So We're Planning A Wedding…Want To See What We Can Deduct On Our Taxes?

So this is my first time getting married (and here’s to hoping it’s just this once!) and planning a wedding and I have come to realize how woefully ignorant of what goes into a wedding. Sending out Save The Dates on top of Invitations, venues making you choose their overpriced vendors, the hassle of a guest list and people inviting themselves, and not to mention all the travel/accommodation that comes with a destination wedding. So, in our natural accounting/financial minds we thought a budget would be a nice to have but I knew nothing of the costs.

In order to have a good budget, you need to have good inputs!

However, during my search, I started to think about (as I always do) if we can write any of these things off on our taxes. And after not too long of researching I found that there is a possibility to do this. I put on my skeptical accounting/auditor glasses and conclude that depending on one’s situation, there are some viable deductions and I wanted to talk about them here.

Now mind you, all of these relate to donating to charity which comes with its own rules and limits, but these are all viable examples of expenses that can be deductible.

DEDUCTIONS

1. Deductions Related to Location: Ceremony fees donated to churches are often tax-deductible and if you are hosting your wedding ceremony in places like National Parks, historical gardens & properties or city land, they often come with a donation fee. Make sure to confirm this with the venues.

2. Deductions Related to Attire: Since no one is going to walk around in a wedding/bridesmaid dress, donating your wedding/bridesmaid dress after you get married is a great way to increase your tax-deductible donations.

3. Deductions Related to Décor: There are companies who recycle wedding flowers and other wedding related décor that you could get a tax deduction for by donating to them.

4. Deductions Related to Food: Any extra food leftover after your wedding reception can always be donated to a local food bank or charity. The cost of the extra meals donated can increase your charitable contributions.

5. Deductions Related to Gifts: Instead of a Gift Registry, there’s a thing called a Charity Registry. The guests can gift to selected causes which are tax-deductible as well!

So we’re definitely donating the food and I’m currently discussing with Jackie about donating the dress afterwards. And when I say “currently discussing” I mean I haven’t brought it up to her yet but once she reads this hopefully she’ll be agreeable.

For all of my engaged peeps, stay strong as you get through the planning process and please keep us in your prayers lol.