Planning Your 2025 Summer Wedding: Potential Tax savings to Boost Your Budget
Charitable Donations and Wedding Expenses: What You Need to Know
For many, planning a wedding can be an expensive affair, with costs ranging from the venue to catering, flowers, and entertainment. However, when it comes to tax deductions, the story is not the same.
In 2025, typical wedding expenses are non-deductible personal expenses and do not qualify as charitable donations. But there is a silver lining. If you choose to make charitable donations as part of your wedding event, you may be able to write them off as tax deductions.
To qualify for a tax deduction, the charity must be IRS-recognised as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit or charity. This includes donations to churches, food banks, museums, and national parks, as long as they are recognised by the IRS.
If you itemize deductions on your tax return and keep proper records like bank statements or letters from the charity noting the donation amount and date, you can potentially claim these donations as deductions.
For married couples filing jointly, charitable deduction limits are higher because the combined Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is larger, allowing potentially bigger deductions — for cash contributions, generally up to 60% of AGI.
However, starting in 2026, changes introduced by the Big Beautiful Bill will impact how you handle donations. Non-itemizers will be able to deduct up to $2,000 in qualified charitable donations, but this does not change the basic rules about wedding expenses not being deductible unless they are genuine charitable donations.
So, what can be donated and potentially written off as a tax deduction? Donations such as flowers arranged for the wedding ceremony, wedding favors, and decorations can be donated to a qualified charity and may be eligible for a charitable donation tax deduction. Leftover food and drinks from the wedding can also be donated to food banks or other non-profit organisations for a potential tax deduction.
It's essential to remember that the IRS has no specific rules that allow writing off typical summer wedding expenses as charitable donations in 2025. Always consult a tax professional to confirm the eligibility of specific donations and proper recordkeeping.
| Expense Type | Tax Treatment 2025 | |-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Typical Wedding Costs | Non-deductible personal expenses (venue, catering, flowers, etc.) | | Charitable Donations | Deductible if given to a qualified charity, itemized, with proper documentation | | Charitable Deduction Limits | Up to 60% of AGI for cash donations; married couples filing jointly have higher combined AGI for limits | | Gifts Over $19,000 | Subject to gift tax rules, but charitable donations are not subject to gift tax |
In conclusion, while typical wedding expenses are non-deductible, charitable donations can potentially be written off as tax deductions if given to a qualified charity, itemized, and properly documented. Consult a tax professional for more information on specific donations and proper recordkeeping.
- If you donate leftover food and drinks from your wedding to a food bank or other non-profit organization, it may be eligible for a charitable donation tax deduction.
- To qualify for a charitable donation tax deduction, donations such as flowers arranged for the wedding ceremony, wedding favors, and decorations must be given to a qualified charity and properly documented.
