often priced separately from the actual wedding-day service.
- Solemnisation-day expenses — separate from the banquet, including registry fees, a celebrant or witness arrangements, and any small celebration on the day itself.
- Guest transport and accommodation — especially for elderly relatives or overseas guests.
- Alterations — gown and suit fittings are frequently quoted as an add-on to the rental or purchase price.
- Service charge and GST — banquet quotes are sometimes given before tax and service charge, which can add a meaningful percentage to the final bill.
- Contingency buffer — for weather, last-minute guest additions, or vendor issues.
How to Build Your Checklist
Ask every vendor for a final, all-in quote that includes tax and service charge before you commit. Request a written breakdown of what is and isn’t included in each package. Build in a contingency of around 10% of your total budget specifically for the items above.
If the Numbers Don’t Add Up
If your finalised checklist reveals a shortfall you hadn’t planned for, compare your options carefully — trimming non-essential items first, then considering a wedding loan from a licensed moneylender only for a clearly defined gap, with the full cost of borrowing known in advance.