Are you getting married sometime in 2020?
If so, first of all, congratulations!
And if your big day is coming up soon, no one has to tell you that weddings are expensive (although there are ways to throw a wedding on a budget!).
Considering the cost of Groom’s Tuxedo/Suit, Bride’s dress, Hair/makeup, Rehearsal Dinner, Photographer, Flowers, Venue, Cake, Music, Officiant and everything else, your wedding is one of the biggest expenses in your life.
In 2018, the average cost of a wedding was almost $34,000, with couples in Manhattan paying almost $77,000!
And that’s not even including the honeymoon!
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So how would you like a list of freebies to make you big day a little more affordable?
If you said, “I do!” you’re in the right place!
Here is a list of wedding freebies and samples you can get by mail, online or in the store!
Table of Contents
Free Wedding Stationary
Save money on stationary by scoring free ones through these places.
Traditional Paper Invitations, Save the Date, RSVP, Etc.
There are countless websites where you can get stationary ideas for the save the date card, wedding invitation, RSVP card, etc.
How about sites that offer dozens, if not hundreds, of templates or designs for free!
Here is a list of places where you can get great stationary templates for free.
1. WeddingChicks
WeddingChicks.com is a website dedicated to giving you the wedding of your dreams on a budget you can afford.
One of their services is offering you dozens of stationary templates for invitations, save the date cards, and thank you cards.
They offer dozens upon dozens of downloadable templates for you to use for your stationary.
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And best of all, they’re all free.
2. Cards & Pockets
Cards & Pockets is a website dedicated to a wide variety of stationary products for any event you can imagine.
Wedding invitations being one of them.
They have a lot of really nice designs and templates to choose from.
Many of them for free.
Just click on the “Wedding” header, then under “Wedding Invitations” click on “Free Templates.”
In all, they offer 35 different designs you can choose from.
3. Greeting Island
Greetings Island is a website for offering a wide variety of stationary ideas for just about any occasion you can think of.
This includes wedding invitations.
Just click on “Invitations” at the top, then click on “Wedding.”
You will have hundreds of templates to choose from.
And not just for the wedding.
They have ideas for the bachelor party, bridal shower, engagement party, rehearsal dinner, and more.
Some of the invitation templates even come with matching RSVP cards.
4. Poster My Wall
Poster My Wall is a site for creating posters, videos, graphics, and other items for personal or professional use.
One of their services is providing templates for wedding invitations.
In all, they offer over 1,200 different design templates for you to choose from!
They also offer over 100 save the date templates.
And best of all, they’re all 100% free.
5. Canva
Canva is a website that offers companies and individuals the opportunity to create professional looking websites and stationery.
Don’t be scared off by the pricing plans you see on the main page.
The offer over 500 wedding invitation templates and over 3,000 save the date templates completely for free.
6. Printable Invitation Kits
Printable Invitation Kits is a website that offers free, printable templates for many different events.
This includes wedding invitations and RSVP cards.
In all, the site offers 31 pages of templates for you to choose from.
7. Love & Lavender
The website Love & Lavender offers a variety of templates for you to use for you wedding invitations and other stationary.
There are different filters on the left-hand side of the page for you to narrow down your options ranging from style, color, and text.
Some are free while others do have a price tag.
You can narrow your search to only the free options by using the price filter.
8. Avery
Avery.com allows you to create and print almost anything you can imagine.
Here you can create your own wedding invitations, save the date cards, thank you notes, custom address labels, and more.
Just go to the homepage and type “wedding” in the search bar, and you’ll get a look at what they have to offer.
9. Basic Invite
As the name implies, Basic Invite specializes in invitations.
But that’s not all that they do.
Just go to the “Wedding” header at the top of the page.
There you’ll see they offer not just wedding invitations but menu cards, guest cards, bridal shower cards, enclosure cards, save the date cards, and more.
They also offer a free printable wedding planner, and free wedding website.
10. FotoJet
FotoJet offers you two different options for creating thank you cards.
First, you can use one of the templates they provide.
Second, you can personalize your card by using a picture or pictures from your wedding.
And they are free and do not require any registration.
11. The Sweetest Occasion
The Sweetest Occasion offers a free, printable of a thank you card featuring a tandem bicycle.
It’s offered in three different colors and includes printing instructions as well as recommendations for the best paper options.
Electronic Invitations
If you want to forgo the paper route and go with electronic or online invitations, there are free options for that as well.
12. Evite
Evite is a website that instead of creating traditional paper invitations, users can create impressive-looking digital invitations for special events.
