It’s wedding season and if you’re anything like me, it seems like everyone you know is getting married! Although it’s a super exciting time to celebrate with friends and family, it’s unfortunately a very expensive time, as well. This year is, on top of planning my own wedding, I’ve had the excitement of being maid of honor for my sister’s wedding. This past weekend, we celebrated my sister’s destination bachelorette party in Austin, TX… which is apparently a hot destination for bachelorettes, since we saw tons of other groups almost everywhere we went!

I was so excited for the weekend getaway and as I was talking to my fiancé about it before leaving, I was discussing my budget for the weekend. It’s definitely not easy to set a budget for such an exciting weekend, where you know the funds will be flowing like the alcohol and you don’t want to skimp on any of the details, but that makes it even more important to be conscious of the costs. When I brought it up, his first question was “it’s going to cost less than $1,000, right?”  I immediately laughed at him, responding “OMG, there’s no way it’s going to cost that much.” I mean, how could a short weekend trip really add up to that much, even if I was planning on spending a little more frivolously than a normal vacation to make sure it was the most memorable trip possible for my sister?

I tallied up all my expenses for weekend, as I typically do at the end of a trip, and y’all won’t believe how much it cost! I was sure surprised, since I had in my mind that a weekend trip couldn’t possibly add up that fast! It was over $800!  If I hadn’t given my input during planning to make sure we had a reasonable flight and lodging, it probably would have been even more. It was a great weekend full of fun and I’d do it over again, but just take this as a reminder that short trips can add up fast, especially when you’re celebrating something like a bachelor/bachelorette party where there are lots of drinks being consumed and inhibitions are down.

If you’re planning or attending a destination bachelor(ette) party, or any weekend getaway, here are some tips to keep the cost down:

• Book flights through Swagbucks to get $6.50 cash back each way with Priceline
• Book an Airbnb for the group instead of multiple hotel rooms
• Plan free or cheap activities – think picnics, public parks, sightseeing, etc. TripAdvisor usually has great ideas!
• Consider whether you really want to pay for the bride/groom’s expenses as this could add hundreds of dollars to your trip!
• Don’t be afraid to let the group know you’re working with a budget for the trip. You’re probably not the only one, and they will appreciate your honesty!