Lucrative Weddings: Monetizing Your Big Day

Planning a wedding can be expensive, and it can be difficult to know how to pay for it all. While it might not be possible to make a profit from your wedding, there are several ways to make or save money to help cover the costs. Here are some ideas to get you started:

- Cut down on subscriptions and everyday expenses: Go through your credit card bill and cut down on any subscriptions you don't need. You could also save money by reducing the number of takeaways you order and doing more meal planning.

- Sell unwanted items: One way to make some extra cash is to sell any unwanted items, such as clothes, collectibles, or old tech. You could also sell any wedding paraphernalia you no longer need, such as tablecloths, banners, or even your wedding dress.

- Take on extra work: Consider taking on a side hustle or freelance work to earn some extra money. This could include babysitting, petsitting, housesitting, driving for a delivery service, or tutoring.

- Make the most of cashback and rewards: Use cashback apps when you shop online, and take advantage of credit card rewards and cashback credit cards.

- Rent out your space: If you have a room or space in your home that you're not using, consider renting it out on a site like Airbnb.

- Ask for money instead of gifts: In some cultures, it is customary to give money instead of gifts at weddings. You could set up a money birdcage at your reception or ask for money to be pinned to the bride's dress.

- Get sponsored: Some companies may pay you to display their branded items at your wedding, such as serviettes or banners.

- Build an online following: Consider documenting your wedding journey online through a blog, vlog, or Instagram. If you build up a large enough following, you could make money through ads and sponsorships.

- Get media coverage: If your wedding has a unique twist, such as a Star Wars theme or a skydiving ceremony, a media outlet may be interested in paying for your story.

Sell your unwanted wedding gifts

If you've received wedding gifts that you don't want or need, there are several ways to make money from them.

Firstly, if you have a gift receipt, you can return the item and use the money to buy something more useful. Even without a receipt, it's worth calling the store and asking about their return policy. You may still be able to exchange the item or get store credit.

If returning the gift isn't an option, you could try regifting it to someone who will appreciate it. This is a good way to avoid waste, but be careful to avoid offending anyone. Only regift when you know the gift will be perfect for the recipient, and never regift within the same circle of friends.

You could also sell your unwanted gifts. While this may seem like poor etiquette, it's actually very common. In a 2013 survey, 82% of married couples said they sold some of their wedding gifts. Websites like eBay, Craigslist, and the Buy Nothing Project are great places to sell unwanted gifts and make a profit.

If you're not interested in selling your gifts, you could always donate them to a charitable organisation. This option won't make you any money, but it's a quick and easy way to get rid of unwanted items.

Finally, if you're unable or unwilling to part with your unwanted gifts, you can always store them out of the way in a closet, garage, or attic. This option keeps the gifts out of sight and saves them for potential future use.

Sell your wedding paraphernalia

If you're looking to make some money from your wedding, selling your wedding paraphernalia is a great place to start. From dresses to decorations, there are plenty of items that can be resold to help you recoup some of your wedding costs. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Sell Your Wedding Dress

Your wedding dress is likely one of the most expensive items you'll buy for your big day, and it's also one of the easiest to resell. There are several online platforms specifically dedicated to buying and selling used wedding dresses, such as Nearly Newlywed, Stillwhite, and PreOwned Wedding Dresses. These sites allow you to list your dress for a fee and connect with buyers looking for a pre-loved gown. Local bridal resale shops and consignment salons are also an option if you're looking for a faster sale. Keep in mind that most buyers will be looking for a dress in excellent condition, so consider having your dress professionally cleaned before listing it.

Sell Your Accessories and Decorations

It's not just your dress that can be resold. Accessories such as veils, shoes, and jewellery can also be sold online or through consignment shops. If you have leftover decorations from your wedding, such as centrepieces, table settings, or even your wedding arch, consider bundling them together and selling them as a lot to another couple or event planner. Websites like eBay and Craigslist are great platforms for selling used items and reaching a wider audience.

Prepare and Price Your Items

When selling your wedding paraphernalia, it's important to take the time to prepare your items for sale. Clean and, if necessary, repair any items to ensure they are in the best possible condition. Take clear, well-lit photos from multiple angles to showcase the items' features and details. Be sure to include accurate measurements and descriptions, highlighting any unique or custom aspects. Price your items competitively by researching similar listings and considering the original retail price and the condition of the item.

Utilise Social Media and Local Communities

Don't underestimate the power of social media when it comes to selling your wedding items. Post about your items on your social media platforms and ask your friends to share the listings with their networks. You can also join local community groups or wedding-specific buy and sell groups to reach a more targeted audience. Posting on these groups is a great way to connect directly with local buyers who may be interested in your items.