This includes wedding invitations.
In all, the offer eight pages of designs to choose from.
Some are free, while others do charge a fee.
The free offerings will be labeled “free” below the picture.
13. Punchbowl
Punchbowl is another site specializing in online invitations.
And they offer an extensive selection of wedding invitations to choose from.
They also offer bachelor, bachelorette, bridal shower, engagement, and rehearsal dinner options as well.
In all, they offer over 100 different invitation styles.
They offer a free seven-day trial, after that your subscription begins.
So be careful to get everything finished within that window.
14. Wedivite
Wedivite also allows you to create your own custom, digital wedding invitation for free.
But they’re not just in the invitation business.
They offer a host of other services to help make your wedding day easier to plan.
These include allowing guests to offer song suggestions, directions to the wedding, a wedding album, seating arrangements, and more.
They even offer a free app to let you plan your wedding while you’re on the go.
15. Paperless Post
Paperless Post also offers you a wide variety of electronic wedding invitations, as well as save the date and thank you cards.
Just look for the “Wedding” header at the top of the page.
From there you’ll have the option of selecting invitations, save the date cards, bridal shower invitations, rehearsal dinner invites, and thank you cards.
You’ll have a huge variety of styles to choose from, all are listed down the left side of the page.
They even offer options from the likes of Kate Spade, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrell, and many more.
Free Custom Address Labels
Do you want to give your invitations or the save the date envelopes an added personal touch?
Or do you want to personalize the wine bottles at the reception?
As it turns out, you can with some free, customized labels!
16. Online Labels
Online Labels lets you use your creativity to make any kind of mailing label you can think of.
As for weddings, they offer 86 different options.
They include labels for water bottles, wine bottles, beer bottles, address labels, and many more.
17. Template.net
Template.net offers countless ideas for custom mailing labels.
If you’re looking to design you own label for you wedding invitations, there are plenty to choose from.
In all, they offer almost a dozen different styles to choose from.
Free Wedding Magazines & Books
There are countless books and magazines dedicated to wedding planning and advice.
And buying different magazines and books to get ideas can get really expensive really fast.
But there are ways to get access to most, if not all, of the different wedding publications out there by using subscriptions you probably already have.
18. Kindle Unlimited
Many of you have an Amazon Kindle e-reader.
If you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you have access to over one million titles as well as current magazines.
Use your subscription to read all the wedding books and magazines you can find.
If you don’t have a subscription, join and take advantage of the 30-day trial.
19. Amazon Prime
Many of you are probably Amazon Prime members.
One of the perks of being a Prime membership is Prime Reading.
With Prime Reading you can access over 1000 books and magazines.
It’s a safe bet there will be more than a few wedding publications to choose from.
Also, you don’t need a Kindle to access them.
You can use any electronic or mobile device.
20. Websites Offering Free E-Books
In addition to Kindle Unlimited and Prime reading, there are scores of websites where you can download books for free.
A couple of years ago, MoneyPantry published a list of 100 Sites For Thrifty Bookworms to Download & Read Books Online.
Reread the article and look at all the sites that offer free books.
Then download the wedding book, or books, you’re looking for and get all the advice you need for free!
Free Wedding Planning Apps & Websites
Planning for your big day can be overwhelming.
And wedding planners can be expensive.
But never fear!
Here are a few free wedding apps to help you plan your dream wedding!
21. The Knot
The Knot is a comprehensive, all-in-one wedding app available on both Android and iOS.
This app is almost like a digital wedding planner.
It will help you:
- Pick out a personalized style.
- Find local vendors and venues.
- Manage your guest list and even set up a RSVP deadline.
- Create a free website.
- Create a registry.
- Set a timeline.
- Set a budget, and much more!
The app certainly has its fans, earning 4.8 stars in the Google Play store and Apple App Store
22. Joy
Joy is another useful wedding app available on Android and iOS.
The app allows you to manage the guest list and RSVPs.
It also has the ability to create a private social network for your wedding for the wedding party and guests.
It also allows the newlyweds and guests to share pictures privately.
It also coordinates with the related website withjoy.com.
The app has plenty of good reviews, getting 4.5 stars on Google Play and 4.8 on Apple.
23. Lady Marry
Lady Marry is also a highly-rated wedding app for both Android and iOS.
The app lets you create a customized check list, share your checklist with as many people as you want, find tips, and manage communication between everyone involved.
Like the other two previously mentioned, Lady Marry has plenty of fans.
It has 4.7 stars on both Google Play and Apple.
