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Over the past three months, the segment of marginally attached workers grew by a monthly average of 247,000, an economist said.
That can be a “warning sign” for the U.S. labor market.
However, experts believe it may be too early to tell if the marginally attached worker labor segment will continue to grow, and at such a rapid pace.

Ezra Bailey | Stone | Getty Images

The unemployment rate jumped in July, and there is a detail in the data that has alarmed some economists.
So-called marginally attached workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are those who are available to work and want a job, but have not searched for a job in the four weeks preceding the survey.

People in that category are at risk of transitioning into “disconnected workers,” or participants who completely drop out of the labor force, whether it be because of too-low wages or because of high competition. 
Over the past three months, the segment of marginally attached workers grew by a monthly average of 247,000, according to an analysis from Alí Bustamante, a labor economist and director of the Worker Power and Economic Security program at the Roosevelt Institute, a liberal think tank based in New York City. Bustamante assessed marginally attached workers plus unemployed workers as a group, which the BLS refers to as U-6.  
“That’s a warning sign” for the labor market, he said.
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A sustained increase in marginally attached workers would be a negative indicator for the U.S. labor market, said Nick Bunker, economic research director for North America for Indeed Hiring Lab. It is a sign that people want a job, but are having a hard time finding a job, he said.

A ‘new phase’ for the job market

However, experts believe it may be too early to tell if the marginally attached worker labor segment will continue to grow, and at such a rapid pace.
“If there is a sustained increase in marginally attached workers, that would be concerning. But I don’t see a sustained increase right now,” Bunker said.
“This is one category that we really will look at for the next month,” said Teresa Ghilarducci, a labor economist and professor of economics at The New School for Social Research.

The jump could also reflect a correction after much-stronger-than-expected jobs reports in the past three months, said Ghilarducci, who is also the director of the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis and The New School’s Retirement Equity Lab.
Job growth has begun to slow down as more people look for jobs and increase competition for open roles, which showcases a potential “new phase” in the market, Bustamante explained.
“In its new phase, the U.S. labor market remains strong but workers are facing much more competition for open jobs than in the past year,” said Bustamante. “This means that incumbent workers are switching jobs much less often and new entrants to the labor force are experiencing longer job searches.”

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Collectively, Americans owe a record $1.14 trillion on their credit cards, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
As credit card debt mounts, young adults, who are likely renters with less of a financial cushion than their elders, are increasingly falling behind.

Who is falling behind on credit card bills

These borrowers “may have overextended during the pandemic,” the New York Fed researchers said on a press call Tuesday.
Delinquent borrowers are often renters, with shorter credit histories and lower credit limits, making them more likely to be financially vulnerable and miss a payment, the researchers said.
Over the last year, roughly 9.1% of credit card balances transitioned into delinquency, the New York Fed found.

In the years since the pandemic, homeownership has been one of the greatest tools of wealth creation — and those who have been priced out of the housing market have disproportionately struggled to achieve the same level of financial security, according to Brett House, economics professor at Columbia Business School.
Among the millennials transitioning into delinquency, many also entered the labor market during the Great Recession and may be experiencing the prolonged negative effects of graduating into an economic downturn, the New York Fed researchers said. Those who join the workforce in a period of elevated unemployment have lower long-term earnings, many studies show.

50% of Americans are carrying a balance

These days, 57% of consumers rely on credit cards to make ends meet, according to a separate survey by Achieve, and 36% of consumers said it is difficult to pay recurring debts on time. Achieve polled 2,000 adults with one or more kinds of consumer debt in June.
Of those surveyed who had missed a payment, most cited a job loss or reduced income as the main reason they have recently fallen behind.
Now half of cardholders carry debt from month to month, according to another report by Bankrate.  
“High inflation and high interest rates have eroded Americans’ savings and more people are carrying more debt for longer periods of time,” said Ted Rossman, Bankrate’s senior industry analyst.

