By Kate Cohen

No matter what your wedding budget may be, there are always unexpected expenses that pop up throughout the planning process.

At Rosen Weddings, we’re here to help you anticipate those surprise line items so you can keep your eye on the prize – your partner waiting for you at the end of the aisle.

If you’re working on your wedding budget, here are a few wedding hidden expenses to anticipate.  

1. Marriage License

No marriage is official without a marriage license.

Every state has their own unique set of requirements for marriage licenses, which are issued by individual counties throughout the state.

When you go to apply for your marriage license, you may need to bring several official documents with you.

You’ll also likely need to pay a small fee to apply.

For example, in Orange County, Florida, where our Rosen Weddings venues are located, the fee for a marriage license is $86. It can be reduced to $61 if a couple can provide proof of completing a premarital preparation course.

2. Postage

In a world of email and social media, sending actual mail through the post office is a special occurrence.

As of early 2025, a Forever postage stamp costs $.73. While it may not sound like much, if you’re planning to invite 200 people to your wedding, that’s another $146 line item to add to your budget.

You can double it if you’re planning on including RSVP cards with your invites or triple it if save-the-date cards are part of your timeline.

Sending thank you notes is also important after a wedding (and a bridal shower), so don’t forget to account for postage to mail those as well.

3. Attire Alterations

Once you’ve said “yes” to your dream wedding attire, it’s critical to have it altered to fit you perfectly.

According to The Knot, the average cost of wedding dress alterations is between $700 and $1000, which can be a totally blindsiding additional expense if you haven’t planned for it ahead of time.

The average cost to tailor a suit is around $100, which, while not as drastic as wedding dress alteration costs, can still add up if you’re not expecting it.

4. Wedding Insurance

Wedding insurance protects couples from losing large sums of money invested in the wedding should an unforeseen circumstance arise.

Different policies may cover wedding expenses if your wedding needs to be rescheduled due to extreme weather, injury, and yes, even global pandemics.

The right wedding liability policy can also protect you should a guest get hurt, the venue is damaged, or an alcohol-related incident occurs.

Some venues require you to have wedding insurance just to be safe, but even if your venue doesn’t, it’s a worthwhile investment to ensure you are protected from the unexpected.

Depending on how much protection you decide is best, you could spend anywhere from $75 to $500 for a wedding insurance policy.

5. Gratuity

It takes a village to make the perfect wedding run smoothly.

Tipping your vendors and their team is a wonderful way of thanking them for the love and hard work they contributed to bringing your dream wedding to life.

Some of the biggest vendors to tip include your wedding coordinator, hair and makeup artists, delivery and setup staff, musicians, shuttle drivers, and photo booth attendants.

Tipping your caterer, bartender, and waitstaff is also expected, unless it is already included in your contract (which it likely will be.)

While gratuity is at the discretion of the couple, tips can add up quickly, so be sure to plan for this expense while creating your wedding budget.

6. Vendor Trials

To make sure everything is perfect for your wedding day, you’ll likely want to test out a few things beforehand.

One example is bridal hair and makeup. To ensure your look is exactly what you want it to be, hair and makeup artists often encourage trials in advance so they can take your feedback and use it to get your styling perfect on the big day.

But hair and makeup trials aren’t free (though they may be discounted if you reserve a wedding package in advance).

Plan to pay around $150 for both hair and makeup at your trial.

Additionally, some catering companies and bakeries may charge you for tastings as you make your menu selections.

7. Weather-Related Items

If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, you’ll want to make some contingency purchases.

For example, a rainy season wedding may need umbrellas (just to be safe). Cozy blankets at a winter wedding are a lovely, thoughtful touch.

If you’re planning an outdoor summertime wedding in Florida, you’ll definitely want to provide your guests with shade, fans, and maybe even a water bar to keep everyone hydrated.

8. Welcome Bag Delivery

If you have a hotel block where most of your out-of-town guests are staying for your event, it’s always a lovely gesture to welcome them to their room with a welcome bag.

Welcome bags may include bottles of water, snacks, and personal touches that help your guests acclimate upon arrival.

While many couples incorporate the cost of the bag into their initial budget, they often overlook the expense of fees that the hotel may charge to deliver each bag to your guests’ rooms.

Be sure to check with your preferred hotel for their welcome bag delivery fees.

9. Vendor Meals

Your wedding vendors go above and beyond on your wedding day to make magic happen.

The least you can do for them is make sure they are well-fed.

When you’re accounting for how many heads you’ll be feeding at your wedding, be sure to include vendors like your photography team, DJ or musicians, wedding planner, and officiant.

Typically, your vendors will eat at the same time as your guests, since that’s generally not when a lot of exciting action is happening. Be sure to reserve a table for them so they can sit and enjoy a meal before jumping back into action.

10. Wedding Dress Preservation

When your wedding day has come and gone, you may find yourself wondering what to do with some important pieces – like your wedding gown.

If you decide you want to save your dress, having it preserved will help maintain its quality for years to come.

This special cleaning and packaging process helps clean and properly restore your heirloom garment so you can take it out of the box years later and admire it as it was on your wedding day.

But preservation comes at a cost; depending on the garment and the level of work it requires to preserve, you can expect to pay anywhere between $250 and $1000.

11. Early/Overtime Fees

If your wedding timeline requires vendors to be onsite earlier or later than their usual work hours, you may find yourself saddled with early or late fees.  

For example, if you have a large bridal party and your hair and makeup crew needs to start at 6 a.m. to make sure everyone is beautified in time for a midday ceremony, you may find an early fee in your contract.  

Similarly, a wedding that runs late and requires a breakdown crew to be onsite past midnight may incur late fees.  

Having a clear understanding of your wedding timeline ahead of time can help you accommodate for these extra costs.  

12. Gifts for Your Parents/Wedding Parties/Bride/Groom 

Some couples choose to thank the most important people on their wedding day with a token of their appreciation.

If you plan to purchase actual gifts, make sure you’re budgeting for them. If it’s not in the budget, a simple handwritten note is a lovely heartfelt gesture to tell your loved ones how you feel.

Prepare for Everything with Rosen Weddings – Even Unexpected Expenses

At Rosen Weddings, we’re experts in all things weddings, including expecting the unexpected.

Let our team of wedding specialists at each of our four venues help prepare you for a wedding that feels like a dream come true.

Reach out to our team to arrange a site visit, talk with a specialist, and begin planning your incredible wedding day down to the last detail.