Relationships Talk

Destination weddings are huge right now and it’s really no surprise. The average wedding on our Aussie shores costs around $30,000 but just $10,000 overseas. It’s a huge saving. 

But there’s a few individuals who aren’t saving any cash and that’s the guests. Attending a wedding overseas definitely means dropping more dollar than getting a drunken Uber home at the end of the night. 

But there are ways to save money and attend a destination wedding on a budget. Here’s our five top tips to keep the cost down…

Treat it as a holiday 

Flying in just before the wedding and flying out just after is a good way to save cash, right? Well, not if you intend to have another holiday later in the year. Instead transform your trip away for the wedding into your holiday for the year. Add a few days on either side, explore the area and actually take some downtime so you return feeling rested, rather than flustered wanting to drop more dollar on flights to another destination later in the year. 

Travel smart

If you’re lucky and prepared, you might blag a cheap flight. But really, when a date has no flexibility then it’s often hard to nab cut-price travel. Instead, try and get some benefits from booking. Look for credit card deals that offer bonus air points or at least join the rewards program with the airline. This is a great way to also get an upgrade.

And don’t automatically book a car. Check with other guests and try and carpool. Not every guest needs to arrive in their own set of wheels. 

Sign up to all the activities

Most couples jam-pack the pre- and post-wedding activities and they usually cover the cost because really, they feel guilty that you’ve had to travel so far and use those golden-nuggets of annual leave for their big day. It’s easy to skip the group snorkelling or the lawn bowls as it seems a bit corny but actually, it’s free and it’s fun. Get involved! 

(Getty)

Don’t take a present 

Most couples who are getting hitched overseas actually ask for no gifts. But for those who do, or if you feel bad not getting them something, then hand it to the lovebirds a few weeks before the big day when you’re still on home soil. It saves you trying to squash it into your luggage and it saves them trying to get everything back once the wedding has wrapped up.

Keep an eye on pool bar drinks

Everyone is together for the first time in ages and that often means sitting next to the pool for a couple of hours a day and enjoying a few pricey cocktails. Now we’re not saying that you shouldn’t have a few but it’s important to budget here. Give yourself a daily amount and stick to it. It will really ensure you don’t get landed with a $1000 bill at the end of your stay from ploughing through the cocktail list with wild abandon. 

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