Credit card rates top 20%

At the same time, credit cards have become one of the most expensive ways to borrow money. Credit card rates, already high in recent years, spiked when the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates to tame inflation.
Since most credit cards have a variable rate, there’s a direct connection to the Fed’s benchmark. As the federal funds rate rose, the prime rate did as well, and credit card rates followed suit.
Lower-income households, who had to stretch to cover price increases, have been hit especially hard after a string of 11 rate hikes lifted the average credit card rate to more than 20% — near an all-time high.
“With credit card balances at an all-time high and the average credit card rate hovering near record territory, it’s more important than ever to pay down this debt as soon as possible,” Rossman said.
With that annual percentage rate of 20%, if you made minimum payments toward the average credit card balance of $6,218, it would take you 18 years to pay off the debt and cost you more than $9,300 in interest in that time period, Rossman calculated.
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Spencer Platt | Getty Images

Brokerage firm Robinhood announced on Monday evening that it would not offer overnight trading due to an issue with its execution venue.
The company said in a post on social media site X that Blue Ocean ATS, the third-party firm that Robinhood works with for round-the-clock trading, has suspended its overnight market.

“Robinhood 24 Hour Market’s execution venue, Blue Ocean ATS (BOATs), has suspended overnight trading for tonight. 24 Hour Market orders that are open as of approx. 8 PM ET will be routed for execution starting at approx. 4 AM ET tomorrow. You may cancel your order at any time, and can still place an order for another trading session,” the statement said.
It is not clear if the suspension will last beyond early Tuesday morning, or if other brokerage firms that offer overnight trading are affected.
The announcement from Robinhood comes after several firms, including Charles Schwab, suffered technical issues on Monday that temporarily prevented some of their users from accessing their brokerage accounts.
Global markets saw a steep sell-off on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling more than 1,000 points and the S&P 500 posting its worst day since 2022.
Robinhood first introduced “24/5 trading” — running from 8 p.m. ET on Sunday to 8 p.m. ET on Friday — in May 2023. Overnight trading is typically limited to the most liquid stocks and ETFs in the market.
Blue Ocean did not immediately respond to a request for comment. More

Amid stock market volatility, it’s critical to avoid emotional moves that could stunt long-term portfolio growth, financial experts say.
U.S. stocks on Monday plunged as part of a global sell-off fueled by U.S. recession fears. But investors should avoid panic-selling to maximize long-term returns.
“Don’t panic and make some crazy, rash decision that veers away from your game plan,” warned certified financial planner Lee Baker, owner of Apex Financial Services.

Westend61 | Getty Images

Amid stock market volatility, it’s critical to avoid emotional moves that could stunt long-term portfolio growth, financial experts say.
U.S. stocks on Monday plunged as part of a global sell-off fueled by U.S. recession fears. The U.S. dip followed a more than 12% drop for Japan’s Nikkei 225, its biggest one-day loss since Wall Street’s 1987 Black Monday crash.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average earlier Monday fell by more than 1,200 points but recovered slightly to 1,032 points, or 2.6% down, by about 3 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 3.9% and the S&P 500 lost 3.2%.
“Don’t panic and make some crazy, rash decision that veers away from your game plan,” warned certified financial planner Lee Baker, owner of Apex Financial Services in Atlanta. 
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Panic selling can ‘crater your portfolio’

Some investors are prone to panic selling during periods of volatility and then often miss the stock market recovery with cash sitting on the sidelines, research shows.
“The roller-coaster ride back up happens just as quickly,” and missing recovery days “can crater your portfolio,” said Baker, who is also a member of CNBC’s Financial Advisor Council.

To that point, missing the 20 best days in the stock market from Jan. 1, 2003, to Dec. 30, 2022, would have cut your total portfolio returns by more than half, according to J.P. Morgan.
Ultimately, staying invested pays off long-term because “it’s a loser’s game” to try to time the market, Baker said.

‘Sleep better at night’ with cash reserves

During periods of market volatility, it’s important to focus on what you can control, rather than broader economic uncertainty, said Douglas Boneparth, a CFP and president of Bone Fide Wealth in New York, who is also a member of CNBC’s Financial Advisor Council.
Your existing cash reserves, for example, can cover emergencies or provide funds to “take advantage of opportunities,” he said. “This is the number one thing that can allow people to sleep better at night.”

While many experts suggest keeping three to six months of living expenses in cash, Boneparth recommends six to nine months, which “lends itself to staying the course” after stock market dips. If cash reserves are low, it may be a good time to revisit plans to rebuild.
One benefit of extra cash is you could use some of the funds to buy discounted assets after a market downturn, depending on your goals, he said.
“I’ve never come across someone who was upset that they had a little bit more cash than they needed,” Boneparth added. More

TikTok’s “#underconsumptioncore” trend has been displaced by the start of the back-to-school shopping season — and with it “#backtoschoolhauls.”
This latest hashtag trend comes surprisingly swiftly on the heels of a movement centered around resisting overspending.

