But you don’t have to ghost your friends or your finances. Here's how to celebrate with heart and still stay smart.
Treat travel like a group chat
Accommodations can quickly become the biggest line item, especially if the wedding's out of town. Instead of defaulting to solo hotel bookings:
- Room-share with friends or other guests (check if the hotel allows split payments).
- Use cashback on travel bookings through your credit card or app.
- Consider local Airbnbs, especially for multi-night stays. Bonus: kitchen = save on meals.
Neo tip: If you’re booking travel or hotels, check your credit card perks — some offer elevated cashback or built-in insurance protection.
Repeating an outfit? Approved.
You don’t need a new dress or suit for every ceremony. Rewearing is not only financially smart, it’s sustainable.
- Mix and match accessories or layers to make the same outfit feel fresh.
- Try clothing rental services or borrowing an outfit from a friend
- Invest in one timeless outfit you feel great in — quality over quantity wins here.
Neo hack: Use transaction tagging to track how much you’ve really spent on outfits this year. It might surprise you.
Gifting without guilt
Yes, you want to be generous. But no, you don’t need to break the bank.
- Stick to a set budget per wedding. The couple invited you, not your paycheck.
- Go in on a group gift or larger registry item with friends.
- If the registry’s cleared out, cash is totally acceptable — just stay within your range.
Some guests aim to “cover the plate,” but experts agree it’s not a rule. Give what you can afford.
Don’t let the open bar close your account
Weddings are a great time to toast — but that can come with late-night Ubers, fast food, and mystery charges.
- Set a flexible spending limit on your card just for wedding weekends.
- Use a mobile wallet so you can leave your real wallet safely at the hotel.
- If you know you splurge when you drink, preload a prepaid card, like Neo’s Money card, linked to your Neo Everyday account.
Track it like you mean it
Even if you plan to just “go with the flow,” wedding costs creep up. A simple budget breakdown helps:
- Travel & hotel: 40%
- Outfit/accessories: 20%
- Gift: 25%
- Extras (meals, transit, late-night eats): 15%
Use your Neo card’s spending insights. And create a separate category for “Weddings” and start saving up towards the event(s).
You can’t afford every RSVP, and that’s ok
Sometimes, it’s just not in the budget. If you're overwhelmed or stretched thin, it’s perfectly okay to decline with grace. A heartfelt message and a card still go a long way.
Weddings are about love. And the only thing you need to be carrying to the reception are your dance moves, not financial stress.
