5 Ways to Save at Weddings
It's the time of year when weddings can start taking up more time (and money) than any other weekend activity. I know I'm not the only one with a fridge covered in invites; Banker Girl and Budgeting Babe have also been discussing how to handle the multiple commitments.
Here are some ways to cut down on those wedding costs:
- Just say no. It may sound harsh, but sometimes it's the best solution. Ask yourself, will I still be friends with this person in 10 years? If the answer is no, then consider responding with a polite decline.
- Stick to one celebration. The National Endowment for Financial Education points out that guests are often expected to attend not only the wedding but also a bachelor or bachelorette party, bridal showers, and engagement parties. If you do end up going to more than one, NEFE recommends sticking to cheap gag gifts for the bachelor and bachelorette parties and giving joint gifts with friends for the others.
- Rein in presents. While registries often include $400 china sets, there's no need to buy something beyond your budget, says NEFE. Gift cards at the couple's favorite store can be just as welcome.
- Negotiate with the happy couple. This may not be a popular idea, but if the bride wants her attendants to wear a $200 dress, plus the shoes and jewelry of her choice, she may need a reality check. Similarly, meeting up for a bachelor party in Las Vegas may not be possible for the groom's friends who already have to travel to the wedding.
- Split costs with friends. Consider weddings as a chance to relive your college days of room sharing. Ask the bride and groom to match you up with another guest who might be interested in splitting hotel costs.
What are your tips for saving money at weddings?
Tags: personal finance | marriage
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Reader Comments
Wear an old dress
I have perfectly good dresses that I never wear anywhere and I've decided that instead of getting a new dress for my friend's wedding, I'm wearing one I have.
I do have one recommendation about splitting the hotel room. Book the refundable rate in the event your friends or other guests flake out on you. I have a wedding in "upstate" New York (AKA not NYC or Westchester) and invited my old college roommates to split the room with me. At first they were all on board, then invariably life got in the way and they bailed....
Absolutely
As a recent bride, I agree with almost everything mentiond above. I worked very hard to keep costs minimal for the bridesmaids (black cocktail dresses off the rack - not one of them needed tayloring) and tried to encourage everyone to keep their spending to a minimum. Additionally, I was SHOCKED at some of the gifts we received from friends our own age - I would've never expected half of that in a million years, nor was it necessary. The bottom line is that the bride and the groom only want you there if you want to be there - they are putting some significant money into each guest that shows up. There were a handful of people who didn't make it, and that was more than OK. The only small issue I have with the comments above is in regards to splitting the costs with friends. I agree - bunk up with your college friends, but I wouldn't put that on the bride and groom's "to do list." They have a million things on that list, and doing anything more than making a roomie recommendation might be a little over the top :) Other than that, I'd like to emphasize that weddings are meant to be fun!
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