Customer shopping for school supplies with employee restocking shelves, Target store, Queens, New York.
Lindsey Nicholson | UCG | Universal Images Group | Getty Images

Just when it seemed more Americans were inspired by the ideas of “underconsumption core” and “conscious consumerism,” which aim to put a lid on social media-influenced overspending, the back-to-school shopping season kicked off early — followed by TikTok hashtag #backtoschoolhauls.
As of the beginning of July, more than half, or 55%, of students and families had already started buying supplies for the start of the academic year, according to the National Retail Federation.

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“The back-to-school shopping season has increasingly started earlier each year,” largely driven by retail strategies, said Cassandra Happe, an analyst at WalletHub.
Sales events like Target Circle Week and Amazon’s Prime Day started even earlier in 2024, “aiming to capture early-bird shoppers and outpace competitors,” Happe said.

Back-to-school spending could reach nearly $40 billion

Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $874.68 on school supplies, just $15 less than last year’s record of $890.07, according to the NRF.
Altogether, this year’s back-to-school spending, including for college students, is expected to reach $38.8 billion, the NRF also found. That’s the second-highest tally ever, after last year’s $41.5 billion marked the most expensive back-to-school season to date.

According to another report, by Intuit Credit Karma, nearly one-third, or 31%, of parents said they can’t afford back-to-school shopping this year and 34% expect to take on debt to cover the cost of supplies.
Higher prices are partly to blame: Families are now paying more for key back-to-school essentials such as backpacks ahead of the new school year. CNBC used the producer price index — a closely followed measure of inflation — to track how the costs of making certain items typically purchased for students has changed between 2019 and 2024.

On the upside, starting earlier may offer the best opportunities to find the best deals, a separate survey by Deloitte found, at a time when household finances are particularly squeezed.
“However, this approach can also lead to increased spending due to rising costs and the temptation for impulse buys,” Happe said. “Parents might find themselves spending more overall, especially on high-ticket items and electronics.”
More than 75% of parents said they believe schools ask them to buy too much during back-to-school season, another report by WalletHub found.

Parents influenced to splurge on ‘must-have’ items

“Back-to-school hauls have started infiltrating TikTok earlier than I’ve ever seen it,” said Casey Lewis, a social media trend expert and founder of trend newsletter After School.
“As soon as the Fourth of July holiday weekend was over, I began seeing them — and not just shopping hauls, but also outfit ideas and calls for advice about the best shoes and backpacks to buy this year,” Lewis said.
Despite having to navigate tight budget constraints, 85% of parents said they could be influenced to splurge on a “must-have” item or brand, Deloitte also found.

According to Lewis, low-rise jeans, $110 Adidas Campus sneakers and Jester backpacks from North Face, which retail for $75 or more, are topping this year’s wish lists.
“There’s a lot of pressure to have the right look,” Lewis said. And as trends cycle through faster and faster, “young people have even more pressure to keep up,” she added. “It feels like their popularity and perceived coolness rides on the products they have.”

How to keep back-to-school spending in check

Consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch advises families to shop for gently used clothing, sporting goods, school supplies and certified-refurbished electronics on resale sites, use a price-tracking browser extension or app and apply coupon codes. There are a growing number of online retailers that offer children’s product overstock, open-box and returned goods, often at a significant discount.
Also take advantage of sales tax holidays when you can, she said. Review the 2024 Sales Tax Holiday list to see if and when your state lifts sales taxes for a few days.
Otherwise, shop your own stock, which is what TikTok’s #underconsumptioncore is all about. “Rip out pages in a partially used notebook, collect scattered markers and crayons to make a full set and clean up last year’s backpack and lunch tote,” Woroch said.
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#Underconsumptioncore is taking over TikTok.
I’ve been on the underconsumption train long before it was trending. But given the barrage of influencer marketing these days, it’s a lifestyle that is increasingly harder to maintain.
Now the stakes are higher as more consumers are feeling cash-strapped.

Recently I posed this question to my teenage daughter: Aren’t we tired of influencers?
“No,” she said.

But despite my daughter’s opinion — she’s 16 — I know I’m not the only one fed up with the barrage of things I’m told to buy on social media. Which is why the rise of “underconsumptioncore” came as a welcome shift away from influencer culture — and made me finally feel seen.
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Years ago, I made a commitment to live with less. But adhering to a standard more in line with minimalism than overconsumption is a vow I’ve had to renew yearly, monthly, daily.
Let’s just say it’s a struggle. Instagram doesn’t help.
Increasingly, I have found the incessant shilling of everything from protein shakes to private vacation villas exhausting. Not to mention how this steady stream of influencer marketing is often at odds with my own lifestyle aspirations (and budget).

