Unexpected wedding costs

Weddings are so much fun and come with a lot of great things, and cheap is not one of them. Even with a strict budget, there are expenses one may leave out only for them to pop up on the big day.
These include:
Wedding venues
Before signing the contract and committing yourself to a particular venue, know exactly what the facility comes with to avoid a rude shock. Examples of costs that are not normally outlined include:
Parking fees: Some venues charge this separately, so it is up to you to ask rather than assume your guests can park anywhere at no charge.
Washrooms: Some venues, especially gardens, do not come with these facilities. So it is up to you to contract these services separately.
Equipment: Hiring of extra equipment for the venue such as extension cables for power, platforms, pulpits or flooring.
Security: In certain instances, some venues may require you hire your own guards for security, especially for large events where there are many cars.
Nema license: For those who want to play loud music going into the night and especially if the venue is in a residential neighbourhood, this license is a must. You can talk with the venue manager who can make the necessary arrangements to get one.
Breakage fees: Some venues may require you put an extra deposit that will be refunded once the wedding is over and no breakages or damages have been caused.
Corkage fees: For those who want to bring their own drinks into a venue that has a restaurant, you may be charged a fee per bottle. Always ask before you bring your own bar.
Wedding caterer
While most caterers will draw out a contract that covers the menu, package cost, terms of service and delivery time, some may leave out additional costs such as:
i. Breakage fees: Should there be a loss or breakage of cutlery or glasses, the caterer will deduct their balance from your deposit to recover the loss.
ii. Should your guest list hit the roof, you may be forced to pay extra if the caterer sees the need to hire extra staff.
iii. Unexpected extra guests will see your bill shoot up as the caterer may have to go back and add more food and drinks at your expense.
iv. Tableware rental. In some instances, couples may request for the best cutlery and crockery thus prompting the caterer to outsource.
v. Cleaning and clearing fees.

Wedding transport
When hiring vehicles, most companies include the chauffeur and champagne in their package, but can leave out extras such as:
i. Fuel: Most companies will cover this, but should you not be hiring cars, this has to be considered.
ii. Extra time: Some companies hire out their vehicles for a number of hours and should you go over the agreed hours, you may have to pay extra.

Photo-session venue
When booking a venue for your photo session, some of the details included in the agreement may be the time the bridal party is expected to be at the venue, if the venue comes with props, swimming pool or hammocks. However, hidden costs can include:
i. Provision of drinks and bitings during the photo session. Unfortunately, most venues don’t come inclusive of this, so ask before you commit.
ii. You may be charged extra for refreshments should the number of people attending the photo-session go up.