How to: be a guest at a wedding without going bankrupt

They are getting married. Hooray, joy, and we are all in a state of bliss. I love weddings. I once got to be a witness (felt extremely honored), I was once a registrar (bizarrely beautiful), I have touched wedding dresses (you can't get better than that) and apart from that, it is especially special to see your friends do something like this out of love. I easily spend a month's salary on the wedding festivities, that's how much I enjoy it. Were it not for the fact, boys and girls (yes, I'm going to make it all official), that I also have to pay my rent and I don't want to live on rice and dry crackers in the weeks after.

Getting married is expensive, but attending a wedding also costs a lot. How much does that cost? For convenience, I'll assume you belong to the inner circle, let's quickly tally up the bill…

• An exuberant bachelorette party: €125 – €200 (excluding drinks)
• Being thoughtful with a little gift: €50
• Something new to wear: €75 – €200
• The gift: starting from €50 as an evening guest to as crazy as you want to make it if you can come all day
• A little hotel on location: €100 – €150 per night

In the cheapest case, we start with a cost estimate of 400 euros and then I'll give you a round of applause, because then you've done it on a budget. That's why we give you some tips, so you don't end up in the same financial situation as the couple.

1. Borrow an outfit. Bag. Shoes. Everything. Your friend's closet works extremely well as a store for a wedding.

2. Charter a friend, your mother, or your sister for hair and makeup. We always hire Lot, but in the absence of a Lot, you still have a friend who remembers exactly how she curled your hair when you went out back in the day.

3. Write a letter to the bride or groom. Of course, it's sweet to rob a jeweler for something original, but writing down what you feel works too. Make sure to use nice paper, write by hand (no typing) and crumple and fuss it into ribbons, confetti, and transparent envelopes.

4. Give them something to do. This won't save you costs, but you can assume they will get about ten weekends away, so hopefully yours lasts a while. This way, you spread the costs a bit over the year and don't have to go straight to the crackers.

5. Share a gift. You give something bigger and it still saves on financial damage. Win-win.

6. Check with the master of ceremonies if there is a bridal rate agreed upon at a nearby hotel. If not? Book an AirBnB and arrange with friends to share a house nearby.

7. Make sure you organize the bachelorette party. It won't make the party any less expensive, but at least you'll be there when the costs start to add up.

A girl laughing while holding a cup with a building in the background Be careful, you better not do this just before a wedding.

P.S.: What do you wear if you're not a fan of dresses and still want something new? Lilian helps you.