24. Wedding Happy
Wedding Happy is an all-in-one wedding app available on iOS.
The app asks for your wedding date, then helps you build a step-by-step plan to keep you on schedule.
This includes a countdown to the big day, payment tracking and spending summary, finding wedding pros, share wedding progress on social media, and more.
You can also sync your plan across all of your Apple devices.
It currently has a 4.8 star rating on the Apple app store.
Free Wedding Websites (with Companion Apps)
Many couples have wedding websites to tell their story, give brief bios of the wedding party, information about the date and venue, etc.
Or maybe you’re overwhelmed and looking for a site to help you get organized.
Or maybe you want a site that does both?
If so, you’re in luck!
Here are a few sites that will let you set up a free wedding website!
25. Joy
WithJoy.com is an all-in-one wedding planning website.
It allows you to share the details of your wedding with all of your guests.
It lets you create a custom site within minutes.
It lets you send online invite and save the dates and keep count of the RSVPs.
You can even post pictures from the ceremony with unlimited storage.
It has a companion app, mentioned above.
26. ZOLA
Zola.com bills itself as everything you need for you wedding in one place.
It has the option to create a wedding website that allows you to import you guest’s addresses, and track RSVPs.
You can also create your own wedding checklist.
It has a place to build your registry, featuring over 800 different brands.
In addition to the registry, you can also get a 20% post-wedding discount, which you can use as many times as you want up to six months after your wedding.
You have the option to create paper invitations and save the date cards, but that option does cost extra.
27. Minted
Minted.com lets couples create a free wedding website from many different templates.
In all, they have 33 pages of ideas for you to choose from.
They also offer free digital address collection cards, custom envelopes, and several free samples of save the date cards.
You can also buy invitations, save the date cards, and other items.
However, unlike Zola and Joy, Minted does not offer planning assistance.
28. ZankYou
ZankYou.us offers couples the ability to build a custom and comprehensive wedding website.
They offer 50 designs for you to choose from, and the ability to choose the name of your site.
You can add information such as a music playlist, wedding day schedule, a guestbook, recommended hotels, save the date and RSVP options, and a registry.
It also has a companion app on Google Play and Apple.
29. Wedding Wire
Wedding Wire also offers couples many options to create a wedding website for free.
In addition to the basic information, couples can add a link to their wedding registry, collect RSVPs and sync it to your guest list, and recommend hotels and even unlock special rates.
It also has a companion app you can get for Android and iOS.
30. Luvbirds
Luvbirds claims couples can create their own wedding website in only 60 seconds.
You have countless colors and fonts to choose from, so matching it to your wedding theme will be no problem.
It also allows you to track and manage RSVPs through your site.
It also offers an interesting feature called an online “wishing well” where wedding guests can contribute to the couple’s honeymoon fund via PayPal.
Stores with Free Wedding Registries Offering Free Gifts & Discounts
These companies give you free stuff if you do your wedding registry with them.
31. Amazon.com
You can find literally everything on Amazon, which makes it a great place for a wedding registry.
And setting up your registry is free, and there are other benefits as well.
Anything left on your wish list can be purchased at a discount (10%-20% depending on if you’re a Prime member).
Also you can receive bonus gifts when you register with certain vendors and when your guests purchase something from that brand.
32. Bed, Bath & Beyond
How would you a wedding present (or presents) from Bed, Bath & Beyond?
If your guests buy something from a brand that offers free gifts for newlyweds, that can happen!
Here’s what you need to do.
Create a registry with them, then after your wedding go to your local store and fill out a redemption form and submit it with a copy of your registry.
If your guests bought you one of the qualifying items, you’ll get a free gift!
33. Macy’s
Macy’s has several reasons for you to set up a wedding registry with them.
First is Registry Star Rewards, where you get 10% in Reward Dollars on qualifying purchases plus 5% in Reward Dollars when someone buys an item from your registry.
Second is the Newlywed Discount where you get 20% off the items left on your registry, plus an extra 10% off big items like furniture and rugs.
Third is the Gifts With Completion Program where you can receive free gifts when you meet the requirements of certain brands and send in a redemption form.
Fourth is the Dream Fund.
Just go by your local Macy’s store, add the Dream Fund Gift Card to your registry, people contribute money, then you get a gift card for the final amount to go shopping!
34. Sur La Table
The specialty cookware retailer Sur La Table offers several opportunities to score free gifts when you open a wedding registry with them.
