Tips for Guests Who Need to Save Money for a Destination Wedding

It looks like the only destination for this wedding guest is Brokeville

As destination weddings get more and more popular, I receive more and more questions from guests — usually those who can’t afford the extravagant affair’s costs.

A guest at a local wedding asks…
“My best friend is getting married on a beach in Mexico. Somewhere I read that the average guest will spend about $1,500 to attend a destination wedding… and I’m on a strict a budget. Any ideas?”

The Wedding Guru says…
You’re going to grab the bull by the horns on this and be assertive. If the wedding is not overseas, ask the bride if she has a friend or relative in town with whom you can stay. That will save you the cost of a hotel room. You can also ask the bride if she can connect you to another person going, so you can share a room and divide the cost.

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In the meantime, look into renting a place and asking others to foot the bill with you. The bridal couple may have booked rooms, but there may be a less expensive option close by. Do your homework, shop around, and perhaps you can come up with a less expensive alternative. However, keep in mind that if you choose this option, you won’t be in the hotel where all the action is!

Some other penny-pinching tips:

  • If you have several destination weddings to attend, by all means wear the same dress! If the same guests will be at all the events, you can give your dress a new look with a belt, scarf, or shawl — and of course, different jewelry and handbag.
  • Connect with some of the other guests and consider sharing the purchase of a gift. If the bride has a registry, you can go off-registry and buy something from the registry, but at a less expensive store, online, or with a coupon.

Once you have made the decision to attend, enjoy!

Got more questions? Write to me at judy@hvmag.com

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