There comes a time in adulthood when weddings start to come thick and fast. Friends and family of a similar generation seem to be shacking up and settling down with increasing frequency, and it starts to feel like barely a month passes without another wedding date on the calendar. In an increasingly globalised world, celebrating these happy days often involves a trip abroad, and the cost has risen accordingly. The cost of a no-show, however, is greater – causing offence and fractured relationships.
We’ll all have a more peaceful and joyous occasion if we’re not obsessing over the costs. Who wants to be thinking about saving money on drinks as the best man hoists his toast, or turning up in the same outfit for the third time this year as you couldn’t budget for a new one? With this in mind, here are 5 IDEAL tips for making attending destination weddings more cost effective.
SWAP YOUR OUTFIT WITH A FRIEND
Many like minded friends will be in the same boat, wishing to look fresh and original at each event but not wishing to buy a new outfit every time. Why not swap dresses with a friend, and both turn up in a ‘new’ dress. Accessorise uniquely and with personality to make the outfit your own and no one will ever know.
BE SMART WITH FLIGHT BOOKING
Don’t leave booking your flight until the last minute, as prices can be erratic and you don’t want to leave it too late. Be smart with your flight booking – you can subscribe to price alerts on numerous websites like skyscanner.net, which will give you notice of a drop in prices. Equally as important, keep your eye on promotions as flight ticket websites often run them temporarily, with a window of sometimes as little as an hour in which to grab a bargain.
TURN THE WEDDING’S DESTINATION INTO YOUR HOLIDAY
Once you’ve committed time and money to flying halfway across the world just for a day of celebration, you might aswell make a trip of it. Base a larger holiday around the location of the wedding, wherever that may be. Internal flights are usually very reasonable, giving you a launchpad from which to delve into the culture and history of a city. Visit lots of places and don’t be confined to one spot. Don’t sit their resenting having to make a long journey for only one day – make your time count by doing some exploring!
GET CREATIVE WITH THE WEDDING GIFT
The wedding gift list is only for guidance, and usually for the unimaginative. It’s more personal (and cost-effective) to get creative. Offer to make the wedding cake if you’ve got skills in the kitchen – certainly a more thoughtful proposition than some crappy crockery clicked off a website. Try antique or even charity shops for inspiration – you can find unique presents here and often some real gems lurk on their dusty shelves.
SHARE THE COST OF ACCOMMODATION
These days the breadth of accommodation options is massive. Book an airbnb well in advance for a great deal and home comforts. Alternatively, opt to share a large villa with a group of friends – a lot more fun than a hotel and a whole lot cheaper.