Wedding season is upon us, bringing with it the high costs of attending them as a guest, never mind as the bride or groom. Sara Kennedy, Irish Wedding Blogger, joined Drivetime to discuss going to weddings this summer without breaking the bank. Listen back above.
We all know how planning a wedding can quickly rack up costs, but more and more attending a wedding as a guest can set you back hundreds of euro. Celebrating the nuptials of someone close to you important for many of us, but it often comes with the pressure to spend big on hotels, outfits, gifts, transport and more.
"When people get an invite to the wedding it's such a disparate purchase for a guest because first of all, I might get my outfit, and then I'll book the hotel and I'll do this, and people don't necessarily see the big picture coming together", Kennedy said.
"It's only when you come out the end and you're dishevelled after it that you go, Jesus, how much did we spend on that?"
The gift is what often perplexes people, and has also increased in recent years. Kennedy routinely runs a poll on her blog asking people how much they put in the card for the wedding couple, saying that "96% will give a cash gift, so cash is king".
"There's two different ways of looking at it. If you're a part of the bridal party you will probably pay anything from, what they're saying is, €300 upwards to the couple, that goes in the card. If you're a general guest, the going rate seems to be now between €200 and €300, which is actually up about €50 since the same time last year."
Factor in a busy summer of potentially multiple weddings and you're very quickly spending hundreds a year on attending events.
When it comes to cutting costs, without skimping on showing your appreciation for your wedded friends and family, Kennedy said it's about "being strategic".
"I actually think the best thing you can do is actually plan it and go, that's how much it is and actually acknowledge how much you're facing and then just tackling it as it comes to you."
When it comes to the outfit, she suggested shopping strategically in the sales ahead of the wedding season, as well as focusing on building a capsule wardrobe that "can be mixed and matched around different accessories".
Renting an outfit is another option, especially if you want to keep it sustainable or wear a statement outfit but can't afford to buy designer.
The biggest saving, however, is the day of itself. "Depending on where you go you could be paying anything from €150 a room, going right up to what could be in the wedding rate of €300 a room", Kennedy said.
She pointed to B&Bs, with many beautiful locations dotted around the country. She also said friends can pool together and rent an Airbnb to cut on costs.
"It's down to strategising and planning far ahead. If you don't plan ahead, you don't have as many options as you could."