Pro tips: I have a screen time limit set for Instagram, keep sponsored posts “snoozed” and regularly “report” ads that feel intrusive. Also, I follow “the 48-hour rule,” which requires waiting at least two days before making any discretionary purchase, through social media or otherwise.

‘An arms race for consumer dollars’

Although most Americans say they are living paycheck to paycheck, consumers routinely spend more than they can afford on impulse purchases, many studies show — particularly those advertised on sites such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
“We are bombarded with shopping opportunities,” said Casey Lewis, a social media trend expert and founder of trend newsletter After School. “Now it’s sort of an arms race for consumer dollars.”
One report by Intuit Credit Karma found that roughly 2 in 5 Americans have purchased products advertised on social media in the past year, and nearly a quarter — 23% — of them coughed up $1,000 or more on those purchases. 
Generation Z, especially, makes shopping decisions heavily driven by TikTok and Instagram, where influencer recommendations play a very significant role, another KPMG report showed.

The rise of #underconsumptioncore

TikTok’s latest financial trend, #underconsumptioncore, is about making the most of what you already have and rejecting the temptation to buy more (and more and more). That’s also something personal stylist Allison Bornstein told me in 2023, which has stuck with me ever since.
The timing is on point, given that consumers feel increasingly cash-strapped and their confidence in the economy is showing signs of strain, according to Brett House, economics professor at Columbia Business School. “It’s a movement that is cyclical, driven by macroeconomic conditions,” he said.

In fact, the idea behind underconsumption has emerged with “predictable regularity” at similar times in recent history, including in the early 1990s, then when the dot-com bubble burst in early 2000 and again during the Great Recession, House said. “In each case the aesthetics were a little different, but it represented a back-to-basics mentality.”
This time around, #underconsumptioncore stems from a number of other factors, as well, including a desire to live more intentionally and sustainably. Gen Z is also the most eco-conscious generation.
But still, this trend is primarily born out of necessity. To be sure, few people can afford all of this stuff.

Young people are just sort of like ‘enough, we can’t possibly keep up.’

Casey Lewis
social media trend expert

Americans are feeling the pain of persistent inflation, with various reports showing many have exhausted their savings and are now leaning on credit cards to make ends meet.
Financial well-being is deteriorating and young adults, especially, are struggling.
Similarly, interest in “conscious consumerism” and “de-influencing” have also peaked, both of which aim to put a lid on social media-related overspending.
“Young people are just sort of like ‘enough, we can’t possibly keep up,’ and it doesn’t feel good anymore,” Lewis said.
But whether #underconsumptioncore is simply a mood or a movement, it’s still hard to say. “The lifespan of this trend depends, in a lot of ways, on how long the economy continues to slow and incomes remain below price gains,” House said.
Lewis is skeptical about whether this trend will have any sustained traction at all. Already, her feed is being overrun with #backtoschoolhauls, including outfits, gear and dorm décor, she said.
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Google headquarters in Mountain View, California, on Jan. 30, 2023.
Marlena Sloss | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Earnings season is in full swing, with results from tech giants and sector leaders influencing the market’s direction.
While these updates provide key insights into a company’s performance, investors should remember their investment decisions must not be based on a single quarter’s results.

Instead, they should consider the recommendations of top Wall Street analysts, who perform an in-depth analysis of a company’s fundamentals so they can highlight stocks with solid long-term growth potential.   
Here are three stocks favored by the Street’s top pros, according to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.
Alphabet
The first stock pick for this week is Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL). The company recently reported results for the second quarter, highlighting the strength in its Search and Cloud businesses. However, the growth in YouTube advertising revenue slowed down in the quarter and missed analysts’ expectations.
Following the results, BMO Capital analyst Brian Pitz reiterated a buy rating on GOOGL stock with a price target of $222. The stock remains a top pick for BMO.
Pitz noted artificial intelligence-related tail winds in Alphabet’s Search business. He said, “The combination of higher query volume and lower incremental costs implies that AI benefits to Search will be a multi-year event.”  