First, you can receive free gifts with Cuisinart, Le Creuset, Microplane Tools, and Wustof Cutlery when you open your registry and meet a minimum dollar amount.
Second, you can receive free gifts when your wedding guests purchase a certain amount from All-Clad, Cuisinart, Global Cutlery, Kyocera Cutlery, Le Creuset, Lodge Cookware, Scanpan Cookware, Shun Cotery and Wustof Cutlery.
35. Dillard’s
Dillard’s department store offers two ways for you to get free gifts when you open a wedding registry.
First, you can get a free gift from Cuisinart when you register for a minimum dollar amount of their items.
Second, 14 different brands offer completion incentives where if your guests purchase a certain dollar amount within that brand, you get a free gift.
The participating brands include Cuisinart, Kate Spade, Lodge, Le Creuset, and more.
36. Crate & Barrel
Specialty retailer Crate & Barrel offers several incentives to open a wedding registry with them.
First is opportunity for bonus gifts from the likes of Wustof, Cambridge, Reed & Barton, Le Creuset, Fleischer & Wolf, and more when gests purchase a certain amount from that brand.
Second is the opportunity to score discounts off of Couples Resorts, at tux rental from The Black Tux, and wedding invitations from Paper Source.
You can also score a set of free stemless wine glasses just for opening a registry.
37. Williams Sonoma
Specialty retailer Williams Sonoma also offers couples the chance to get bonus gifts when they open a registry.
If their guests spend above a minimum amount on items from All-Clad and Le Creuset, couples are eligible to receive a free gift.
Places to Get Freebies & Samples (Including Suits!)
Grooms to be, how would you like to get a free tux rental?
Or brides to be, how about free fabric samples to help you choose your bridesmaids’ dresses?
Or how about free cake samples?
If these sound like music to your ears, great news!
There are even more freebies and samples you can get your hands on!
38. Free Wedding Cake Samples
Looking for the perfect wedding cake?
Want to do a few taste tests before you make your final decision?
Your local bakery or bakeries may offer free samples for you to try.
Call around and ask or check with your friends and coworkers to see who will let you take a few samples for you to try for free.
39. Free Groom’s Tuxedo
Men, how does a free tux rental sound?
If it sounds awesome, then it’s time to look at National Tuxedo Rentals.
All you have to do is register your wedding, add four people in addition to yourself, set up your style, then you get a code that unlocks a free tux rental!
The tux includes a jacket, pants, shirt, vest or cummerbund, neckwear, cufflinks, travel garment bag, free sizing, and free dry cleaning before and after the event.
Also, everyone is eligible for a $60 off promotion.
You may also qualify for an at-home try-on offer!
What a deal!
Just make sure you register 60 days before your wedding date.
40. Free Suit or $300 Shopping Spree
How would you like a free Joseph Abboud suit or a free $300 shopping spree from Men’s Wearhouse?
If you have six groomsmen in your wedding party, that can happen!
Get your groomsmen to rent their tux from Men’s Wearhouse and you can get a free suit, a $300 shopping spree, or a free tux or suit rental.
A free suit or a shopping spree?
You’ll like the that looks, I guarantee!
41. Get Over $1000 in Wedding Savings
Why should the groom be the only one who gets free stuff?
Ladies, when you buy your dress from David’s Bridal Bride Benefits you have several options of savings.
You can get a free garment bag with a wedding dress purchase.
You can get a free planning notebook.
Get $100 off from Smile Direct Club.
You can get 20% off personalized gifts.
And much more.
Check the website frequently, the offers do change.
42. Free Wedding Invitation Samples
Do you have an idea for the invitations in mind, but want to see them in person before you decide?
The American Wedding will send you up to five samples for you to check out in person before you make your final decision.
Free Fabric Swatches
Are you and your bridesmaids having a difficult time deciding on the bridesmaid dresses?
If so, don’t worry.
There are several places that will give you free fabric swatches for bridesmaid dresses.
43. TwoBirds will send you up to eight fabric swatches for free.
44. Dress & Charm will let you choose up to six fabric swatches for free.
45. For Her and For Him will send you up to five free swatches, as well as a free tape measure.
And guys, you can get free color swatches for ties from Tie Mart.
Free Ring Sizers
Are you not sure about your ring size?
If so, there are two places offering to send you a free ring sizer.
46. Brilliant Earth
47. Larson Jewelers
These companies will send you a free ring sizer.
Because you don’t want your engagement ring or wedding band to be the wrong size!
Free Makeup & Beauty Supplies
Every woman wants to look perfect on their wedding day.
