Who pays for the Wedding?

    Modern times have seen a big change in how the wedding budget is paid for. The following

    are some suggested guidelines for the expenses of a wedding.

    Traditional Guideline

     Bride/Bride's Family pays for:

        - Reception venue and food

        - Ceremony and any celebrant or church fees and costs

        - Flowers for the reception, ceremony and attendants

        - The bride's wedding dress and accessories

        - Photographer and Videographer

        - Invitations, mailing, announcements and other stationary

        - Bonbonniere

        - Ceremony and reception decorations

        - Guestbook

        - Bridesmaid's attire

        - Groom's wedding ring

    Groom/Groom's Family pays for:

        - Alcohol at the reception

        - Cars and Transportation

        - Rehearsal dinner

        - Groomsmen's attire

        - Bride's wedding ring

        - Bride's bouquet

        - Honeymoon

    Modern Guidelines

    Split 3 ways

         The bride and groom, bride's parents and groom's parents split the cost of the wedding

         3 ways. Each couple pays for an equal third of the wedding expenses. In this situation

         it is important for all couple's to sit down and determine a budget together. See wedding

         budgets for more information.

     Bride and Groom

        The final option is for the bride and groom to cover the complete cost of the wedding.

        This option is more common for couples venturing into a second marriage or for couples

        who marry later in life. It may also be the only option if the parents of the couple are

        unable to afford a contribution to the wedding.

        You may like to incorporate a wishing well at your wedding if choosing this option. A

        wishing well is a donation bowl for guests to donate money to contribute to the wedding

        or the bride and groom's financial future. Simply, it is a request for money or cash as a

        gift as an alternative to other tangible items.

        A polite way to notify guests of the wishing well is to incorporate a nice poem or riddle

        into the invitation so that they are aware of your request. This does not mean they are

        required to bring a gift, their decision to give a gift is still optional and should not be

        expected by the bride and groom.

    Click here to go to the Events Planner Online Wedding Budget