Additionally, he raised his 2024 and 2025 estimates for the Cloud business to reflect AI-led gains. Pitz highlighted that the company’s AI infrastructure and generative AI solutions for cloud clients have been adopted by over 2 million developers and are already contributing “billions” in revenue.
Despite YouTube’s Q2 revenue miss, Pitz continues to be confident about this business. He thinks that YouTube is well-positioned to gain from the expected shift in a significant portion of the $150 billion global linear TV ad dollars to the digital world. He also expects YouTube’s superior AI Creator tools to boost its prospects.
Pitz ranks No. 189 among more than 8,900 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 74% of the time, with each delivering an average return of 17.1%. (See Alphabet Hedge Fund Trading Activity on TipRanks)
ServiceNow
Next up is ServiceNow (NOW), a cloud-based software company that recently impressed investors with its strong results for the second quarter. The workflow automation platform witnessed better-than-expected net new annual contract value, or NNACV, and generative AI contributions. ServiceNow also raised its 2024 subscription revenue outlook.
In reaction to the strong results and guidance, Goldman Sachs analyst Kash Rangan increased the price target for NOW stock to $940 from $910 and reaffirmed a buy rating.  
Shares surged 13% the day following ServiceNow’s quarterly report. The analyst said that the post-results rally in NOW stock was an indication of investors’ “renewed conviction in ServiceNow’s GTM [go-to-market] execution and the quality and breadth of its platform that is clearly resonating with IT buyers irrespective of choppier macro conditions.”
Rangan highlighted that the 22.5% growth at constant currency in ServiceNow’s current remaining performance obligation, an indicator of future revenue, was driven by robust NNACV and early renewals.
He thinks that the acceleration in remaining performance obligation to 31% in Q2 2024 indicates the adaptability of NOW’s platform across the enterprise. Overall, the analyst is optimistic about the company’s ability to sustain a growth rate of more than 20%, backed by continued AI momentum and an accelerating backlog.  
Rangan ranks No. 579 among more than 8,900 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 57% of the time, with each delivering an average return of 8.7%. (See ServiceNow Stock Charts on TipRanks)
Travel + Leisure
This week’s third stock is Travel + Leisure (TNL), a membership and leisure travel company. TNL exceeded analysts’ earnings expectations for the second quarter but lagged revenue estimates. The company raised its full-year adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization guidance to reflect solid consumer demand for vacation ownership or timeshares.
On July 29, Tigress Financial analyst Ivan Feinseth reaffirmed a buy rating on TNL stock and raised his price target to $58 from $54. The analyst’s bullish stance is backed by the demand for vacation ownership. Feinseth also expects TNL to benefit from lower interest rates in the second half of this year and additional rate cuts in 2025.
He expects TNL’s revenue and cash flows to be driven by “a combination of property development, membership sales, and increases in subscription and resort operating fees” amid strong travel trends.
Feinseth thinks that TNL’s strategic partnership with Sports Illustrated Resorts and the launch of the Ultimate Sports-Themed and Active Lifestyle Resort Network are major growth catalysts. He also expects the company to benefit from technology investments, marketing partnerships and acquisitions, including the purchase of Accor Vacation Club.
Feinseth ranks No. 235 among more than 8,900 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 60% of the time, with each delivering an average return of 12.8%. (See Travel + Leisure Stock Buybacks on TipRanks) More

Many wedding costs, such as meals, invitations and favors, are based on your headcount.
“The No. 1 way to save money on your wedding is to cut the guest count,” Shane McMurray, CEO and co-founder of The Wedding Report, recently told CNBC.

Victor Dyomin | Moment | Getty Images

Many wedding costs, such as meals, invitations and favors, are based on your headcount.
The average cost of a wedding ceremony and reception in 2023 was $35,000, according to The Knot 2023 Real Weddings Study. The total cost is a $5,000 increase from 2022.

“The No. 1 way to save money on your wedding is to cut the guest count,” Shane McMurray, CEO and co-founder of The Wedding Report, recently told CNBC.
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, engaged couples pivoted from large-scale events to smaller, intimate weddings, said Lauren Miller, owner of Tiny Wedding Collective, a wedding planning agency in Washington, D.C., and in Baltimore, Maryland.
While the average guest count at weddings has been declining since 2006 — when the average was about 184 people — the lowest average count was in 2020, when it hovered at 107 people due to pandemic restrictions, according to The Wedding Report.
Miller noted a surprising upside to the pandemic.
“What we saw was that the pandemic gave people permission to have a tiny wedding,” Miller said. “Now, you don’t need a pandemic to have a tiny wedding.”

