Singaporebrides | Weddings 101

August 2024

7 Ways You Can Save Money As A Wedding Guest

By Audrie Soh

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Weddings can get expensive, even for guests. Find out how you can save money as a wedding guest and enjoy the celebrations at the same time.

It is no secret that weddings are expensive for the soon-to-be-wed couple, but did you know that it can also get quite costly for their wedding guests, especially if it is an extravagant affair or an overseas wedding. You may not feel the pinch if you are attending alone or only have one wedding to turn up for, but the costs might start to add up if you are going as a family of three or more, or have a few weddings lined up in succession to attend.

But that doesn’t mean you have to limit your wedding attendance to one a year (or less!). There are ways you can cut down your expenses and save as a wedding guest without compromising on your presence or experience at a loved one’s special day, such as smart budgeting and prioritising. Read up on how these and more ways can help you save as a wedding guest, so you can celebrate with your loved ones without feeling the pinch.

1. Opt For Public Transport instead of private-hire cars

If the wedding venue is accessible by bus or MRT, choose to travel via public transport instead of taking a private-hire care or taxi to save on transport. While the savings may not seem to be significant, it can be especially if the wedding venue is located far from your home or you are stuck in a jam during peak hours.

Alternatively, if the wedding venue is out of the way, check with the couple to see if they have arranged for a shuttle bus to pick guests up at a specific location. If there is, make your way there on public transport and ride the provided shuttle bus to the venue.

2. Stay with friends and family if you are coming from out of town

Wedding guests who are coming from out of town to attend a wedding in Singapore are more likely to incur a higher bill of expenses as they need to pay for their travel into Singapore and hotel accommodation for the duration of their stay. But guests from out of town can try to save on their accommodation by asking around friends or family whom they are close with to see if they can stay with them temporarily instead of a hotel. Alternatively, if there is a group of you travelling to Singapore for the wedding, you might want to share the cost of a hotel room and bunk in together to lower your expenses.

Likewise, if you are attending a destination wedding, buddy up with family and friends to share a room, or ask the couple if there is a discounted rate for rooms, to shave off some of your expenses.

3. Rent an outfit or Re-Use your existing outfits

While you would hate to be caught in the same outfit at different weddings, it might get quite costly to purchase a new dress every time you receive a wedding invitation, especially if you are surrounded by friends who are getting married around the same time.

Instead of purchasing a new outfit each time you have to attend a wedding, consider sprucing up your existing dresses for a wedding. You can choose to accessorise them or pair them with a semi-formal cropped coat or blazer for a more put together look. Alternatively, if the dress code calls for something more formal, you might want to think about renting an outfit instead of buying one, since you may not get as many wears out of it on a daily basis.

If you are really adamant about buying a new dress to attend a wedding, choose a versatile one that can be worn to multiple events or weddings. That way, you get the maximum mileage out of your spending.

4. Budget for expenses ahead of time

Chances are, if you and your friends are at a marriageable age, you might be receiving wedding invitations one after another within the year. If that’s the case, you might want to budget your expenses for the wedding the minute you confirm your attendance, including any spending for a new outfit or renting one and saving up for the wedding ang bao. Doing so can give you a clear picture of what and how much you can afford.

This is especially important if you are part of the bride’s bridal party, as you may be expected to pay for a bridesmaid’s dress for the wedding and a hen’s night for the bride, or are attending a destination wedding.

5. Be Your Own makeup artist

Attending a loved one’s wedding is definitely an occasion to be dolled up professionally, but if hiring a professional hair and makeup artist puts a strain on your finances, you might want to do it yourself, especially if you’re already accustomed to doing your own makeup on a regular basis. While the savings you enjoy may not seem too significant, if you have to engage a professional for all the weddings you’re going to attend, the numbers will add up to quite a bit at the end of the day.

Now, what if you’re someone who rarely or doesn’t style your hair or put on makeup on a regular basis? Well, no one said you couldn’t attend a wedding in your natural beauty. As long as you are neat in your appearance, turning up without makeup or any fancy hairstyling is totally okay. Alternatively, you can always ask a friend who is adept in makeup to help you with yours.

6. Prioritise the important events and skip the unnecessary ones

For wedding guests who are on a budget, or wish to minimise their expenses, learn to prioritise the important events included in the couple’s wedding celebrations. Some couples may plan elaborate celebrations and invite their guests to take part, such as an engagement party, hen’s or stag’s night, or a post-wedding party.

If you are unable or prefer not to attend some or all of the extra celebrations, politely let the couple know that you are not able to join them for these events, but assure them that you will definitely be there on their wedding day. This allows you to cut your spending where necessary, especially if you are on a budget, or have several weddings to attend in a row.

7. Be honest; don’t be afraid to say ‘No’

We all know honesty is the best policy, and it truly is. Don’t be afraid to turn down invitations to multiple or destination weddings or offers to be part of the bridal party, if you truly feel you are not up for it. Rather than ghosting the couple or cancelling at the last minute, or worse, spending beyond your means, it is better to be upfront with them if money is a little tight for you now due to personal reasons or multiple celebrations.

Credits: Feature image from Khye Theng and Tony’s Romantic and Timeless Wedding with Pops of Blue at Villa Plenilunio Bali by MomentsbyJeremy.

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