How to save for a wedding

So, you’ve set your wedding budget – now it’s time to make it happen.

The good news? Saving for your wedding doesn’t need to be complicated. You can approach it just like you would when saving for any big life event – a holiday, a car upgrade, or even a deposit for your first home.

We share three practical tips to help you save for your big day, even if you feel like there’s not much spare cash to go around.

1. Build regular saving into your routine

One of the best ways to get started is to sit down with your partner and take a close look at your finances. Go through your income and expenses together and work out what you could realistically set aside each month.

It’s a good idea to:

💰Check what savings you already have – but don’t dip into your emergency fund. Keep that for unexpected costs that aren’t wedding-related.

💰Set a savings goal and timeline to help you stay on track.

💰Automate your savings with a standing order to a separate, easy-access savings account. Treat it like a regular bill – one that brings you closer to your big day.

Remember, most suppliers will ask for a deposit to secure your date, with the balance due closer to the big day. So, if you’re starting from scratch, you might want to hold off on booking anything until you’ve built up enough to cover those initial payments.

2. Try a savings challenge

If your monthly savings don’t quite match your wedding budget, don’t panic. You’ve got a few options:

• Revisit your budget and trim costs where you can
• See if you can cut back on your everyday spending
• Try a savings challenge to give your pot a boost

Here are some fun and flexible ideas to try:

🪙 The 1p challenge – save £667.95 in a year

Start small and work your way up. On day one, save 1p, then 2p on day two, and so on. By day 365, you’ll have £667.95 stashed away. It's a slow burner but easy to keep up with.

📆 The weekly save – save £1,456 in a year

Save £1 on Monday, £2 on Tuesday, and so on, until you save £7 on Sunday. Then start again each week. You’ll save £28 a week – which adds up to £1,456 across the year.

📈 The 52-week challenge – save £1,378 in a year

Start with £1 in week one and increase by £1 each week. By week 52, you’ll be saving £52 – for a grand total of £1,378.

💡Tip: If this feels like too much towards the end, scale it back. Use 50p or even 10p increments instead.

💸 The fiver challenge – save £7,000 in a year

Feeling ambitious? Start with £5 in week one and increase by £5 each week. That’s £10 in week two, £15 in week three, and so on. If you stick with it, you’ll end up with a massive £7,000.

Not one for the faint-hearted but splitting it with your partner could make it more manageable.

3. Use effortless savings tools

Already saving but want to give your pot a little extra boost? Let technology do the work.

Tools to help you save without thinking about it:

• Round-up savings – Many banks offer the option to round up your purchases to the nearest pound and save spare change automatically.
• Savings apps – Tools like Chip and Plum analyse your spending habits and automatically save small amounts for you. You won’t even notice the money leaving your account – but over time, it can really add up.

These tools are low-effort but can make a big difference.

💖 Every penny brings you closer to ‘I do’

Saving for a wedding can feel overwhelming, but breaking it into small, regular habits makes it much more manageable. Whether you’re trimming your budget, trying savings challenges, or letting apps do the heavy lifting – small steps can lead to big results.