It will also probably rank among the priciest.
The typical wedding expense climbed to $32,641 in 2015, up from $31,213 in 2014, according to The Knot, a wedding planning site. (Those figures are likely higher than the real average, but it’s widely accepted that weddings can be expensive.)
To help trim some of those wedding expenses, look for free items and services while organizing your special day. From catering to stationery, you can find complimentary offerings for many parts of your celebration.
1. Wedding Registry Perks
Several retailers provide a free item when you set up a gift registry and when guests buy certain products from your list.
Amazon features a variety of complimentary gifts when you create your wedding registry there.
Currently, if a guest purchases a Nespresso item worth $199 or more from Amazon, you can receive a $50 credit applicable to coffee, machines and accessories.
If guests spend $500 on Le Creuset items on your registry, you can receive a complimentary stoneware mini-cocotte set. If spending reaches $1,000 on Le Creuset, you qualify for that set plus a 2.5-quart braiser and lid.
Those same bonus items are provided through Crate and Barrel, which also includes bonuses from makers like Calphalon, Cuisinart and Vitamix.
Dillard’s, Sur La Table and Williams-Sonoma also give bonus gifts when you register with them.
Target provides free items from brands such as Keurig and CorningWare, and offers 15% off anything left on your registry after the wedding.
For three months following your wedding, you can receive 15% off remaining registry items from Kohl’s, which also gives bonus gifts and in-store credit depending on how much guests spend from your registry.
2. Wedding Planning Freebies
Order complimentary wedding brochures, like this one from Exclusively Weddings and this catalog from Things Remembered, to spark ideas as you plan.
When you draft a seating plan for your reception, these free layouts from Little Things Favors and Seating Arrangement help you arrange guests with ease.
Don’t pay for a personalized wedding website — get one at no cost from The Knot, which offers more than 100 templates to share your love story.
3. Complimentary Invitations and Thank-You Cards
You can obtain free printable templates for everything from engagement party invitations to menus, wedding invites and thank-you notes.
Although you’ll still cover costs for paper and ink, you’ll save a lot by designing your own stationery instead of paying someone else to design, print and ship them.
WeddingChicks.com offers a variety of free templates, including this lovely beach-style invitation and this cute save-the-date design.
Martha Stewart provides a free template for these elegant wrap-around address labels for your envelopes.
If you plan to order printed invitations, you can also request free samples to preview them before buying. Check out VistaPrint and Ann’s Bridal Bargains.
4. Free Food and Cake Tastings
When wedding planning overwhelms you, take a breather and indulge in some creamy frosting and decadent cake samples.
Many bakeries provide complimentary wedding cake tastings for couples.
For instance, JCakes in North Branford, Connecticut, offers a taste of their golden layer cake, chocolate devil’s food layer and a variety of fillings.
At Metrotainment Bakery in Atlanta, you receive a free tasting before the wedding. On your first anniversary, they’ll even mail a special gift — a re-creation of your cake’s top tier.
Be sure to confirm the tasting is free. Some bakeries charge a fee that may be applied to your cake purchase if you decide to book them.
Some restaurants and caterers, like Irene’s Catering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will also allow you (politely) to sample dishes at no cost while selecting the menu for your celebration.
“We love to give our clients a preview of what’s to come, so you’re sure to have a memorable experience from day one,” states the company’s site. “We believe you should be able to sample the cuisine and know what you’re getting.”
Certain wedding shows — including one at Green Grove Gardens Event Center in Greencastle, Pennsylvania — provide free food, wine and cake samples from participating vendors. Others charge a modest fee (usually $5–$10) for expo entry, which includes tastings.
It’s more typical for restaurants and caterers to offer complimentary tastings — sometimes for up to six guests — after you’ve committed to hiring them.
But hey, a free gourmet meal is still a free gourmet meal, especially since food and alcohol make up two of the largest wedding expenses.
5. Free Drinks
Also remember all the free beverages you’ll likely receive when people see you celebrating after your wedding or during bachelor/bachelorette festivities!
Some bars even hand out complimentary drinks. At Cecilia’s in Breckenridge, Colorado, you can get a free champagne toast if you’re hosting your bachelorette party there.
Your Turn: Did you snag any excellent freebies while organizing or celebrating your wedding?
