Attend a wedding on a budget

Editor's note: This is a transcript of the audio file.

Summer is wedding season and you may find yourself on more guest lists than you can afford. Here are some ways you can attend every event without breaking the bank. I’m Lucas Wysocki with your Bankrate.com Personal Finance Minute.

With travel, accommodations, gifts and attire; attending a wedding can add up, but there are some things you can do to keep the costs down. First of all, if you’re travelling make sure to shop around for the best rate on a hotel. It might not necessarily be the group rate at the bride and groom’s hotel.

Also, consider using your credit card points to reduce the cost of your trip. If you’re in the wedding party, you’re facing even more costs in attending the engagement parties and needing to purchase specific attire for the wedding.

Get involved in the planning. Coupon sites will help you save on the festivities while dress rental sites will keep costs down for the whole wedding party. Finally, you can consider attending virtually. Many couples are live-streaming their service and reception over the internet, but don’t forget it’s still customary to send a gift. For Bankrate.com, I’m Lucas Wysocki.