Back in my country, weddings are not as costly as what it is in US. Generally we attended weddings within our own city but occasionally we had to travel long distance by trains. I know those trips and all the associated costs were too much for my father. This guest post from Alice talks about some of the ways to reduce cost of attending a weeding.
If you are in your 20s or 30s, chances are you have a few weddings coming up in the next few months. Once the season kicks off in the spring, there seems to be a wedding every few weekends all the way into the fall.
Weddings can be a ton of fun but unfortunately, they can also be very expensive and not just for the hosts! Guests end up having to shell out hundreds of dollars for transportation, lodging, gifts and other associated costs.
When you’re in the wedding and receive invitations to things like out-of-town showers, bachelorette parties and rehearsal dinners, the costs can even reach into the thousands.
Split costs
The nice thing about weddings is that you usually go with a group of friends. If that’s the case, see what you can do to split costs among a few people, whether that means sharing a hotel room or going in on a group gift so that you can each spend a bit less overall.
Say, “No.”
It’s easy to think that you’re required to attend everything from showers to out-of-town bachelorette parties but if you can’t afford to, you should not feel obligated.
As long as they don’t see you spend that money on other unnecessary things instead, true friends will understand that you want to be there but just don’t have the cash at the moment.
For example, don’t skip a bridal shower because you can’t afford a gift but then show up at the wedding in a brand new car.
Get creative
If you have great penmanship, offer to help the bride address invites. If you’re a great photographer, see if you can shoot some engagement pictures or capture some candids at the rehearsal dinner.
Make your Own Gift
If this seems normal to you, like many, skip the registry if the things listed there are costlier than your budgeted amount. It should be perfectly fine for the bride or groom to get a surprise gift. Just don’t go for too cheap to your own taste. You can even make DIY gift. Here’s one article with DIY valentines day gift ideas, you can take cue from.
Even a group gift where number of people can pull money in can be a thing to consider as well.
Save on Accommodation
Check for the cheaper stay options. Keep in mind the transportation cost. Often it is wiser to stay at the main hotel where bride and groom booked the room. First you can’t drink and then you can miss out on some fun.
If you can get cheaper nearby hotels where you can walk to and from. Also, staying as a group can save you lots of money. Especially if you opt of two queen bed room,two people can easily fit in to one room, which cuts your cost to half.
Sharing even cut the car rental cost. 4 people can rent one car.
Doing these things as a present to the couple can be a great way to help the couple keep their stress levels and wedding costs down while also allowing you to spend less on their wedding or shower gifts.
About the Author: This post was written by Alice, she works at AvantCredit, a consumer personal loan start-up, and writes for On Better Terms.