In 2023, the average guest list was 134, The Wedding Report found.
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Narrowing down the guest list can be difficult.
“Planning a wedding with your partner is the first big group project the two of you tackle together,” said Jessica Bishop, founder and CEO of The Budget Savvy Bride.
“The key to not hurt people’s feelings is creating a rule and sticking with it for every guest that’s invited,” said Miller.
Here are ways experts suggest reducing your wedding guest list without cutting ties with family and friends in the process:

1. Create a guest-list hierarchy

“You have to start thinking, ‘Would you buy that person a $200 dinner?’ Because that’s what you’re doing at your wedding,” said Shannon Tarrant, co-founder of the Wedding Venue Map, an online marketplace of wedding venues across central Florida.
Experts recommend engaged couples to categorize their guests into two to three lists in order of priority:

A-List: These “are people who you would actually notice on your wedding day if they aren’t there,” said Tarrant. “That’s like your most important, VIP people.” 
B-List: The people you would love to come, but you would be fine if they declined the RSVP, said Tarrant. Miller added that the B-List could consist of “co-workers that are close to you or maybe some extended family members.”
List C: Think of this as an extension of the B list, said Bishop. Ask yourself when the last time was that you saw a person “and had meaningful one-on-one time with them,” she said.

A lot of the etiquette rules have gone out the window.

Shannon Tarrant
co-founder of the Wedding Venue Map in Orlando, Florida

Being on a lower-priority list “doesn’t mean we’re not inviting them at this point,” said Tarrant. “We’re just starting to organize the people with a different mindset.”
“Once you figure out the list, you can really build a budget,” she said.
Sometimes your parents will have their own guest lists in mind. “If your parents are paying and contributing, you might need to allow them to have a certain number of guests,” said Bishop.
But “a lot of it is case by case,” added Bishop. If the parents are contributing financially, it is important to discuss what kind of wedding the bridal couple wants and what will be realistic.

2. Set plus-one rules

“Old-school etiquette says that if someone is married or has been in a long-term relationship more than a year … they should be invited,” said Tarrant.
“But in the world we’re living in, a lot of the etiquette rules have gone out the window,” she said.
One approach is to completely forgo plus-ones and group those individual guests in a singles table so they don’t feel alone or left out, said Shannon Underwood, vice president and conference director of Wedding Merchants Business Academy, a conference for wedding professionals.
“That’s the thing with the plus-ones — you never want to feel like you’re the only one that wasn’t allowed to bring a date and everyone else was,” said Underwood. “Consistency is key.”

Set parameters with your partner and there might be special cases, said Bishop. It is helpful to have guidelines.
It is okay to have a frank conversation with solo guests, said Tarrant. If that person does not know anyone else or have a connection to anybody else attending your wedding, you may decide it is OK for that person to bring a plus-one, she said.
Bishop noted that it is important to remember that each wedding is unique. “There are probably going to be special cases,” she said.

3. Pick a smaller venue

If you are exploring the idea of hosting a smaller wedding, keep the venue in mind, experts say.
“Sometimes when people want to plan smaller weddings, they don’t choose smaller venues. They’ll pick a venue that seats 200 and say, ‘I’m only budgeting and I only want to have 50 people,'” said Tarrant.
Choosing a more intimate venue with a smaller capacity can help you maintain a solid guest list limit, experts say.
Plus, smaller venues can also bring down the overall spending.
“The savings is not just in the food and beverage,” said Miller. “It really does trickle down overall from all of the things that you might need to rent or buy for the wedding.”

4. Avoid save-the-date invitations

Another way to wrangle the guest count is by not sending save-the-date invitations. “That also can help control the numbers,” said Tarrant, as your closest family and friends are likely to have already etched the date in their calendars.
“It’s a little sneaky,” said Tarrant, but it can help couples whose lists have run out of control, she said.

5. Have a separate, low-cost celebration

Another solution couples could consider is keeping the wedding itself small and later hosting a separate, low-cost ceremony or celebration where you invite more people, experts suggested.
“It does give you the best of both worlds,” said Bishop.
If the budget is very small, consider having a one-year anniversary party that is low cost at an affordable venue, said Underwood. “It doesn’t include all the extras and intricacies of a wedding.”
“At the end of the day, it’s just about preserving relationships and considering people’s feelings,” she said.

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