You're getting married - congratulations! While the fizzy feelings of excitement are still bubbling away following a dreamy engagement, it's time to get to work and start planning the big day. We all know the important stuff that needs to be taken care of from the get-go, things like booking the venue, securing a great band and photographer, finding the dress of your dreams and booking the transport. Setting a budget for these things is super important; vendors and venues can be expensive and you'll want to make sure your money can stretch to cover all bases.
As any past bride and groom will tell you, though, there's plenty of hidden costs along the wedding planning journey (that can amount to thousands in the blink of an eye!) and because we like to look out for our couples, we've teamed up with AIB to put together a list of wedding expenses often overlooked in the budgeting process.
Makeup and hair trials, gifting, church donations and marriage licences are just some of the things you need to be mindful of when doing the number crunching! Here's what you need to know...
Makeup & Hair Trials
Unless you're lucky enough to have a loved one who is a dab hand at makeup and a whizz with hair, chances are you'll need to book a hair stylist and makeup artist for the big day. You'll want to look and feel amazing for this very special occasion and that means finding a team you feel comfortable with, that fully understands what you're looking for. You'll want to know for certain the person you are booking can make your vision come to life and it's common practice to pencil in a trial, so make sure you set a bit of cash aside for your makeup and hair trials when you're drawing up the budget. Better to be prepared than scrambling to find the money last minute! Trials cost anywhere from €50 - €100.
Hen/Stag Party
Traditionally, responsibility for the hen and stag parties usually falls with the maid of honour and best man who plan every inch of the festivities. Usually guests cover their own costs (and yours too!) but if you're planning a trip abroad to celebrate, things can look a little bit different. Firstly, there's flights and accommodation to consider. Will the bridal party incur these costs or will you pay for yourself? You may also choose to treat your gang to a special welcome drinks reception or lunch on your last day as a token of your appreciation for them making the trip. Some brides may also like to splash out on getting their hair and makeup done for the special weekend, but even if it's a DIY job, things like tan, nails and a special hen party outfit can all add up quite quickly! If you're going abroad, budget up to €500 for extra expenses to play it safe.
Wedding Gifting
Between gifts for your bridesmaids, groomsmen and parents, the costs can really start to stack up! You'd be surprised how expensive planning a goodie bag for your bridesmaids or groomsmen can be (especially if you have a few of them), so it's really important to suss out how much you're willing to spend and stick to it. Are you gifting your parents (and your partner) something special as a thank you to mark the occasion? You'll need to account for that too! Write a list of all the wedding gifts and how much you're planning on spending and be strict with yourself. The budget will depend on how many people you have to account for, but around €50- €100 per person is the norm.
Church Donation
Getting married in a church? You will need to allocate some money to put towards a church donation in that case! How much to donate can be quite ambiguous. While some churches have a set fee, others leave it up to the couple to decide. Generally speaking, you can expect to spend anywhere from €200-€450 on a donation, the higher end of the scale is usually for a church outside your own parish (you may need to sort out your own celebrant and paperwork if this is the case!).
Marriage Licence
Yep, a marriage licence is going to cost you money! In order to get legally married in Ireland, you must register your intent to marry with your local civil registration office in order to obtain a marriage registration form (they're the ones who will be issuing you with that green document so many couples tying the knot share a selfie with on social media). This is needed for all marriages in Ireland, including civil, religious and secular. You'll need to register your intent to marry at least three months before your wedding day, so be sure to book in ahead of time or you risk making matters unnecessarily stressful for yourself. The service and the licence is going to cost you €200, usually paid during the appointment, or before the appointment over the phone. You'll need to bring the licence along to your wedding ceremony so it can be signed to make things official!
Wedding Dress & Suit Alterations
Most often, wedding dress alterations are included in the cost of the dress but if you've bought a second-hand dress, nabbed a gown on the high street or found a steal in the sales, you'll most likely need to take care of these costs for yourself. The same applies for the groom's suit, particularly if you've opted for an off-the-rail high street design. Depending on how much attention and work the individual pieces need, you can expect a bill of up to €300. Doing your own dry cleaning? You can add another €150 to the pot for that!
Looking After Your Suppliers on the Day
You've accounted for your guests (and yourselves!) but there are some other very important people you mustn't forget about on the wedding day - your dedicated suppliers who will be there with you to share the experience. You'll need to include them when budgeting for the wedding meal. Your photographer, videographer, band, priest or celebrant (if they are staying for the reception) and wedding coordinator will all need a feed to keep them going... It's a long day, after all! The cost will depend on how many suppliers you have sticking around, so be sure to enquire with the venue as they may have 'staff rates' or reduced prices to account for them.
Thank You Cards & Postage
The big day has come and gone and you're in newly wedded bliss but the admin doesn't stop there! If you're planning on sending traditional thank you cards (some people opt for digital ones which are much more cost effective), you'll need to put some money aside for this as the printing and posting can really amount to a small fortune. The thank you card is sometimes included in your stationary package, but stamps won't be accounted for so bare this is mind. The cost can vary but expect to spend a minimum of €1.35 per card (and maybe more depending on the weight and distance). For 120 thank you cards, you'll need to set aside approximately €160.
Unexpected Extras
This is also called a contingency fund and is really important to include in the planning process. They say you should set 10 to 20 per cent of your budget aside towards unexpected expenses... and trust us when we say, they will pop up! Try as you might to have everything in place on the day, things can and do go wrong (breathe, it will be OK!) and you don't want to be stuck or scrambling to move things along.
Help Is Here If You Need It
If you're feeling overwhelmed by your wedding budget and are stressed out by the ever-growing list of expenses, don't worry, we completely understand. It's important to remember though, your big day is about you and your partner and those who love you. If you do need additional financial support, help is at hand. AIB are offering personal loans from €1,000 - €30,000, online and in their app, with approval within three hours. You can use AIB's online loan calculator to see how much you could borrow and even set your own repayment schedule - weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. If you're getting married and need some support, this could be the way to make your dreams become a reality. For more information, check out AIB online here to calculate how much you could borrow.
You can apply for an AIB personal loan today and make your dreams become a reality. Head to the AIB App or check out the online loan calculator on the AIB website for more details.
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