Couples are almost always surprised at the high cost of weddings, and part of that reason is that there are probably some expenses that they aren’t accounting for when budgeting. So I’m here to share five unexpected wedding costs that couples need to budget for when planning their wedding.
- Sales Tax – Many of my clients are from out of state, so they don’t realize the high sales tax in Tennessee. It’s been a great blessing for residents that we don’t have income tax in TN, but we pay via sales tax instead – a whopping 9.25%! This won’t affect services like wedding planning, but it will be added to hard goods like flowers, so keep this extra cost in mind.
2. Alcohol Tax – Liquor by the drink is taxed at 15%! Whew. Many downtown Nashville venues have a minimum food and beverage spend requirement, and taxes won’t count towards this minimum, so couples need to budget in that extra 15%.
3. Cake Slicing Fees – Most of the time the caterer is not the vendor supplying the wedding cake, but they are often asked to cut and serve it. Well, there’s a fee for that. I’ve seen some cake slicing fees almost as high as the cake itself, so that’s a question to ask before booking your caterer! Make sure that you are paying the caterer to stay to bus the cake-related trash, as well.
4. Vendor meals – Your wedding vendors don’t work traditional 9-5 jobs with lunch and 15 minute breaks. We will be on site with you working throughout the day, many of us there for 8, 10, or 12 hours. It’s expected that couples provide vendors with a hot meal, and many of us will even include it as a stipulation of our contract. Options are to include your vendors in the regular meal count or to ask catering if they provide cheaper vendor meal options. Typical vendors that you should include in the meal count would be your wedding planner and her assistant(s), venue site manager, DJ or live musicians, and photographer & videographer and their assistants. Catering staff would not be included in the meal count. If your officiant is leaving after the ceremony, s/he does not need to be included.
5. Vendor tips – Vendor tips are welcome, but not required. If you plan to tip, it’s great to include that in the budget early. The traditional rule is to tip those vendors who do not own their own business. But when those of us who do our own businesses get tips, we are always very appreciative, too. Check your catering contract, as tips are often included as mandatory fees in that contract and would not need to be given again for catering staff. Similarly, you can decide to tip your bartenders or place a tip jar at the bar for guests to tip. Your wedding planner can help you navigate who would be appropriate to tip in your specific situation.
There are often expenses involved with hosting a wedding that couples just aren’t aware of until they get in the middle of the planning process. This is where hiring a wedding planner is so useful. Your wedding planner can help you set a budget and identify realistic costs at the beginning of the planning process so that you can include these in the budget and prevent over-spending. If you are in need of a planner to help navigate your Nashville wedding, reach out via email to kelsey@kelseygrayevents.com.
Photo credits:
Header: Kaylen Eliza Photo
- John Myers Photography
- Aspen & Elm Co
- John Myers Photography
