Weddings are joyous occasions, not only for the lucky couple but also for the friends and family there to support them. Celebrating a new marriage with your friends is great fun, but those wedding invites can put a strain on your budget. Here are some ways to stretch your budget, so you don’t have to miss out their special day.
Only Attend the Weddings of Close Friends and Family
If you are fielding multiple invites, be selective about which nuptials to attend. Consider your relationship with the soon-to-be-newly-weds. Go to the weddings where you feel your presence will truly matter to you and to them.
Keep Your Travel Costs Down
- Consider a No-Travel Policy
- Establish a policy that is consistent across all social groups and cut the high costs of destination weddings.
- Skip The Hotel
- Check out Airbnb, when you’re invited to an out-of-town wedding, coordinate with other guests to see if you can split a rental.
- Find Deals
- Book early, use airline miles, find packages that combine flights and accommodations. Use credit card points.
Be Involved in The Planning
If your best friend is getting married and you’re in the wedding party, encourage them to make budget-friendly decisions. For example, ask them to combine the bridal shower and bachelorette party so it’s on the same weekend, minimizing travel costs.
Go in on Group Gifts
Maximize your budget by going in on a group gift with other guests. You can pool together and get the couple one of their big-ticket items.
Consider Your Outfit
If you have been invited to multiple weddings, consider whether it makes more sense for you to rent or own your attire. If you will only wear the same gown once, try rental services like Rent the Runway, borrowing from a friend, or buying a gently used gown. However, tux rentals can run you up to $150 each time. If you’re looking at several weddings over the next few months, it might be worthwhile to invest in a staple suit or tux that you can change features of per wedding.
Start A Savings Account
This is a special savings account dedicated to a short-term goal, like your best friend’s wedding. If you have time to save money before the wedding you can build your guest expenses into your budget, making it more manageable.
When considering how to save for the future wedding expenses, check out Credit Union of Denver’s Money Market or Mile High Money Market Accounts to earn a better interest on the funds you are squirreling away.
At the end of the day, it’s worth keeping in mind that all the happy couple really wants is your support and attendance. Being a wedding guest is about showing that you care and that you’re there for this momentous occasion. So long as you keep that in mind, you should be fine.