Yearly, {couples} throughout the nation plan wedding ceremony celebrations that always include a substantial price ticket. The price of internet hosting a memorable wedding ceremony day surrounded by household and mates can add up: from venues to catering and flowers.
Consequently, some {couples} could marvel: Are there conditions the place summer season wedding ceremony bills might be written off on taxes, or is that concept a fable?
To type it out, let’s break down the info and make clear what the tax guidelines say about weddings and taxes.
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Are wedding ceremony bills tax-deductible?
Earlier than taking a look at particular situations, it is good to know the final IRS tips for tax deductions and the way they apply to non-public occasions like weddings.
Right here’s what the foundations say about deducting occasion bills and wedding-related prices.
- Whilst you gained’t have the ability to write off the vast majority of your wedding ceremony bills, you might be able to declare a tax deduction by means of charitable giving.
- Charitable contributions or focused money presents, or non-cash donations to a certified charity or non-profit group, are a preferred method to get better sure bills out of your wedding ceremony.
- Simply make it possible for the group you’re donating to is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit or charity.
Lastly, it’s essential to additionally hold a document of the donation, like a financial institution assertion or a letter from the group you donated. Make sure that it contains the worth of the donation, date, and title of the qualifying group.
With these IRS guidelines in thoughts, listed below are three wedding ceremony prices you might be able to write off in 2025 as a part of a charitable donation.
1. The Church or Wedding ceremony Venue
Should you’re getting married in a church, it’s customary to make a donation to order your date. The donation quantity could fluctuate relying on the providers offered or the church of your alternative. Some church buildings additionally hold flower preparations out of your ceremony as a donation.
The IRS considers church buildings to be 501(c)(3) organizations. Should you make a charitable donation to a church, you’ll be able to usually write off the expense as a tax deduction for federal revenue tax functions.
You can even write off donations to different sorts of wedding ceremony venues, so long as they’re thought-about a 501(c)(3) group. Which may embody nationwide parks or supporting organizations, a historic web site, or a museum.
2. Wedding ceremony Favors and Decor
As a part of your wedding ceremony preparations, a number of objects could make your day memorable for you and your family members.
These embody wedding ceremony favors or souvenirs to commemorate your big day, glow sticks to ship off the newlywed couple, and the decorations bought for the venue. All of these objects might be donated, and also you might be able to get better a few of these prices by means of a charitable donation tax deduction.
Word: Should you itemize your tax deductions, new tax adjustments begin in 2026 associated to charitable giving. Subsequent yr, a 0.5% flooring will apply to charitable tax deductions.
3. Meals and drinks
After the marriage celebrations are over, a big portion of meals and drinks could also be left over. Some qualifying charitable organizations could settle for meals donations, however ensure to verify together with your native meals financial institution or charity first.
Should you don’t need that meals to go to waste, you may have the ability to donate leftovers to meals banks or different non-profit organizations in your neighborhood. Meals banks and pantries settle for non-cash donations; simply ensure to ask for a receipt indicating the worth of the meals to your tax return.
As talked about, non-cash presents or donations have to be itemized to be thought-about for a tax break below the brand new IRS guidelines for charitable donations. Beginning subsequent yr, solely money presents value as much as $1,000 ($2,000 for joint filers) are eligible for a tax deduction with out having to itemize.
Tax financial savings to your 2026 wedding ceremony?
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
The Trump administration’s 2025 tax reform package deal contains a number of provisions that take impact in 2026 that can affect charitable giving. Which means should you’re planning your nuptials subsequent yr, some key adjustments are value retaining monitor of to maximise your financial savings.
This is what’s altering for charitable donations in 2026 that can apply to tax returns usually filed in early 2027.
- Money presents to public charities: Taxpayers can deduct money contributions as much as 60% of their adjusted gross revenue (AGI). That is now everlasting.
- Cap on itemized deductions: The brand new regulation implements a 35% cap for all itemized deductions. Which means, a $10,000 charitable deduction is value $3,500 tax reduce. From 2018 by means of 2025, there isn’t any cap on itemized deductions.
- Customary deduction for non-itemizers: Beginning in 2026, people can deduct as much as $1,000 ($2,000 for {couples} submitting collectively) in charitable contributions with out itemizing. This rule solely applies to money presents. The supply replaces the Biden-era CARES Act ruling, which permits an above-the-line deduction of $300 ($600 submitting collectively) till Dec. 2025.
- Charitable deduction flooring: Charitable donations which might be itemized (usually non-cash presents) should exceed 0.5% of your adjusted gross revenue earlier than qualifying for a tax deduction.
All of these adjustments will seemingly affect the way you deal with charitable donations. So, retaining monitor of those provisions and making intentional donations after your wedding ceremony could enable you to get better some prices associated to your huge day.
Decrease your tax invoice with charitable donations
Donating objects out of your wedding ceremony to a charitable group may enable you to decrease your tax invoice not directly by means of a charitable donation tax deduction, whereas giving to good causes.
As talked about, adjustments coming in 2026 resulting from President Trump’s new tax invoice involving charitable deduction guidelines will permit those that take the usual deduction to say money donations as much as $1,000 or ($2,000 for married taxpayers submitting collectively).
For now, should you plan forward of time, by ensuring sure objects might be donated and retaining monitor of their worth by means of receipts, you might be able to write off a few of your donated wedding ceremony objects subsequent tax season.
Communicate to a trusted licensed public accountant (CPA) or monetary planner that can assist you save probably the most in your tax return.
