Saving Money as a Wedding Guest

Being a guest at a Dubai Wedding is always exciting. As fun as these celebrations are are, paying for them can make otherwise joyous occasions stressful. The average Dubai wedding guest, for instance, will spend $600 minimum for each wedding they attend; this sum includes transportation costs, new outfits, hotel stays, and travel food.

Still, there are plenty of ways to save money as a wedding guest. If you’ll be attending a wedding this year, read on – and if you’re throwing a wedding, share these tips with your guests on social media!

Attire

When shopping for a new dress or suit, set a budget, and stick to it no matter what. You can maximize your new outfit’s potential by purchasing a piece that can fit in with your seasonal wardrobe. Look for knit or silk fabrics that can be repurposed to wear to work or evenings out on the town. For very formal weddings, consider renting a gown or borrowing off a friend.

Image Credit: Gideon Photography via projectwedding.com

Next, look for accessories in your very own closet. Not having to spend money on a purse means getting to splurge on the perfect dress while still staying within your outfit’s budget. While shoe shopping, look for a classic pair of heels or flats in a neutral color. This way, you can wear them to numerous events throughout the year.

Transportation

Unless your friends or family members are getting married here in Dubai, there are going to be some travel costs – possibly across the country, or even on another continent. Did you know that 20% of couples are now opting for destination weddings?

Image credit: JvR Photography  Wedding Invitation by: Creative Box

The best way to look for cheaper plane tickets is by starting with low-fare websites such as Agoda and Booking.com. These websites offer email and text alerts for lower fares as they are reported to the website. If you have a preferred airline you always take, look into buying more frequent flyer points to supplement your existing ones. Additionally, inquire about your favorite airline’s credit cards and summertime discounts.

Accommodations

Talk to the bride and groom about hotel accommodations before looking into them for yourself. It’s very likely that they’ve set up a room block in a local hotel. However, room blocks might not have the best rates in town. There’s no harm in checking other nearby hotels for a lower rate. Just like airlines, many chain hotels offer rewards points and credit cards. Credit cards for Hyatt and Starwood hotels cards offer multiple points per dollar with each hotel stay. Also check deal websites such as Hotels.com.

Image Credit: Desert Palm Retreat, Dubai

If booking a hotel is out of the question perhaps you should look at www.airbnb.com this is a great site where people lease out their homes at super cheap rates and rely on the reviews of guests to gain their stars.

The Wedding Gift

As soon as you have access to the bride and groom’s registries (if they have one), swoop in. Having time on your side means having the best selection possible. If you can’t get the present you want on time, though, look for individual pieces on the registry that make up a larger set. This way, you’ll only need to purchase part of a silverware or pots and pans, which will complete the bride and groom’s set.

Image Credit: Maria Sundin Styled by: Joelle at My Lovely Wedding Decor by: O’ de Rose via Mylist,ae

Wrap it all together with tissue paper and gift bags. Many engaged couples in the UAE choose Mylist.ae as their preferred wedding gift registry of choice.

What to Remember

When you’re looking back on this wedding event years from now, you won’t think about being unable to afford the cocktail dress of your dreams, or having to purchase a less expensive wedding gift than you wanted.

Image Credit: Joe Chedrawi

Instead, you’ll cherish the memories that you and your loved ones spent together – and that’s what truly matters. The best present to can give the bride and groom is your presence.

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