If you’re looking to plan the wedding of your dreams, you’ll likely need some huge ways to save money. The venue, dress, cake, and even the honeymoon, all don’t come cheap, and the usual advice (such as cancelling your Netflix subscription or cutting the coffee) is the equivalent of saving peanuts. Here are some bigger, slightly controversial, and much better ways to make huge savings for your dream wedding fund.

Saving For Your Wedding – Tips That Make a Big Difference

1. Live With Roommates for a While

This may be a controversial one, but the truth of the matter is that rent is one of the biggest costs we fork out for every single month. Whether you have a tiny one-bed apartment or a vast five-bed home, that rent is eating into your wedding budget. However, living with roommates only temporarily can mean you end up paying half, or even a third, of what you’d usually pay for your home.

You’ll be able to save hundreds of dollars a month which, after a while, can help you cover the costs of a wedding caterer, the venue, or even the honeymoon.

Furthermore, finding the right roommates is easier than ever these days, especially with roommate-matching platforms like spareroom. These platforms help you filter out roommates you don’t want. You can find rooms to rent all across the US in popular cities for a fraction of the price of what you’d usually pay.

And it’s important to remember that living with roommates is only temporary. Soon you’ll be married and living with the love of your life – and sooner rather than later.

2. Monetize a Skill on the Side

We’re all about the hustle culture these days, and it’s because it’s never been easier to monetize a skill or a passion. If you have a talent hidden away, it could actually help you pay for your dream wedding.

Start by noting down what you’re good at. Is it writing? Or art? Perhaps you love doodling designs. You could even teach lessons or offer your pet-sitting services. Whatever your talent, you may just be able to make some extra money from it.

Consider joining platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to sell your services. Or, if you’ve gone down the creative route, consider craft fairs or Etsy. This can sometimes take a while to build up so the sooner you make a start, the better.

3. Temporarily Downsize Your Car

We get it – for many people, your car is your baby. But it’s also a huge monthly expense. Choosing to temporarily downsize your car, switching to a cheaper model, or parking it for a while, will save you hundreds of dollars a month in maintenance costs, petrol, and car insurance, and give your dream wedding fund a serious boost.

4. Rent Out a Spare Room

Do you own your home? Then this tip might just be perfect for you. If you have a spare room, renting it out can seriously bring in a huge amount of extra money a month, which can go straight into your dream wedding fund.

We understand that inviting a stranger into your home might be scary, but it’s only temporary. You can always only rent for a short amount of time. Even just renting out for three months can help you cover any wedding costs.

5. Ask for Contributions in Place of Gifts

It’s a tradition for wedding guests to buy gifts for your new home. However, a mountain of toasters won’t help you pay for your wedding. Rather than accepting gifts, why don’t you consider asking your guests for financial contributions to the wedding instead? Honeymoon funds are actually becoming more and more popular for the modern bride and groom, helping them achieve the honeymoon of their dreams.

There are even websites and apps designed for this, such as Honeyfund. And if you’re feeling hesitant about asking for money, remember that this provides a much more meaningful way for your loved ones to support your wedding day, which is really what they’ll want as well.

6. Tap into Credit Card Rewards

Full disclosure – we don’t recommend going into debt to pay for your wedding. However, being smart about cashback schemes or credit card rewards can actually help you out in the long run. If you’re forking out for big wedding expenses, you can use a rewards card to earn points, which you can then redeem for things like hotels, flights, or gift cards.

7. Sell What You Don’t Need

We all have clutter filling up our space or hidden away in closets and the attic. However, what’s the point of it sitting there and not getting used? Decluttering and selling what you don’t need may actually rack up more funds than you considered. Consider selling electronics, clothing, collectibles, or even furniture that’s just gathering dust. Check out online marketplaces such as eBay, Vinted, and Facebook Marketplace.

8. Set Up a Wedding Savings Account

This might sound like a simple tip, but you’d be surprised by how many people actually don’t do it. You can get high-interest savings accounts for your wedding fund. You can even set up an automatic transfer every month, so you don’t even have to think about putting the money away. It’s all done for you.

This will also help you refrain from dipping into your savings for emergencies or non-wedding expenses. And trust us, once you watch the money mount up, you’ll be motivated to save even more.

Making a few temporary changes can make a serious dent in your wedding budget and help you plan for the wedding of your dreams. Use our tips above, and your dream wedding is closer than you think.