How to Attend a Wedding Without Breaking the Bank

Organizing your own wedding is not a cheap endeavor, but the costs of being a wedding guest can also add up. A suitable outfit and a great gift are both musts, and if the wedding isn’t taking place close to home, transportation and accommodation will add even more to your final bill.

How to celebrate the fun and romance of a wedding without blowing your monthly budget? Here are a few tips to help you attend a white wedding without going into the red.

Coordinate with friends

If there’s a bunch of you headed to the wedding together, why not collaborate on a group gift? Although it’s tradition to give one present per person or couple, stepping outside of convention will save you money and could mean a bigger and better gift for the newlyweds. Pool your money towards an open-ended plane ticket, a hand-made piece of furniture, or a subscription service for something the happy couple loves. And, if the gifting group gets along, go a step further and rent your wedding accommodation together. You might be able to find a cheaper group hotel rate or even nab a nearby Airbnb for the whole crew.

Use credit – wisely

There’s nothing wrong with an occasional splurge, especially if it’s in honor of a friend or family member’s once-in-a-lifetime special day. Just make sure that if you’re putting wedding expenses on credit, you do so with a card that has great rates and will give you something in return. The HUECU Platinum Rewards card, for example, offers no annual fee and a 1.99% intro APR rate on purchases for the first 12 months. Plus, cardholders get 3% cash back on gas, 2% cash back on groceries, and 1% cash back on everything else – which means you can buy the perfect wedding gift and enjoy a little treat for yourself, too.

Rent an outfit

Wedding dress codes vary widely, and many require an outfit that most of us don’t have sitting around in our closet. Bohemian black tie? Fabulous Gatsby chic? If you’re struggling about what to wear and really don’t want to shell out a week’s paycheck on a dress or tux you’ll only use once, why not rent? You can check out local rental outlets, or go online for an even bigger selection of looks. Renting means you’ll pay less, look great, and not have a “white tie farmhouse formal” outfit crowding your closet for the next two decades.

Set a budget beforehand

If finances are tight, start the budgeting process as soon as you’ve mailed off your RSVP. Calculate how much you can afford to spend on the outfit, the gift, and other necessities, and don’t forget about all the little extras that can add up – drinks the night before, brunch the morning after, a pre-wedding visit to the salon and so on. Once you’ve made your budget, stick to it! Special events can easily lead to unexpected expenses, but with a budget in hand, you can think less about money and more about having a great time at the wedding.

Whatever your wedding expenses, it’s helpful to have a credit card with great rates and simple terms. Check out the HUECU Platinum Rewards card to learn more about its exceptional benefits and generous cash back rewards.