Setting a budget for your wedding is one of the first things that every new bride to be should do! Seriously, sit down, get out a pen and write down everything that you want to have in your wedding.

Then get real. Think about how to have the perfect wedding without creating an empty bank account. It’s always easy to think of the easy stuff, but the last minute or hidden costs can sneak up onto you very quickly. Once you have your venue, catering, flowers, cake and the dress, start thinking about the little things that can add up very quickly.

Here are some commonly overlooked expenses that I came across during my wedding!

Cake Cutting Fee – Most places won’t charge just to cut your cake, but rarely some locations will take you to the bank, just to eat some cake! Watch out for fees that come to $1 per slice, it’s been known to happen to even the most detail oriented brides.

Corkage Fees – When you go out to eat, they make money on alcohol, so remember that your wedding venue will be looking to make money on alcohol too. And the way that they do this is by charging a corkage fee. If you bring in your own booze, plan to pay a few bucks, to the tune of $10-$30 per bottle!

Overtime Fees – Imagine working for 5 hours and then realizing that you’re going to have to work another hour. Yeah, that would suck… Well, your venue’s employees are scheduled to work a set time and after that time, you’re going to have to pay up for the extra time. Ask your reception location what the terms and rules are and find out how much it costs. Don’t let a higher bill ruin your perfect party!