Working out a budget for your wedding is one of the first things that should be done, once the date is set. Will the ceremony be formal, semiformal or informal? A formal wedding, of course, will be the most expensive and the informal, the least. Nothing is set in concrete. Who pays for what? Nowadays, the lines are no longer rigidly drawn. The burden of paying for the wedding has shifted in recent years from the shoulders of the father of the bride, to include the groom's family. Also, with many couples marrying later and having money of their own, they are sharing in the expenses.
There are no longer rules set it stone as to "Who Pays for What", but here's a general guideline as to the traditional breakdown:
The bride or her family will traditionally pay for:
Invitations, announcements, enclosures
Wedding Dress, veil, accessories
Bouquets or corsages for bridesmaids and flower girl
Flowers for Church and reception
Engagement and wedding photographs
Wedding location (Church, hotel, park) rental fee
Musician fees
Bridal party transportation to ceremony and reception
All reception expenses (food, beverages, entertainment)
Groom's ring
Wedding gift for groom
Gifts for bride's attendants
Hotel lodging for out of town bridesmaids
Miscellaneous wedding site equipment (canopy, candles, aisle runner)
The groom or his family will traditionally pay for:
Bride's engagement and wedding ring
Marriage license
Clergy/judge fee to perform wedding
Bride's flowers
Boutonnieres for men in wedding party
Wedding gift for bride
Mothers' and Grandmothers' corsages
Honeymoon
Gifts for groomsmen, attendants and ushers
Hotel lodging for groomsmen and ushers
Rehearsal dinner
Shipment of wedding gifts to couple's home if necessary
The wedding party will traditionally pay for:
Bachelor and bachelorette party
Wedding showers
Their wedding attire (bridesmaids' dresses and tuxedos)
Working out a budget for your wedding is one of the first things that should be done, once the date is set. Will the ceremony be formal, semiformal or informal? A formal wedding, of course, will be the most expensive and the informal, the least. Nothing is set in concrete. Who pays for what? Nowadays, the lines are no longer rigidly drawn. The burden of paying for the wedding has shifted in recent years from the shoulders of the father of the bride, to include the groom's family. Also, with many couples marrying later and having money of their own, they are sharing in the expenses.
