As a guest, wedding season can be an exciting, but expensive time!
It’s so much fun to be a part of our loved one’s big days, but when you have two or three weddings lined up in quick succession, the cost of attending can start to become a little overwhelming.
Yet there are some ways we can reduce the cost of being a wedding guest, which involve a little thriftiness and forward planning. Here are my tips for those attending weddings on a budget…
Avoid buying a brand new outfit
We all know that re-wearing an outfit is no longer the fashion crime that it once was! Gone are the days of concern that someone will see us in the same outfit; re-wearing our clothes is sustainable, environmentally friendly, and budget-conscious. Who has the money to buy brand new for every event in this climate!?
If you’ve tried shopping your closest and are struggling to find anything that sparks joy, you could try asking a friend to borrow an outfit. I recently borrowed a dress for a wedding reception from my friend, and paid for the dry cleaning; it cost a fraction of what it would have cost to buy new, and my friend was more than happy to lend me the dress as it had been sitting in her wardrobe for months.
Second-hand clothes selling apps such as Vinted and Depop are also worth a try too, if you’d prefer to pick up a ‘new to you’ outfit at a reasonable price. After you’ve worn your outfit, try selling it on for someone else to enjoy, to reduce the cost even further.
DIY your nails
Pretty wedding-ready nails can be the perfect self-care treat, but if you are looking to tighten the purse strings, you could DIY your nails instead.
There are lots of DIY nail videos; you could try ombre, french, blush or some simple nail art if you’re feeling crafty.
Alternatively, if you plan to DIY your nails regularly, you could buy a gel nail kit. Why not go halves with a family member or close friend? This way, you could split the price, and share your polish collection.
Book budget accommodation
If you know you’ll need to book accommodation to attend a wedding, always be sure to compare prices, and to book as early as you can! Many other guests will likely be booking to stay, and as rooms get booked up, prices can often increase.
Sometimes the bride and groom will send nearby hotel suggestions, which can be really useful, but don’t be afraid to search for budget alternatives; Premier inns, Ibis and Travelodge hotels tend to be some of the cheapest UK chains, and always check for cashback apps when you book, to ensure you get the best deal!
Lastly, if you are travelling with a friend, you could opt to share a room to split your hotel bill in half.
Remember to pack snacks and drinks if you’re planning to skip the hotel breakfast!
Grab some free perfume and beauty products
It’s always handy to keep a mini perfume in your bag to spritz throughout the day, and sample-size fragrances and aftershaves are the perfect size to take with you out and about.
You can grab samples at your local beauty counters, via social media promotions, and through product testing websites; I keep a little stash for when I fancy switching up my fragrance for the day, and a wedding is the perfect occasion to try something new!
As well as perfume samples, you can also nab beauty products; department stores often give samples of foundation, mascara and more to customers. Check your nearest department store’s event pages to see if there are any free treatments or consultations to book, as this is one of the easiest ways to bag a few free samples.
Earn gift cards to cover the cost of the gift
Lastly, as well as the cost of travel and personal costs, the cost of purchasing gifts can be daunting if you have multiple weddings to attend in one year.
One way to fund your gifts is to use money-making apps to earn gift cards, which can be used to purchase the perfect wedding gift. There are lots of ways to earn gift cards, whether that’s via receipt scanning apps, task apps, mystery shopping or surveys.
You can also cash out money made via cashback sites in the form of gift cards.
I hope these tips help to keep your wedding guest costs down, whilst still enjoying yourself to the max!
Taryn is a money and lifestyle blogger at savinginlondoncity.com who is on a mission to share the best money saving tips and tricks with her readers. Taryn discusses the best ways to explore the capital on a budget, whilst saving towards her long term money goals, which include saving for a house deposit, travelling the world and investing.
