When it comes to weddings, the traditional expectation is that the bride's parents will foot the bill. On average, the bride's parents are responsible for 44 percent of the total budget, while the couple contributes 43 percent and the groom's parents keep around 12 percent. This includes covering all transportation costs for the wedding party, hosting the wedding party, and paying for the wedding photographer or videographer. The bride's family is also expected to pay for the bride's attire and accessories for all pre-wedding events, such as the shower, beach party, rehearsal dinner, and honeymoon.
The groom's family is responsible for the groom's ring, suit and accessories, gifts from groomsmen, officiant fees, marriage license, rehearsal dinner, and travel and lodging for the groom's family and groomsmen. In addition to these traditional costs, couples should also consider who will pay for an engagement party if they choose to have one. This is not a strict tradition so either the bride's or her partner's family can cover all expenses. Another factor to consider is that many couples today are asking their parents for help with wedding expenses.
On average, couples who asked their parents for help paid 41 percent of the total. Ten percent of married couples paid for everything themselves while nine percent spent nothing at all. It is important to remember that while parents may feel a lot of social pressure and expectations at weddings, it is important to be honest about financial capabilities. Approximately one in four parents surveyed in a WeddingWire survey set aside money specifically for their children's wedding.
Even though brides and grooms pay more of the bill for their nuptials, parents usually have to pay a large portion of the budget. Above all, couples should keep in mind that the most important thing is not who pays at the end of that corridor but rather that they are walking together. A wedding custom that has stood the test of time is that parents foot the bill but many young couples today are breaking this tradition with abandon.
