How Can Wedding Expenses be Tax Deductible

Weddings are pricey affairs! Since the cost incurred in a wedding is deemed as personal expenditure, unfortunately, they aren’t tax-deductible! Of course, when you plan your wedding, it’s not the tax deduction that you look forward to. But there is never a problem if you garner some tax deductions. Well, with proper planning and execution and a good tax calculator, you can still be able to garner a tax deduction. Here are some ways you can go ahead with:

1. Plan a church wedding

More often than not, ceremony fee paid at the churches are tax-deductible. If you plan a church wedding, you may get this opportunity. And if it is not tax-deductible then make sure you ask in advance, whether the church waives ceremony fees for those who make donations at a certain level. If they do so, in such a situation it would be great if you raise your donations for the year so that you can get multiple benefits, which includes both monetary and emotional, a fee waiver, a tax write off, and a peace of mind that comes with making a donation for a good cause.

2. Plan your wedding reception at the venue that’s tax-deductible

Another way to get tax deductions, it is crucial that you plan your wedding reception at a museum, historical garden, homestead, or at a state or national park. More often than not, the fee that you pay at these places for hosting your wedding ceremony or wedding reception is tax-deductible as a donation. However, you should always check in advance with their representatives and get a clear idea how all you can get a tax-deductibles on hosting your reception there.

3. By donating your wedding gown

Well, this again a great idea that will give you benefit in two ways; firstly, you will get a tax-deductible for donating your wedding gown to a non-profit organization such as Brides Against Breast Cancer, and secondly, the happiness that comes on helping some needy is immense, immeasurable. Similarly, you can also donate flower girl and bridesmaid dresses.

4. By donating décor items

Well, for donating décor items whether you get tax deduction or not, that you need to find out with the representatives there. However, you will still be getting emotional benefit on donating candles and other décor items that won’t spoil during your wedding ceremony.

5. Donate flowers to non- profit organizations

Like other wedding decors, your wedding flowers can also be donated. Once your wedding is over, have someone who can take the unspoiled flowers to a homeless shelter, women’s center, or to a non-profit organization. They can use it in a myriad of ways. Also, you get a receipt for your flower donation that will help you have a tax deduction for the value of the items that you donated. Besides, the happiness and peace of mind that comes when you bring a smile to someone’s face will be immense.

6. Donate excessive wedding food

Food is a major part of any wedding, starting from pre-wedding celebration until wedding reception food plays an important role. Of course, couples need to feed their wedding guests well in each function, therefore a lot of food items are prepared and arranged at the wedding. However, not always the entire food is consumed in a wedding, and some portion still remains uneaten. Though most wedding caterers do their best to minimize wastage of food in a wedding, still wastage is inevitable part of any event of a large scale, such as a wedding.

So, instead of wasting the uneaten food, you can use this as an opportunity to help needy people. To donate the food all you need to do is make a few calls to know what all will be accepted by homeless shelters, orphanages, senior citizens home, or hospice center. But you will have to plan this beforehand, as some of them won’t take prepared food, however some of them take. And you need to make calls well in advance and have a list of places where you can donate your food, and accordingly you will need to plan and arrange people to do the needful as well.

Once the event is over, ask the caterer to package the leftovers and then let the designated person from your team drop the food packages at a recognized non-profit organization that feeds others in need. You will get a donation letter from the organization that can be used as a proof of charitable contributions and get a tax-deductible.

7. Create a charitable gift registry

Gift-giving in wedding is common, it is in fact, a major part of it. All your friends, family, relatives, and other wedding guests present you something on your special day. Sometimes these gifts are useful to and sometimes you don’t even use them or you get two pieces of the same item. So, to avoid any such situation, it is good to have bridal or wedding registry. Like this you would be able to contribute to the society as well. These days couples are preferring to create a charitable gift registry, they encourage their wedding guests to donate to their favorite cause. And donations are tax-deductible, so it is a great opportunity for both your guests and you. Your guests will feel great while giving back and celebrating you at the same time and you will get a tax-deductible.

To pan out…

These are the ways you can make your wedding expenses tax-deductible. However, to claim a tax deduction for charitable donations, you need to have enough tax deductions to benefit from claiming itemized deductions for that you need to donate to a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Also, make sure you document your donations with receipts and contracts, as you need to present these documents at the time of tax payment. Only when you have valid documents you would be eligible for appropriate tax deduction. There are many agents who can help you with the tax deduction, they would be able to help you accurately value and track your donations year-round.