Consider Trading or Bartering

While selling your wedding items for cash is a great option, you may also consider trading or bartering your items for something you need. For example, if you have leftover catering supplies, you could trade them for photography services or floral arrangements. Think about what services or items you may need and look for opportunities to exchange your wedding paraphernalia for something of value to you.

Set up a money birdcage at your reception

Setting up a money birdcage at your wedding reception is a great way to collect cards and monetary gifts from your guests. It's also a cute and decorative way to collect cards, with a trend towards "love birds" themes.

Birdcages can be used as a safe place to store cards and monetary gifts, as they are harder to steal from than a regular box. They can also be used as a decorative piece, with candles or flowers placed inside.

You can buy a birdcage in a variety of colours and styles, including cream, white, silver, gold, black, and ivory. They can be round or square and come in different sizes, so you can choose one that fits your wedding theme and colour scheme.

Birdcages can be locked, providing extra security for your cards and gifts. You can also ask someone to guard the birdcage or place it near the head table to keep an eye on it.

Overall, a money birdcage is a practical and decorative way to collect cards and monetary gifts at your wedding reception. It adds a unique and elegant touch to your special day.

Get sponsored by companies

Getting your wedding sponsored by companies is a great way to save money on your big day. It may seem like a crazy idea, but the trend for sponsored weddings is growing. Companies are always looking for interesting, appealing new ways to promote their brand, and wedding sponsorship is one such way.

The first thing you need to do is create an image or brand for yourself. A blog is a great way to do this, as it will show potential sponsors your story and help them learn more about you as a couple. This is how they can decide if they want to help pay for a part of your wedding. A blog also shows sponsors that you are serious about having sponsors for your wedding. You can also use the blog to publish new posts thanking sponsors and telling your friends and family about their company.

You can make a list of potential companies on your own and start pursuing relationships with them, but if you’re unsure, you can find step-by-step guides online. When approaching companies, you need to think about what you can do for them in return. You need to think about how you can get them exposure for their business. Without this, they will never agree to sponsor your wedding.

• Have a big wedding: Weddings with a lot of guests means companies can reach a larger audience.
• Create a website for your business: Make a website/blog documenting your wedding adventures and how these companies are helping you get your dream wedding. Take gorgeous photos of it all to show the world that they need to use these companies when they have their own wedding.
• Put company branding/logo on wedding invitations, napkins, wedding favors, or create a gift bag for your wedding guests that includes company promotional products or business cards.
• If you own a store/restaurant or anything with customers, display a logo by the cash register, or a poster of wedding sponsors somewhere.
• Agree to email your coworkers and recommend your wedding sponsor.
• Create a Candy Bar at your wedding and have signage promoting a brand's candy.
• If you have a blog or social media account that gets a lot of visitors, agree to promote sponsors on it.

Remember, it's important to communicate very clearly to businesses how you will help them advertise their brand. Show them how much they will gain by sponsoring your wedding, and you can expect to find yourself with some happy sponsors and cheaper wedding costs.

Become an internet celebrity

If you want to become an internet celebrity, you need to start by creating a YouTube channel. This will allow you to share your work with the world and build up a following. You can also upload videos to other social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.

A blog is another good way to become an internet celebrity because it allows you to write about topics that interest you. It’s not necessary to have a large following before starting a blog. In fact, you can start one even if you only have a few followers.

Join social media groups where people share similar interests. These groups often have forums where members discuss various topics related to their interests. Joining these groups will allow you to connect with other people who share your interests and learn more about them.

• Be active on Twitter. Join relevant groups and follow influencers in your industry to stay up to date with what's going on in your industry and gain access to new ideas and opportunities.
• Post videos on Vine. Vine is a social media platform where users share six-second videos. It has now evolved into a full-fledged social network. You can use Vine to promote your business, brand, product, or service.
• Know your niche. Once you know your niche, you can start creating content that appeals to your target audience.
• Be consistent. If you want people to follow you, you need to post new content regularly.
• Be yourself. People can spot a fake a mile away. Let your personality shine through in your content.
• Interact with your audience. Respond to comments and DMs, and host live Q&As.
• Use hashtags. When you use relevant hashtags, your posts will show up in search results for those hashtags.
• Collaborate with other influencers. Collaborating with others is a great way to reach a new audience.
• Run contests and giveaways. Contests and giveaways are a great way to generate excitement and engagement around your brand.
• Promote yourself on other platforms besides social media, such as your website, blog, and email list.

It takes time and effort to become an internet celebrity, so don't get discouraged if you don't see results overnight. Just keep creating great content and interacting with your audience, and eventually, you'll start to see your following grow.

Frequently asked questions