When it comes to planning a wedding, one of the most important questions couples must answer is who should pay for the big day. Traditionally, the bride's family was expected to cover the majority of the costs, while the groom's family would pay for certain items. However, times have changed and there are now a variety of ways couples can approach wedding expenses. Some common resolutions today are for the couple to pay everything; for the bride's family to pay half and the groom's family to pay half; or for the couple to pay a third and each part of the family to finance another third.
If another combination works better for you, then it's the right one. The bride is responsible for the wedding gift for her groom. You should also expect to pay for any treatment related to your grooming during the process, such as brushing your hair or a visit to the spa. While you may be asked to help your parents with arrangements for your bridesmaids, you should expect to pay for any gifts for your bridal party herself.
The bridesmaid and bridesmaids must bear the expenses of the bachelorette party, but the bride can order a more formal lunch. Nowadays, most people believe that the couple should pay for their own wedding, especially if they have lived alone for some time. Traditionally, the bride's family pays for the wedding reception (including the venue, food and drink) while the groom pays for the honeymoon. On the other hand, Generation X couples (those born between 1965 and 1980) pay 78% of wedding expenses, while parents only pay 20%. According to the WeddingWire newlywed report, parents pay 52% of wedding expenses, while the couple pays 47% (the remaining 1% is paid by other loved ones), so parents continue to pay for most of the wedding, although couples contribute quite significantly. Who pays what breakdown also varies among LGBTQIA+ couples, who pay 61% of wedding expenses themselves, while their parents pay 37%.
But you'll see that even in traditional roles, the bride's family doesn't pay for everything, but they're definitely an important part of the equation. Traditionally, the groom is expected to pay for the marriage license and officiant fees, and buy the bouquet for his partner (the bride), as well as his engagement and wedding rings and a gift; he should also buy boutonnieres and gifts for his groomsmen. Above all, couples should keep in mind that the most important thing is not who pays at the end of that corridor, but the fact that they are walking together. Fortunately, like all social customs, there are expectations about who pays what along the way. Once again, this list of who pays for the wedding is based on traditional roles and, nowadays, it's rare for anyone to follow it to the letter. If you can't get engaged, you should pay for the wedding yourself and do things your way, even if that means lowering the tone of things.
