Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, and it's important to know who is responsible for what expenses. Traditionally, the bride and her family are expected to cover all wedding planning costs, the bride's attire, flower arrangements, transportation on the day of the wedding, photo and video fees, travel and accommodation of the officiant if coming from out of town, and lodging for the bridesmaids (if offered). It is also customary for the bride to pay for bouquets, transportation to and from the venue, and a gift for her bridesmaids. Optional costs may include hair and makeup, hotel accommodations, bridesmaid dresses, and a bridesmaid lunch (if organized by the bride).The bridesmaids and groomsmen are expected to cover certain expenses such as their outfits (bridesmaid dresses and groomsman suits or tuxedos), travel, lodging, gifts, and more.
If there is a large bridal party and the girls prefer to use their own stylist or if the bride can't cover all the expenses, the bridesmaids may offer to pay for their own hair and makeup. If the bride wants to spend the night in a hotel suite shared with friends on the eve of the wedding, they are expected to cover the expenses. In the event that the bride is planning a bachelorette party at a destination, each bridesmaid will normally only contribute to a night out instead of paying for the length of her stay. Bridesmaids are only responsible for covering the cost of their own lodging, not also that of the bride. Your group might decide to cover the cost of the bride's flight there, or maybe you'll all contribute to Airbnb as a gift to her.
Some brides may offer to split travel and lodging costs, or set up blocks of hotel rooms at discounts. If the bride requires that all members of her bridal party get their hair and makeup done, she must cover these expenses (including tips). She is also expected to pay for any specific shoes or accessories she requires. According to a recent study by WeddingWire and Grow by Acorns + CNBC, 72% of couples receive some form of financial support to pay for their wedding.
