A winter wedding brings a special kind of magic to the season. From the glow of candles and lights in the background to the crisp, cool air you feel as guests come and go, you know the memories you’re making will last a lifetime.
At Chambers Bank, we’ve been helping couples and families experience life’s best moments with financial products tailored to saving and spending wisely. If you’re one of those happy couples getting ready to tie the knot this winter (or you’re helping the happy couple), we’ve got some excellent last-minute tips to help save money as you get ready for the big event.
Instead of gifts for the holidays, ask for cash to put toward the wedding.
We all like gifts, but when you’re planning a wedding, new gadgets and designer accessories are probably on your mind less than meeting obligations for things like flowers, catering, and music. If a family member or friend asks what you’d like for the holidays, politely request cash and mention how much it will help fund your wedding savings.
As you receive cash, remember to add it to your Chambers savings account and earmark it for your wedding—or start a separate Chambers savings just for these expenses. When you send out thank you cards, mention your appreciation for receiving the cash in a nice, personal note.
Utilize holiday sales to get discounts on decorations, accents, bridal party gifts, and more.
Winter holidays are some of the busiest times for retailers and are also opportunities to score big discounts on days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Often, you’ll discover 50% off or more plus free shipping on lots of products both online and in-store.
To get ready for catching these deals, make a checklist of what you still need and then begin looking online for holiday sales. A couple websites that list searchable deals by retailer or product include BlackFriday.com and TheBlackFriday.com.
As you shop, you can use your Chambers debit card anywhere that accepts Mastercard®. For extra security, use the SecurLOCK Equip app to set transaction limits, view recent transactions, receive alerts, and more.
Buy in-season florals.
You might have particular flowers in mind for your wedding but purchasing flowers out-of-season can cost you much more than you budgeted for. Talk with your local florist about what’s in season, what colors will coordinate well with your wedding theme, and how long it will take to source and assemble your floral arrangements.
Turn in credit card rewards for cash back and take advantage of card-sponsored discounts.
If you earn points or rewards on your credit card purchases, now is the perfect time to check your balances and redeem for cash back. Typically, you can have the cash direct deposited to your bank account, delivered to your home address via paper check, or credited back to your card account. And if you have a card with an introductory bonus offer, you can use your card to pay for wedding expenses. Many consumer cards give 50,000 or more in bonus points or cash back equivalent to $200 or more once you fulfill the spending minimum related to the offer.
Besides redeeming points or rewards, remember to check your credit cards for retailer discounts. You can usually find deals totaling 10-30% off on flowers, music, food, home goods, travel, and other products and services.
Cut back on holiday spending and fund your wedding savings instead.
The average American will spend around $932 on holiday gifts in 2022, according to an October Gallup poll. While it’s fun to buy and give gifts, there are ways to still give on a budget and have fun in the process too! Photo gifts, food, and simple DIY gifts are always appreciated during the holidays—plus they come from the heart.
Still set on buying gifts for the holidays? Then make a list, set a dollar limit for each gift, and stick to the plan.
Book a honeymoon in an off-season location.
Choosing a honeymoon destination in an off-season location will help you avoid high airfare and lodging prices, not to mention—those crowds of tourists. How about a cozy cabin in the Rocky Mountains? Or what about a unique AirBnb along one of the Great Lakes? Most northern destinations in the US will be significantly cheaper to vacation in versus destinations in the south.
If you’re looking to go international, the off-season in Europe runs from November to March. Check travel websites for deals; you might be able to tour a city in Europe for a fraction of what it would cost you in the spring or summer. You’ll also get a chance to see your destination in a different light; the ambiance of the winter season is unique.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve got a handful of tips for saving money on your winter wedding, it’s time to put your plan into action and tuck some money away. To open a new savings account, simply visit our website, scroll to Savings Account, click on Open Account, and follow the prompts.
Do you need additional cash beyond your savings? Chambers also offers a variety of personal loan products and low-interest credit card options to help you fund your wedding. Please contact our Customer Care Center at 1-800-603-1226 for more information, or stop by any one of our branch locations.
