Getting married is a big event involving many family and friends, so obviously planning a wedding can be stressful. Also, very expensive. But don’t worry, we have some good news for you! Many companies and retailers offer free samples, deals and lots more for engaged couples to celebrate their love while saving money.
From discounts on invitations to free dresses and more, find out how you can capitalize on these amazing offers!
How to Save on Wedding Planning
Free Wedding Websites
Blueprint Registry: You can use Blueprint to build your online registry, and visit their wedding guides for guidance and advice on how to plan your wedding. There are a ton of helpful articles that will guide you through the process.
The Knot: The Knot has a wealth of knowledge about wedding planning, and you can use their wedding website builder for absolutely no charge. They offer gorgeous designs to choose from and will help with ordering and sending out your invitations.
WeddingWire: This site invites you to find your personalized wedding team with their free service. You can search over 250,000 local professionals to find vendors for everything you’ll need to throw your dream wedding. WeddingWire offers a personalized wedding website, lets you send online RSVPs, and helps you set up hotel blocks for guests.
Zola: This wedding planning company is one I’m very familiar with! Zola makes it super easy to set up a wedding website, create and address invitations (they will send you free samples to help decide!) and set up your registry. Plus, their customer service is phenomenal! From a first-hand experience, I had to postpone our inital wedding due to COVID-19 and they sent free change the dates and comped the new round of invites, It was much appreciated!
Free Wedding Invitation and Program Templates
The Budget Savvy Bride: This is a very helpful site for those planning a wedding, and their printable wedding program template is amazing! The Budget Savvy Bride offers step-by-step instructions for how to use the template, and publishes many helpful articles for understanding how to time and word invitations.
Canva: This online design tool is free and lets you design basically everything you’ll need very easily, including invitations, programs and seating charts.
Paperless Post: This is a wonderful tool for sending wedding invitations online—something that will save you a lot of money. They do have some designs that you need to pay for, but a lot are free of charge.
Wedding Chicks: This fun site offers free printable wedding invitation templates, though some cost up to $5 per invite. They make it easy to fill out all your details online and ensure your beautiful invites are worthy of being put on the fridge.
Free Seating Chart Tools
Wedding Chicks: We love this brand, and they help you with more than just invites! Seating charts can be a headache, but Wedding Chicks helps you build your guest list, assign everyone to a table (including table numbers) and print posters that you can use at your wedding.
WeddingWire: This site offers a free tool for making your seating chart. The service includes an option to create an entire map of your venue setup, including dance floor and band area and you can easily drag and drop guests to the table you want. Pretty cool!
Wedding Budgeting Tools
The Knot: The Knot features many awesome tools, including their Budget Planner, which helps you keep track of how much money you’re spending on your vendors. Way easier than an Excel spreadsheet. Plus, right now they are offering 25% off all invites with code JOY25!
WeddingWire: Another useful and free tool! WeddingWire lets you set your budget goals and can send you reminders to make sure you stay on track.
Wedding Beauty Freebies
Dillard’s: When you pop into a store, you can take home a custom face chart that a professional makeup artist has created for your wedding day look, totally free! They also offer a registry option to help you craft the perfect list.
MAC Cosmetics: When you purchase MAC lashes, you’ll get access to a professional fitting and complimentary applications to get ready for the big day.
Macy’s: The makeup counter at Macy’s is every bride-to-be’s best friend. They offer free consultations for brows, eyes, foundation and lips anytime you need it.
Neiman Marcus: Free sample alert! When you spend $50+ at Neiman Marcus’ makeup counter, they’ll send you home with five free samples of whatever products you want to try out.
Nordstrom: Nordstrom is known for offering free samples with beauty purchases, so if you want some free beauty products for your wedding festivities, head on over! The gifts vary by location, and they also offer free makeup application lessons if you want to save on a makeup artist.
Origins: Free samples are available from Origins, a fan favorite, when you spend a certain amount. You can also book a free mini facial to get your pores ready for the aisle!
Free Engagement Gifts
Amazon: Looking for a site with a lot of product options when creating your registry? We recommend Amazon! When you choose to open a registry, you’ll receive free bonus gifts. Most of them are based on how many items you receive from specific brands, and your guests can also get 20% off with their special completion discount.
Dillard’s: Very similarly, if you open a wedding registry with Dillard’s, you can get free items when your guests purchase enough from a singular, select brand. To help you out, this is the list of brands that participate!
Macy’s: Brands like Cuisinart, Dyson and Cephalon give you bonus gifts, plus deals on men’s, women’s and kids’ styles, shoes and fine jewelry and select home items and up to 15% off watches and small appliances and up to 10% off furniture, mattresses and rugs when you sign up for their registry program. Find out more details on this page.
Sur La Table: When you choose Sur La Table for your registry, you can get free gifts, even if their guests don’t purchase them (although you get more if they do!).
Williams Sonoma: More free gifts! Willams Sonoma has special offers for those who register with their service. You can also add products from participating partners, which is pretty cool! A special offer: When your guests purchase $800 worth of qualifying All-Clad products, you will get a free All-Clad d5 Stainless Steel Engraved 9″ French Skillet. Find out more here.
Wedding Apparel Freebies
Brides Across America: If you’re marrying someone in the military, or if you are serving in the military, Brides Across America offers a free wedding dress for you to wear on your wedding day. Plus, usually in November bridal shops around the country hold a day when military brides can go and pick out a wedding dress for free. The date varies by location, so be sure to check on the Brides Across America’s site.
David’s Bridal: There are lots of varying offers at David’s Bridal when you purchase a wedding dress at any of their locations. These range from free accessories and many deals for your bridesmaids.
Men’s Wearhouse: When you order your wedding party’s attire (up to six people) from Men’s Wearhouse, they will offer you a freebie. Choose from a free suit, tux upgrade or rental package. They also can give you a shopping credit!
The post The 26 Best Wedding Freebies and Deals appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.