Wedding season is here. It’s time to celebrate with your friends and family as they mark a new chapter in their lives. However, when finances are tight, this can be a stressful time while you figure out how to fit the costs into your budget, save money and still make sure that you can be a part of the couple’s big day.
Below are our top tips to keep costs under control and stay within your budget as a wedding guest.
Budget for the Wedding in Advance
Firstly, figure out your budget for the wedding day and any additional events. This includes accommodation, travel costs, wedding gifts and spending money for any correlating events such as the hen do or stag do. Don’t worry if it’s tight, there are many cost-saving options that can help you stick to this.
Tip 1: take cash with you on the wedding day or other event and stick to only spending this. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Book Accommodation Early
It’s unlikely that you will score a good deal on last minute accommodation – and it is risky to wait with the hope that you will! You may end up stuck with the most expensive accommodation as your only option. We recommend looking into your options in advance.
Tip 2: book group accommodation.
Not only can booking for accommodation as a group add more fun to the experience, it also helps you to save money. There are options that can end up cheaper than booking a hotel room when split around a group of people. Have a look at vrbo.com, airbnb and booking.com.
Remember to explore your options with accommodation that’s a bit further out. Splitting a taxi with a group of you to head to a cheaper stay may be a money-saver compared to more expensive accommodation closer to the wedding venue.
Buy the Wedding Gift Early
Browse your family member’s or friend’s wedding gift list early to pick the best option. It’s likely that the least reasonably priced gifts will be left to the end – so get there as soon as you can! This way, you are free to pick which option best fits into your budget. It’s important to remember that for gifts that are truly unaffordable for you, it is best to put your financial stability over buying the dream wedding gift.
Alternatively, organise with a group to buy one of the couple’s picks from their wedding gift list by splitting the cost. This way, you can put forward what you can truly afford and the couple still receive their chosen gift.
Tip 3: if the couple request wedding gifts in cash, you can get clever with this. For example, find out where they are going for the honeymoon and gift the money in this currency for an added touch. Remember, only gift what you can afford.
Save on Your Wedding Guest Outfit
Try to recycle items in your wardrobe however, we’ve all been there when it feels like you have nothing to wear… but this isn’t an excuse to buy something new! Utilise free options first such as borrowing from friends and family – you can promise to return the favour when they next have an upcoming event! The next step is to check cost-saving shops such as ebay or vinted for a good deal.
Know When To Say No
We all know that a wedding celebration doesn’t always involve just the wedding ceremony. You may feel expected to attend the engagement party, bridal shower, pre-wedding dinner… but don’t feel as though you are obliged to attend everything… or anything. If attending more will put a strain on your finances, politely explain that you can’t make it.
Remember, the couple already know what it’s like to be counting the pennies – they are planning a wedding after all! So, if you need to cut costs in certain areas, they are likely to understand. The main goal is for friends and family to be around to celebrate the occasion with them.
For some, the joy of seeing a loved one celebrate such an important day can be overshadowed by the stress of unaffordable debt. Even as a wedding guest, there are many costs to attending the wedding that can be unaffordable. Make sure to stick to your budget and don’t engage in unnecessary spending that will only harm your finances down the line.