How to Enjoy Wedding Season— And Not Empty Your Bank Account!

Ditch the room block
As a favor to their guests, couples will often block off a set of rooms under their name so people can easily book accommodations. But, while the room blocks can sometimes be the best route (many couples are able to snag awesome rates for these!), know that there are always other options. Research other hotels in the area or even try renting an AirBnB with other friends attending the wedding—it could save you tons and be a super fun solution.

Shop around
The same can be said for registries. If you see a gift on a couple’s registry site that you love, try searching for it somewhere else. Oftentimes, you’ll be able to find the item, or something similar, for a much lower price.
Plan Early
Once you get the save-the-date, start researching. Hotel rooms and airline flights are often much cheaper farther out, and if you start looking at gifts now, chances are something will go on sale before you need to buy it. The same can be said for dresses, suits and all the other things you’ll need for the wedding, too.

Where to splurge:
Gift nicely
As we said above, always shop around, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy something cheap. Here, it’s less about the money and more about the sentiment. If your friend or family member loves giraffes and you see awesome giraffe-shaped candle holders, get them. Or if you think they’ll love a DIY and you end up spending a bit more on supplies than you originally intended, know that their love for the gift will be worth it in the end.