When it comes to wedding planning, the bride's family is often responsible for a lot of the expenses. From invitations and stationery to the wedding dress and accessories, the bride's family typically covers a wide range of costs. Traditionally, they are also responsible for transportation for the wedding party and hosting the wedding party. In the past, it was common for the bride's family to pay for most of the wedding expenses.
The groom's family was usually only responsible for the rehearsal dinner, while the groom himself paid for the honeymoon, rings, and other small expenses. This is still a common practice today, but it is not set in stone. With same-sex marriages becoming more accepted, traditional gender roles are no longer applicable when it comes to who pays for what. It is now common to see both sets of parents contributing equally or one parent paying for something specific.
Ultimately, it is up to the bride and groom to decide what they want and who will pay for it. The bride's parents are usually responsible for hiring a photographer or videographer to capture the special day. They may also be asked to cover some of the costs associated with hosting guests, such as food and drinks. It is important to have an honest conversation about who will be making the final decisions and who will be paying for what.
When it comes to traditional expenses, here is a list of what each party is typically responsible for:
- Bride's family: Invitations and stationery (except rehearsal dinner), accommodations for bridesmaids, wedding dress and accessories, transportation for wedding party, hosting wedding party.
- Groom's family: Rehearsal dinner.
- Groom: Honeymoon, bride's rings, other small expenses.