How to Save Money as a Wedding Guest
Attending a wedding as a guest is definitely the least stressful way to be a part of a loved one’s special day. You don’t need to worry about planning or setting up for the event, purchasing a bridesmaid’s dress, renting a suit or ensuring that the day goes off without any problems.
The costs of being a guest can still add up, though. Between travel expenses, buying a gift and finding the perfect thing to wear for the occasion, you can end up spending a pretty penny. And if you have multiple weddings to attend within a short period of time, it can get really expensive.
The good news? Being a wedding guest doesn’t have to mean going broke. Here are a few of our favorite suggestions on how to save money as a wedding guest.
Set a Budget
According to one study, the average American spends roughly $128 just on a gift when a close friend gets married. When you aren’t a part of the wedding party, it’s easy to overspend on a gift, an outfit for the big day, etc. since you don’t have to worry about buying a specific gown or renting a tuxedo. If you are trying to save money, though, you need to think carefully about how much it will cost you to get to the wedding, how much your hotel room will cost and how much you can actually afford to spend on a gift and attire for the day. Setting a budget and sticking to it is the best way to avoid overdoing it.
Make Your Travel Plans in Advance
Whether you are attending a destination wedding in a tropical paradise or you need to travel across the country to your friend’s hometown, the sooner you start planning, the more likely you are to get a good deal. You should start making your travel plans as soon as you receive your Save-the-Date card. Browse travel sites and don’t forget to check with the couple to see if they have any cost-saving hotel accommodations planned for guests.
Get Crafty
When money is tight, a do-it-yourself approach can save you big. Instead of buying accessories to go with your outfit for the day, create your own jewelry with gemstone beads. You can also use your jewelry-making skills to make a meaningful gift for the happy couple. You could make the bride a piece of jewelry featuring her birthstone alongside the birthstone of her husband or wife or use something like blue apatite beads to create a piece for her something blue for the ceremony.
Consider an Alternative to a Hotel
If you can’t find a great deal on a hotel room, there are plenty of other options. Check out Airbnb or try a cozy bed and breakfast. If you are attending a wedding during the summer and the weather is nice, you could even turn the wedding weekend into a camping event. Just make sure you have a decent place to get ready before the wedding, so you don’t show up looking like you just climbed out of your tent!
Don’t Worry About What You Owe the Couple
As a guest at the wedding of a friend or a loved one, you don’t owe the happy couple anything. While some people recommend determining how much to spend on a gift based on the amount that the hosts are spending per plate at the reception, such notions aren’t anything that you truly need to worry about. The amount you choose to spend on a gift should be based entirely on your budget and your relationship with the bride, groom or both. While there are horror stories about bridezillas making crazy demands for gifts, most couples are way more interested in celebrating their vows than calculating whether their guests spent enough on their gifts.
Chip in for a Group Gift
Chances are, the wedding registry contains a few big-ticket items. These items may be the ones that the couple wants most but doesn’t expect to actually receive. Get a few friends or family members together and chip in to buy that awesome gift! By pooling your resources with several people, you may end up being able to spend less while getting the newlyweds something they want way more than a new coffee maker. Going this route means that the couple gets a great gift and you only spend as much as you can afford. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
Rent Your Wedding Wardrobe
Buying new clothes every time you attend a wedding gets expensive fast. This is especially true during the summer months when it seems like there is a wedding almost every weekend. Rather than filling your closet with new dresses that you will likely only wear once, try a site like Rent the Runway. These sites allow you to rent stylish clothing from leading designers for a fraction of the cost of buying them, so you can always have something new without spending a fortune. This option also cuts down on waste, too, since you won’t end up buying clothing and only wearing it once.
Be Careful with Credit Cards
Charging your hotel room, gift and all other wedding-related expenses to a credit card gives you a bit of extra time to pay, but you also end up spending more in the long run. Keep in mind that, if you use a credit card, you will have to pay off everything you charge plus interest. If you do use a credit card, try to use one that offers rewards points or partners with businesses to offer cardholders discounts on their products. And stick to your budgetno matter how high your limit is. It may be tempting to splurge when you have a lot of funds available on a credit card, but do you really want to be stuck paying on a single gift for the next year or two?
Conclusion
Attending a wedding can be expensive. However, if you are careful about creating a budget and sticking to it, you can have a great time and show your love and support for the happy couple without breaking the bank. After all, your presence at the wedding is the best present you can give!
Many thanks to Brenda Kimble for this article. Brenda Kimble is a writer and stay-at-home mother of two daughters and a son, plus their beagle named Duke! She loves blogging, crafting, and spending time with her family. She also enjoys strolling the streets of her quaint neighborhood in Austin, Texas and finding the trendiest hotspots for fashion, food, and live music.
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