And ladies, no one has to tell you make up is expensive!
But fear not, there are several places offering free makeup & beauty samples for you to try!
48. Free Makeup Samples
Are you an Amazon Prime Member?
If so, are you familiar with Amazon Product Sampling?
It’s a service where Amazon sends you free samples in the mail for you to try.
Just go to the preferences page and select “beauty.”
You’ll start receiving makeup samples in just a few days.
49. Free Fragrance or Customized Face Chart
The Dillard’s beauty counter offers several freebies for you to try.
One is a free sample of a perfume of your choice, just ask one of their Fragrance Experts.
Another is a free makeover, with a customized face chart for you take home so you can recreate the look at home.
A third is having one of their Beauty experts find your perfect foundation, and then taking a sample home with you.
All three are free of charge!
50. Free Makeup Consultation
The iconic department store offers many free makeup tips and tutorials.
Teaching you on how to get the latest looks on social media, finding a foundation match, skin care, and more.
In fact, they offer over 100 complimentary services!
Free Wedding Gifts
Need something to stash away to freshen up your makeup during your wedding festivities, or looking for something to add to a bridesmaid’s goody bag?
Here are 2 companies that got you covered:
51. Neiman Marcus
52. Nordstrom
Both offer a variety of free gifts with a minimum beauty purchase.
Not bad to keep on hand, especially during summer weddings.
53. Free Mini Facial & Gifts
How does a free facial before you wedding, or before your honeymoon sound?
Origins offers free mini facials, just book your appointment online.
They also offer free gifts with a minimum purchase.
Other Ways to Check for Freebies for Your Big Day
Here are a few more ways you can find stuff for free for your big romantic day.
54. The Knot’s Wedding Froum
Their wedding forum is a great forum dedicated to all things wedding. Users share all kinds of tips and tricks for saving money as well as the latest free things they find. Give it a try.
55. Check out your local Bridal Fair
Check your local even calendar and see when the next bridal fair is being held in your town.
It’s a great way to get ideas and see all of your local vendors in one place.
And there’s a good chance many of them will be giving away coupons, gift cards, or free samples.
Definitely be sure to drop in before your wedding day.
56. Use social media to hunt for freebies
Odds are you probably used social media to announce your engagement and to keep your friends and family up to date on how everything is progressing.
Why not use your social media accounts to find any potential freebies?
Check out Facebook Marketplace to see if anything is giving away that you may be able to use.
It’s a win-win.
You get something you need for your wedding day, and someone else is able to give something they no longer need to someone who can use it.
57. Check Craigslist & local Facebook Groups
If you don’t mind second-hand items, check your local Facebook groups or Craigslist. Tons of people buy everything brand new for that one day but have no need for them after the wedding. They then sell ’em. You can get things for much much cheaper. And you usually don’t have to worry about quality since they were used just once anyway.
Wedding Tips & Hacks
Here are a few simple ways you can potentially save hundreds if not thousands of dollars on your big day.
Use this hack to save $1000s: If you’re buying something that is not just exclusive to wedding, don’t mention that you’re buying for a wedding. It is a known fact that businesses inflate their prices for wedding related products and services because they know people usually overspend. For example, you can rent the same venue for much cheaper if you don’t even mention that you are renting it for a wedding. Just say you need it for a party!
Save on the dress: We published a post a while back with a list of places where you can sell your wedding dress. If you don’t mind it, you can use the same places top buy a once-used wedding dress for hundreds or thousands cheaper.
Make your own custom guestbook: You can use Photoshop or other free alternatives to create beautiful custom guestbooks.
Check Amazon before you buy anything: If possible, avoid buying things from wedding specialty stores. Here’s how a Redditor save herself some cash, “I bought a belt for my dress for $30 and my veil for $35. I found a veil similar to one I liked at David’s Bridal that was $150 in store. I also bought a slip/hoop skirt on there for like $20.”
Save on party supplies: Buy party stuff at part stores instead of craft stores as they are usually sold for much cheaper.
Enjoy Your Wedding Day Without Worrying About the Cost!
Wedding season is right around the corner.
If your big day is coming up soon, these tips will help you celebrate this occasion without worrying about money.
Now go, enjoy this important and momentous day with your friends and family and leave the cash concerns behind!
Eleonora Cloe
THANK you! So good to know! I am engaged since November and look forward to all wed routine!
Saeed
congrats Eleonora. We’re happy for you. Hopefully you can take advantage of some of these awesome wedding freebies to save some money. We all know how expensive it can get. Best wishes to you!