Tips for saving money when preparing for a wedding

23 types of hidden expenses at weddings

1. Common hidden expenses in hotels

Wedding entrance fee/person fee: Some hotels require non-cooperative wedding entrance arrangements , you need to pay an entrance fee, in order to allow the couple to use the hotel for wedding celebrations. How to avoid: ① Ask the hotel in advance whether there is an entrance fee and shop around. ② You can first find a wedding that you are satisfied with, and then ask the wedding to recommend a partner hotel. In this way, the entrance fee may be waived.

Venue rental fee/use fee: In some hotels, the catering fee and the venue fee are separate, and the couple is not told to pay the venue fee until the wedding day. How to avoid it: Ask in advance whether there is a venue fee for an indoor wedding!

Corkage fee & service fee: Some hotels allow couples to bring their own wine, but they charge more after the wedding. There is a corkage fee and some hotels will charge an additional 10-15% service fee. How to avoid it: Ask in advance if you can bring your own wine and if there is a corkage fee.

Equipment usage fees & energy consumption: On the day of the wedding, some hotels suddenly charge new equipment usage fees such as microphones, lights, LED screens, etc., as well as energy consumption, that is, electricity bills. How to avoid: ① Ask in advance whether the equipment can be used for free and how long it will be used. ②Ask in advance whether there is a charge for electricity and whether there is basic electricity.

Parking fee: Some hotels claim that parking is available, but available parking ≠ free parking. It is not good to ask guests to pay parking fees on the wedding day. How to avoid: Ask in advance how many parking spaces can be provided for free!

Overtime fee & sanitation fee: If the wedding arrives early to arrange or the decoration goes overtime, or the wedding ends late, overtime fees may be charged, or Sanitary cleaning fee. How to avoid it: Ask about the layout and banquet hall usage hours in advance. Is there any overtime fee?

2. Common hidden expenses for wedding photos

Upgrade fees for photographers and makeup artists: Some couples only discover on the day of taking photos that the makeup artist and photographer are not good enough, or even just an apprentice. If they want to change, they have to pay more Money to upgrade. How to avoid: ① Ask to see the customer photos of the photographer and makeup artist included in your package. ② Write the selected photographer and makeup artist into the contract to avoid being replaced. ③ Sign a letter of satisfaction with the merchant, requiring the merchant to ensure that the styling and photography are satisfactory to avoid some merchants deliberately providing low-quality services.

Charging for disposable cosmetics or accessories: Some newcomers are told to buy disposable cosmetics such as powder puffs when applying makeup, or they are told that the accessories are not good-looking and ask you to add money to upgrade. How to avoid it: ① Ask in advance whether the cosmetics and accessories in the package are charged and whether they can meet the needs of taking photos. ②It is best to bring your own powder puffs, nipple pasties, eyelashes, etc.

3. Common invisible consumption at weddings

Second consumption of packages: Some weddings say "one price all-inclusive" at the beginning, but later on or even on the wedding day, they tell the couple that the flowers are not enough and they have to wait. Newcomers add money. How to avoid: ① Ask about the package configuration in advance, and write each item in the contract in detail. ②Ask whether the configuration in the package is sufficient and whether it can achieve the effect of the plan.

Plan A design fee: Some weddings claim "free design", but after the plan is issued, they ask the couple for design fees or modification fees. How to avoid it: Ask in advance whether the design and modification of the plan are free and how many times it is included. Upgrade Fees for the Four Diamonds When some couples communicate with the Four Diamonds on the eve of their wedding, they find that they cannot meet your needs and you have to pay extra if you want to upgrade. How to avoid it: Watch the videos, guest films, etc. of the Four King Kongs included in the package in advance to see if you are satisfied, and write your name into the contract to avoid being temporarily replaced.

4. Common hidden expenses in wedding photos

Clothing upgrade fee: Many newcomers are told that the clothes in the package are ordinary and not good-looking when they choose clothes. If they want to wear good-looking clothes, they can only Add money to upgrade. At this time, merchants often package upgrades, and the price is at least several thousand higher.

How to avoid: ①Ask in advance whether the clothing is divided into zones and which zone is included in your package. ② Check in advance to see if you are satisfied with the clothing in the package, for both men and women. ③Whether you want to upgrade or not is up to you, but you must have a good budget and plan ahead. ④ Choose clothes one day before the photo shoot to avoid being forced to upgrade due to lack of clothes.

Fee for additional photo enhancements: When newcomers choose photos, merchants will ask you to add additional enhancements or upgrade the photo frame package for various reasons such as good-looking photos, insufficient number of photos, etc. How to avoid: ① Be ruthless in deleting videos and never add them. Also remind your husband not to be soft-hearted. ② You can add more according to your needs, but you must control your budget and consume rationally.

5. Common hidden costs in travel photography

Scene upgrade fees: Some newcomers are told that the package only has very simple scenes when shooting on location. If they want beautiful scenes, they must pay more to upgrade. How to avoid it: Ask in advance how many scenes there are on location, whether all the scenes seen in the sample are included, and which ones require extra money.

Tickets, transportation, food and accommodation: Some newcomers are told on the day of shooting that they have to pay for their own tickets, transportation, food and accommodation, and even the expenses of accompanying staff. How to avoid: ① Ask in advance whether you need to pay for tickets, transportation, food and accommodation. ②Whether it is necessary to hire staff should be clearly written in the contract.

Prop usage fee: Some newcomers are charged additional prop fees for bouquets, balloons and other props when filming on location. How to avoid it: Ask in advance whether/how to charge for the props used during the shoot.

6. Common hidden costs for wedding cars

Premium fee & replacement fee: Some merchants only tell you the price when you use the car is the off-season or used car price or the engagement car is no longer available. If you want to trade in a car, you have to pay more.

How to avoid: ① Ask in advance whether the price is the price for your wedding. ② Check the car in advance. After confirming the vehicle, write the vehicle model and license plate into the contract to prevent the merchant from changing the car.

A Overtime fee & over-km fee: Wedding cars are charged based on time or kilometers, and overtime charges are generally required. How to avoid: ① Ask about the wedding car billing method and excess fees in advance. ② Ask how to charge if overtime or kilometers are exceeded due to accidents or other merchants or external factors, so as to avoid malicious overtimes and kilometers exceeded by merchants.

Red envelopes for drivers: Some merchants don’t tell the couple in advance, but on the day of the wedding, the driver asks the couple for a red envelope. If they don’t give it, they won’t drive. Although the money is not much, it’s not a big deal. How to avoid it: Ask in advance whether you want to give the driver a red envelope fee.