There’s one word in the English language that give goose flesh to brides-to-be everywhere: free. Believe it or not there are things out there you can get for your wedding that won’t cost you a dime, and you won’t even have to promise your first born child to get it. So, without further ado, here are some certified freebies you may want to try to add to your special day.
Something Borrowed
You probably have a lot of friends who are recently married and guess what? They have a ton of stuff left over from that wedding they will never use again. Don’t be ashamed to ask a newlywed pal if they have anything they wouldn’t mind lending you. Seriously, if they just got married they are more than happy to commiserate about just how expensive weddings can be. If they have any leftover décor you can incorporate into your wedding such as cake stands or picture frames, or if they’ve got any leftover craft items such as lace or crystals then you can use these! Friends should be more than happy to help.
The Barter System
It may not be so popular in America, but worldwide the barter system is an acceptable thing. Do you have special talents (in a non-prostitute sense, of course!) that you can share with other people? You could offer a friend piano lessons for her child in exchange for the cake or babysit until your BFF’s child turns 18 in exchange for the use of her calligraphy skills for your invitations? Think about what you can equally trade with someone else in order to garner favors.
Pre-Wedding Gifts
If you have some large purchases you want to make for the wedding then you should consider asking family or friends to make a donation to it instead of buying you a gift. After all, riding down the aisle on camel-back does not come cheap!
Online Freebies
You may think it’s a shot in the dark, but someone has to win those things, right? Right??? There are plenty of bridal sites that do sweepstakes and giveaways daily. You can win everything from honeymoons to wedding gowns. So get those fingers googling and see what you can find.
The Vendor Freebie
These are like the holy grail of wedding planning, but believe it or not many vendors will take on some freebies no matter your price point. The biggest key is to not be a bridezilla – be respectful, polite and an all-around joy to work with and they will see you as a breath of fresh air and probably throw something in just because you’re so darn cute. It’s also not tacky to ask if they can throw in any add-ons with your order. Just take flowers, for example. If you very directly just say “Can you throw in some extra daisies in my centerpieces for free?” and see what they have to say. The worst thing they can say is no. Just remember to be direct, that way you’re more likely to get what you want.
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