Everyone loves weddings; they’re fun, filled with family and friends and an all-around great experience. In fact, one of the only real downsides to a wedding is the hefty price tag, which can add stress to many people’s lives. One of the biggest questions when it comes to a wedding budget is: who pays for what? Historically, many cultures have considered the wedding expenses to be the responsibility of the bride’s family, but as wedding prices continue to rise, many families are willing to divide the financial burden more evenly.
One of the most important first steps when it comes to budgeting is to sit down and decide what kind of wedding you want, and more importantly, what kind of wedding you can afford. Luckily weddings are becoming more informal and unique, which can help couples cut down on some of the more costly expenses that were once considered standard.
Once you’ve decided what kind of wedding you can afford, it’s best to talk to both sides of your family. It’s unfair to expect one or both sides of the family to handle all of the expenses, so many experts suggest dividing your budget three ways; between the bride and groom, the parents of the bride, and the parents of the groom. Sometimes one or both sides of the family won’t have the available resources to contribute to the wedding. If only one side of the family is unable to help out, ask if they might offer their time instead, to make sure there are no hard feelings or resentment.
While this list is just a rough idea of what to expect, each wedding is different and only the bride and groom truly understand the dynamics of their families. It’s important to plan ahead, so there are no unrealistic expectations or assumptions about who will be paying for what. A more traditional division of expenses may look something like this:
The bride pays for: The groom’s wedding ring and wedding gift. Wedding favors, bridal party gifts and her own hair and makeup expenses.
The groom pays for: The engagement ring and wedding ring, the marriage license, the honeymoon and a gift for his bride.
The bride’s family pays for: Reception costs, ceremony costs, and flowers. Traditionally, the bride’s family could also be expected to pay for the bride’s wedding dress, the invitations and announcements, and photography and transportation.
The groom’s family pays for: The rehearsal dinner
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