Wedding Costs Couples Forget in the Philippines
By Migala 3 min read
The quotes add up, the budget is set, and then the extras arrive. These are the wedding costs couples forget: overtime, delivery, a service charge nobody mentioned. Each one is small. Together they can take a large bite out of the plan.
This guide lists the costs couples most often miss, where each one hides, and the question to ask so it’s in the price before you agree.
Why they get missed
A quote shows a package price. The extras usually sit in the fine print, in a separate fee schedule, or in a conversation that never happened. And some costs don’t belong to any supplier at all: the church, the venue, your own entourage.
So the fix is the same every time. Ask for the total price, with every extra, in writing. The rest of this guide is a list of what to ask about.
Costs that hide inside supplier quotes
Overtime
Photo, video, sound, hosts and the venue can all charge by the hour once the booked time is up. A program that runs late costs money on several lines at once.
Ask: What is the hourly rate, and when does the clock start and stop? Does setup count inside the booked hours?
Setup and teardown
Some packages count setup and pack-up inside the hours you book. Others add them on top. The same eight-hour package can mean very different things.
Ask: Are setup and teardown included, or charged separately?
Transport and out-of-town fees
A supplier based in one city may charge extra to come to another. Parking and tolls are often yours to cover.
Ask: Is travel included for my venue? Who pays for parking and tolls?
Service charge and taxes
Hotels and venues often add a service charge and tax on top of the quoted price. One hotel’s package sheet, for example, added a service charge plus taxes and a minimum event spend. That’s one hotel’s terms, not a rule, which is why you ask.
Ask: Does this price already include service charge and taxes? Is there a minimum spend?
Meals for the crew
Many suppliers expect their team to be fed on the day. Some quotes say so, others don’t.
Ask: Do you need meals for your team? How many people is that?
Trials, corkage and extras
Makeup artists may charge for a trial. Venues and caterers may charge corkage for drinks you bring.
Ask: Is there a separate fee for a trial, corkage or anything else not in the package?
Costs that don’t come from a supplier
- The church. Some churches charge for things like air-conditioning. Ask the parish office what applies to your date.
- Entourage and aisle decor. The more people in the entourage, the more flowers, outfits and fittings. Aisle decor is often priced separately from the reception styling.
- Fittings and alterations. These add up across an entourage.
- Tips and thank-yous. Small, but they belong in the plan.
- Guest count changes. Every extra ten guests moves food, rentals, souvenirs and seating at the same time.
See how one quote grows
This is a made-up example for a styling package, to show the idea. The amounts are not market prices.
| Quote | Real cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Package | ₱60,000 | ₱60,000 |
| Delivery and setup | Not stated | ₱4,000 |
| Overtime, 1 hour | Not stated | ₱2,500 |
| Aisle decor | Not included | ₱6,000 |
| Crew meals | Not stated | ₱1,500 |
| Total | ₱60,000 | ₱74,000 |
Nothing in that table is unreasonable. It just wasn’t in the number on the first page.
Put the answers in writing
Once a supplier answers, get it in the agreement, not only in a chat. A written agreement is clearer for both sides. It should cover:
- what is included and what isn’t, and the total price;
- the overtime rate, and the start and end times;
- the payment schedule, with an official receipt for each payment;
- cancellation and change terms in both directions.
Our guide on how to find and compare event suppliers shows how to line up proposals side by side once you have the full prices.
Start your list
Take the pillar guide, the wedding budget checklist, and add a line for each cost above. When a supplier replies, fill it in. Anything still blank is a question to ask.
If you’d like suppliers to send you proposals instead of chasing quotes one by one, post your event and compare what comes back. Migala connects you with suppliers. You and the supplier agree the terms between yourselves, so use these questions on every proposal. Or browse caterers, photographers, stylists or all suppliers.
