Watching friends & family getting married is wonderful, but it can also hit your finances hard. Here’s how to cut the cost of being a wedding guest without compromising on the big day.
New clothes, travel, gifts, drinks and hotel rooms can quickly make the cost of being a wedding guest add up.
But you can still enjoy the big day even if you don’t have money to burn.
Here are 5 ways to reduce what you spend without impacting your celebrations.
1. Budget for the day
One of the most effective means of keeping costs down while still enjoying the wedding is to budget for your spending in advance.
Set a budget
Deciding how much you’re able to spend before the event itself can actually make the day more enjoyable, as you don’t have to worry that you are spending money you don't have.
Consider exactly how much you would be happy to spend on the day in total, including the cost of new clothes and travel expenses and try to stick to that figure.
Doing this will not only help you to keep your spending under control but can also help you prepare your finances in advance by saving up ahead of the wedding day.
Save for the occasion
Once you’ve set a budget for your wedding expenditure start saving for the big day.
Even if you just put a few pounds aside each week you could quickly build up enough cash to pay for your drinks at the wedding reception. Put aside a little more and you’ll have the cost of hotel accommodation and a gift covered in no time.
2. Give a gift that’s worth more but costs less
The average price for a wedding gift is now well over £50, so if you have several weddings to attend you could quickly find yourself forking out hundreds of pounds on toasters and cutlery sets.
If you baulk at the price of gifts on the couple’s wedding list, then why not consider a cheaper but equally appreciated alternative.
Wedding favours
If you have a skill that could be utilised on the big day, such as photography or a panache for bakery, why not offer it as a gift? The value of this type of gift is not found in the amount of money you spend but the skills and value you personally possess and offer free of charge.
Not only will this type of gift be unique and memorable for the couple in question, there is a good chance that it will save them (and you) a considerable amount of cash - making it’s true worth even greater.
Personalised gifts
Alternatively, preparing something such as photo album of the couple tying the knot is a great way to offer a personalised gift at a low cost.
3. Cut your accommodation costs
The cost of accommodation can vary dramatically and you don’t always have to pay 5 star prices for 5* hotels, or pay 1* prices for 1* hotels for that matter.
In fact, room rates can vary to a great degree even within the same hotel depending on how and when you book your stay.
Book hotel rooms in advance
As a rule the further in advance you can book your room the more likely you’ll be able to find a good price.
Booking several months before your stay will also give you the opportunity to take advantage of any offers from hotel chains in suitable locations.
You should also check whether discounts are available if you mention you are attending the wedding as this is often the case.
Leave it late
If you are happy to wait until just a few days before you travel you could also pick up a bargain by booking at the last minute.
Online hotel booking websites including Laterooms.com, Lastminute.com and Hotels.com all reduce room rates just a few days before your stay in order to fill vacant spaces.
Remember, if there is only a limited number of hotels at the wedding location rooms may be booked up quickly so you have less choice when leaving it late.
Stay with family or friends
Although staying at a hotel can make you feel part of the wedding party and add a sense of occasion to the event, if you have the opportunity you could save a substantial amount of money by staying with friends or family.
Equally, if you are travelling to a wedding and don’t know anyone nearby you might be able to save by booking accommodation with other guests, or clubbing together to rent a property for the weekend.
Couch surfing or camping are other cost effective alternatives that are worth looking into if you’re struggling to cover the cost of accommodation.
4. Arrange cheap travel
It is often getting to the wedding that proves to be one of the most expensive parts of attending the ceremony, but there are a number of ways you can make getting there more affordable.
Book tickets early
Whether you are travelling by coach, train or plane, booking in advance or during a ticket sale can cut your cost considerably.
For help finding cheap train tickets read our guide: How to Find Cheap Train Tickets and keep an eye on our deals or sign up to our newsletter to find out when cheap coach & train tickets are on offer.
Car share
If you are planning to drive to the wedding then consider sharing a lift with other guests and splitting the cost, or if there are a large number could you save money by renting a mini-bus?
For more information on how to arrange to car share or other ways to cut your transport costs read our guide How to Car Share & Save.
Fly for less
If you’ve been invited to a wedding overseas, the cost of a flight can have a major bearing on whether or not you can afford to attend.
However, as with coaches and trains, many airlines run flight sales and discounts at different times of the year making flying on a budget more than possible.
Get the latest flight offers sent straight to your inbox by signing up to the money.co.uk newsletter or read out guide How to Beat Budget Airline Charges to cut your costs even further.
5. Order your clothes online or in a sale
Buying a posh new suit or dress for every wedding you attend can quickly ramp up the price but there are some ways you can cut the cost while still looking great.
Re-tweak your outfit
For men getting a good quality wedding suit and mixing it up with a variety of shirts and ties is an easy way to make one good outfit suitable for several formal occasions.
Women might find wearing the same outfit to more than one occasion trickier but with the right accessories it can still be done. Update your existing outfit with a different jacket or cardigan or accessorise with a new pashmina to add a dash or colour.
You can also change your look by changing your jewellery, shoes and bag; although they are small changes they can make a big difference to your overall look.
There is nothing to stop you from getting creative either, consider making your own corsage or a fascinator to give your outfit the wedding look.
If you are struggling for a suitable outfit to wear you can dress down more formal outfits with an informal jacket or cardigan, or make more casual outfits more wedding appropriate with the right accessories.
Making these small changes so you can essentially use the same outfit for a number of events increases its cost effectiveness and makes your initial purchase better value for money.
Rent or swap clothes
If you have exhausted the different styles you can conjure from your existing outfit but can’t afford to splash out on something new why not host a clothes swapping party with friends - doing this can let you and your friends find something without spending anything at all.
If you need a wedding hat to complete your look you could cut the cost of your outfit drastically by renting rather than buying.
Shop in the sales
If you decide that you would like to buy a new outfit ahead of the big day, then as you are likely to know several months in advance you may be able to take advantage of the many sales and offers run by retailers online.
You should also visit designer outlet stores so you can get some high end fashion for a fraction of the cost.
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