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With wedding gifts, outfit, bachelor parties, bridal showers, travel and accommodation to pay for, did you know that Americans spend around $500 to $700 on each wedding they attend to?
Yes, that’s only for one wedding and now that it’s summer a.k.a. “wedding season,” you better get ready because you’ll surely be shelling out a big chunk of your hard-earned cash for other people’s nuptials.
Don’t get me wrong – I love weddings but when you reach that time in your life when it seems like every weekend is someone’s wedding, it can get pretty costly.
To help you enjoy wedding season without going broke, here are 6 helpful tips that you should take not of.
1. Set a budget.
Before you say yes to every wedding invitation, take time to sit and look at your finances, considering all the hidden costs. Find out how much money you can shell out and set an overall wedding season. From that budget, set a limit for every wedding you need to attend to and stick with it.
2. Just say no.
If you’re struggling with debt or you don’t have extra cash to spend on a destination wedding or other activities that come with a wedding like bachelor/bachelorette parties, just politely decline the invitation. Don’t worry or feel about it because I’m sure that the couple will understand.
3. Shop early.
This gives you more time to find the best deals and savings for wedding gifts. Also, if the couple has a wedding registry, shopping early means being able to pick out the best item that fits your budget
4. Make it personal.
Money spent on gifts adds up really fast when you add in the engagement parties, bachelor parties, bridal showers, etc. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on gifts, make it personal or DIY if you can. Personalized items just make everything more special, no matter how cheap or simple it is.
5. Dress for less.
Although repeating outfits isn’t a crime, I understand if you don’t want to do that. But with a tight budget, how can you dress for less?
First, revisit your old stack of clothes. You might find something you forgot about already. Next, raid someone else’s closet – whether it’s your friend’s, sibling’s or even your parent’s.
If that didn’t work, check out your local thrift shop to find some hidden gems or just rent one. But if you are willing to shell out money for an outfit, make sure to buy a fashion staple – something classic that won’t go out of style.
6. Pool your resources.
If you have a large group of friends or family who are attending the wedding, you can save a lot of money by joining forces in gift-giving, transportation or renting a house together instead of booking individual hotel rooms.
Bottom line, the weddings aren’t just an expensive event for brides and grooms to be but for guests as well. But with planning and creativity, you can surely celebrate your loved one’s milestone with them while still keeping your finances in order.
