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
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 you decide!) and set up your registry. Plus, their customer service is phenomenal! From a firsthand experience, I had to postpone our initial wedding due to COVID-19 and they sent free change the dates and comped the new round of invites, It was much appreciated! Through January 31, 2025 you can earn 6% cash back from RetailMeNot. Curious how our cash back program works? Learn how to use cash back to help you save here.
Minted: Design your wedding website with a variety of elegant free templates from this custom stationery company. Get discounts on matching wedding stationary when you design your site with Minted. Key features include custom pages, easy address collection, photo and video galleries, a universal guest list and more. Through January 31, 2025 you can earn 4% cash back from RetailMeNot.
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. Plus, they usually offer deals! Through January 31, 2025 you can earn 1% cash back with RetailMeNot.
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.
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.
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.
Minted: This site is great for easily designing your invitations, programs, thank you cards and anything else you’ll need for your wedding, with easy-to-use templates. Plus, they allow you to create a wedding site that ties in with your chosen theme.
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; 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 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.
WeddingWire: Another useful and free tool! WeddingWire lets you set your budget goals and sends 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.
Belk: When you complete your registry at Belk, certain brands offer you free gifts as a thank you for choosing them. Current participating brands that offer gifts include Lodge Cast Iron, Calphalon, Vitamix, Vietri, Juliska and Mackenzie Childs. Free gifts require a vendor redemption form and copy of your completed registry.
Bloomingdale’s: When you complete your registry at Bloomingdale’s a meet purchase minimums certain brands offer free bonus gifts. For example, if you complete $500 or more of All-Clad you can get a Cook & Serve Tool Set, complete $500 or more of Matouk and get a set of two Auberge hand towels, complete $995 or more at Michael Aram and get a White Orchid Small Vase. Check out all the brands offering bonus gifts here.
Crate & Barrel: When you register for certain items you can take advantage of free bonus gifts when your registry is completed. For example complete $200 of Schott Zweisel items and receive 2 Sensa Champagne Flutes, complete $500 or more in Zwilling Group products to receive a Zeilling Stainless Steel Knife Set. For a complete list of bonus offers check this list.
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! Williams 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.
Zola: If you are looking for a one-stop shop, Zola not only offers wedding website planning but also wedding registries. When you meet purchase minimums from select brands you will receive bonus completion gifts and exclusive offers.
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 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 can also give you a shopping credit!
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