Today’s Traditional Breakdown of Expenses by Crista Tharp |
| Posted on Feb 12 2008 |
The listing below is only meant to be a general guideline for the division of costs. Please be considerate-each family has its own financial situation to consider, and don’t be surprised if parents express their comfort levels. You should be sensitive to your parents’ budgets and generosity.
The Bride
* Your wedding gown
* The Groom’s wedding band
* Gifts for your Bridal Attendants (unless you purchased their dresses or hotel rooms for them) and any special helpers
* Personal stationary (optional)
* Any medical expenses related to the marriage license or honeymoon
* A gift for your Groom
* A gift for your parents
The Groom
* The engagement ring, as well as wedding band.
* The marriage license.
* Any expenses connected to a medical examination for the marriage license.
* The clergyman’s stipend.
* Your tux and wedding day essentials.
* Transportation for you and your Bride after the wedding. (This could be just having your Best Man drive you in your car to the hotel, OR, you can hire a limo or professional driver.)
* The honeymoon.
* A wedding gift for your Bride.
* Gifts for the Best Man, Groomsmen, & Ushers (unless you purchase their tuxes or hotel rooms for them).
* A gift for your parents
Together as a Couple
* Gifts for special helpers.
* Gifts for parents.
* Favors to be given at the reception (optional).
Bridal Survivor ™ Tip: While it may be traditional for the couple or their families to take care of the travel and accommodations of VIP guests, family, and attendants, these days, it is more common and understandable for these people to pay their own way. This can be made clear in the invitations.
Often, the Groom feels that he should pay for the tux rental of all the Groomsmen and, likewise, the Bride pay for the bridesmaid’s dresses. It is more acceptable, however, that they pay for their own attire. Since being in a bridal party can cost up to $300-$500, the couple should view this as a gift to them and NOT EXPECT a gift.
The Bride’s Family
* Reception site
* Church fees (not the minister’s fees)
* Catering
* Flowers, centerpieces, and decorations
* Music for both the ceremony and the reception
* Bride’s wedding gown and accessories (this is often paid for by the Bride now)
* Photography
* Videography
* Invitations and all of the enclosures
* Transportation for the bridal party to the church and to the reception (most of the time, the bridal party drive their own cars to and from)
* A bridal consultant’s services
* Transportation and accommodations for the Officiant if he is from out of town and if invited by Bride’s family
* Any fees related to the reception that may be extra (valet services, traffic officer, coat check)
* Their attire for the wedding
* Hair and make-up for the Bride (optional)
* Any rentals needed (Hupa, arches, chairs, aisle runner)
The Groom’s family
* All expenses related to the rehearsal dinner (invitations, caterer, decorations, entertainment, etc…)
* Transportation and accommodations for the Officiant if he is from out of town and if invited by Groom’s family
* Their attire for the wedding
Creative Twists on Financial Tradition
It is pretty typical these days for the Groom’s family to offer to help the Bride’s family with some of the expenses. The following are some of the items that the Groom’s family will occasionally pay for:
* The alcohol at the reception
* The church’s fees
* The bridal party’s flowers
* The cake
Sometimes they offer just to give cash towards the expenses. You need to do whatever works best for all of you.
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