Sharing the Financial Burden of Wedding

Wedding is an expensive affair and a lot of financial burden is there to be shouldered. Sharing the financial burden could provide relief to all concerned. Wedding is perhaps the most important event in the life of a man or woman but at the same time is an expensive affair. Apart from the wedding related expenses, there are also the expenses of hoisting the wedding or reception parties and feeding and entertaining the guests. If you are following a more traditional wedding most of the expenses of the wedding will usually be paid for by the brides family. Next is a more traditional list of the expenses that you will encounter before and after your wedding and who should pay for what.

The bride pays for:

    ● The groom’s wedding ring

    ● A wedding gift for the groom

    ● Gifts for her attendants

    ● Her hair, makeup, beauty treatments

    ● Accommodation for any out-of-town bridesmaids

The groom pays for:

    ●  The marriage license
    ● The bride’s engagement ring and wedding ring
    ●  Accommodation for any out-of-town groomsmen
    ● Corsages for the mothers and grandmothers

    ● Boutonnières for men in the wedding party
    ●  A wedding gift for the bride
    ● The bride’s bouquet
    ● Gifts for his attendants
    ● Fee for the officiant
    ● The honeymoon

The bride’s family pays for:

    ● Reception costs, including food, bar, music, decorations, rental fees and entertainment
    ● Ceremony Costs including rental fees, decorations
    ● wedding stationery Including Invitations, announcements, order of service, and mailing costs
    ● Wedding flowers for Ceremony and Reception
    ● The bride’s wedding dress  and accessories
    ● Transportation
    ● Photography
    ● Wedding favours
    ● Their own attire and travel expenses

Bridesmaids pay for:

    ● Bridal shower
    ● Bridesmaid dress and shoes (flower girl/ringbearer attire is paid for by the child's parents)
    ● Any traveling expenses 
    ● Hen party (optional)

Groomsmen & Ushers pay for

    ● Rental of formalwear
    ● Stag party (optional)

In modern weddings much of this has changed due mainly to increased costs. Today the reality is that the bride has probably left home and is earning her own money. Whilst a lot of parents will still contribute in terms of accepted etiquette the more modern approach is for them to either make a contribution by way of a fixed pound amount or by way of agreeing to pay certain expenses. For example the bride's parents may say that they will pay for the wedding dress and reception. The groom's parents may decide to pay for the alcohol or offer a small amount. From a couple's perspective it helps to know who pays for what at weddings because if they can get parents to agree to certain items it makes their planning that much easier. They can then plan to make their own pound stretch further in the knowledge that some of the big ticket items are taken care of. Knowing who pays for what at weddings certainly makes wedding planning a lot easier.