When it comes to wedding planning, one of the most common questions is who pays for what? Traditionally, the bride and her family are responsible for paying all wedding expenses, from the dress to the ceremony. This comprehensive guide helps specify the financial responsibility of everyone involved in your wedding. The bride personally pays for the wedding flowers and gifts for her attendees, the groom's ring and a gift for him. Bridesmaids, groomsmen, groomsmen and other members of the wedding party must cover certain expenses, such as outfits such as bridesmaid dresses and groomsman suits or tuxedos, travel, lodging, gifts, and more.
The groom's family often takes on a small handful of major expenses to even the balance. Long before the reception takes place or is scheduled, the bride's parents are responsible for sending (and paying for) engagement announcements to local newspapers. Younger, millennial couples (those born between 1981 and 1999) pay less than 42% of wedding expenses, while parents pay 56%. If transportation is necessary for the wedding, it must be handled by the parents of the bride or groom.
The rehearsal dinner is a way to start the wedding weekend after everything is ready for the big day. While the groom is technically supposed to pay the wedding costs himself, the groom's family can help contribute to these expenses. Whether your parents (or the parents of your future spouse) generously offer to pay for part or all of the wedding, it's helpful to understand who has historically paid for every aspect of the big day. All flower arrangements, transportation on the wedding day, photo and video fees, travel and accommodation for the officiant if coming from out of town, lodging for bridesmaids (if you have offered to help with this expense) and all reception expenses should be taken into account when planning your budget. It's important to plan your finances ahead of time if you're paying for your own wedding reception.
One of the most important things you'll need to do when you first sit down to start planning your dream wedding is to set up a budget checklist, and one of the most important things you'll need to do when setting a budget is to ask yourself who's going to pay what.
