Who Traditionally Pays For An Indian Wedding?

The traditional Indian wedding is a complex affair, with the financial burden shared between the couple and their parents. The average cost of a traditional Indian wedding in the United States is about $65,000, with variations across different regions. Money is often given as a gift at an Indian wedding, known as Sagan or. According to a WeddingWire India survey, around 64% of the wedding budget is typically covered by the parents of the couple, while the rest is typically shared among the bride’s family.

In Indian culture, the bride’s family traditionally bears the financial responsibility for the entire event, including all the arrangements, ceremonies, and festivities associated with the big day. However, modern challenges and cultural differences can impact wedding planning, leading to the need for communication and compromise with both families. The ‘lai gum’ tradition, symbolizing respect and gratitude, remains a significant part of Indian weddings.

The groom’s family also contributes to the costs, with 75% of couples opting for a shared expense wedding. The bride’s family typically pays for the venue, catering, wedding attire, and jewelry. In recent years, younger, millennial couples pay for less (42% of wedding expenses), while parents pay for 56%. Gen X couples pay for 78% of wedding expenses, while parents only pay for 20%.

Indian weddings increase in price each year, and the traditional financial responsibilities are typically divided between the couple and their parents. However, if one side insists on having more guests or events, each family only pays $15 for the wedding ceremony.


📹 Wedding planner describes cost and culture of Indian weddings

In our series, World of Weddings, we traveled to India where modern technology is blending with centuries-old marriage traditions.


Do fathers of the bride pay for wedding?

Traditionally, the father of the bride is financially responsible for the wedding. Nowadays, thats not always the case, and thats okay. Sometimes the bride and groom will contribute, as well the parents of the groom.

Even if youre not paying for the wedding, offer to help deliver payments to the vendors. Some wedding vendors require payments a day or two before the wedding, or even immediately after the reception. This is a busy time for the bride and groom and having someone in charge of delivering payments is a big help.

If you know your stuff when it comes to food and wine, why not choose the reception meal and wine selection. Select the hor doeuvres, the courses and reds and whites that pair well with each dish. (Usually the cake is something the bride and groom pick out, but you might want to go along for the tasting!) Bonus! If youre paying for the wedding, being in charge of the menu will give you some control over the budget.

If youre paying for the wedding, being in charge of the menu will give you some control of the budget.

What do the bride's parents traditionally pay for?
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What do the bride’s parents traditionally pay for?

One of the biggest questions about planning awedding comes at the intersection of tradition and wedding budgets, and with good reason. The topic of money can be touchy, and no one wants to inadvertently offend.

Traditionally, the breakdown of expenses was very clear: The brides family paid for the grooms ring, engagement party, the wedding and reception, a brunch the next day, and a belated reception (if there was one). The grooms family financed the rehearsal dinner, the officiants fee, marriage license, and the groom paid for the brides engagement and wedding rings and honeymoon. The bride—lucky lady—just showed up for it all.

As a reference, below is a list of the traditional expenses and responsibilities of the brides and grooms families, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and even the wedding guests. Keep in mind that these days, all of the following guidelines for family expenses are variable—depending on the particular circumstances of the wedding. Often, expenses are shared by the couple and their families, so assign the responsibilities to fit your circumstances.

  • Traditional Expenses of the Bride & Her Family. Services of a wedding consultant
  • Invitations, enclosures, and announcements
  • The brides wedding gown and accessories
  • Floral decorations for the ceremony and reception, bridesmaids flowers
  • The brides bouquet (unless it is customary for the groom to pay for it)
  • Tent, awning, aisle runner
  • Music for church and reception
  • Transportation of bridal party to ceremony and to reception
  • All reception expenses
  • Services of a traffic officer or security, if necessary
  • Photographer, wedding photographs, wedding albums
  • Videographer and finished DVD
  • Transportation and lodging expenses for the officiant if from another town and if invited to officiate by the brides family
  • Accommodations for brides attendants
  • Bridesmaids luncheon, if hosted by the bride or her family
  • Brides gifts to her attendants
  • Brides gift to groom
  • Grooms wedding ring

Why does the bride pay for the wedding in India?

This is a traditional practice, where in good olden times, the grooms family used to visit the brides village and the brides family taks care of their hospitality and pays for the whole marriage. After the marriage, the bride goes along with the groom and his family and is the part of the new family from then.

Which family traditionally pays for wedding?
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Which family traditionally pays for wedding?

  • Traditionally, the brides family pays for the wedding, but that custom is rapidly changing.
  • Couples are increasingly choosing to handle at least half of the wedding expenses on their own.
  • Early planning and a written budget can help avoid miscommunication when deciding who pays for what.
  • Establishing a joint account for wedding funds can be a good move for couples.
  • Different cultures and family traditions play a factor into who pays for a wedding, so customs are often different from one couple to the next.

What Traditional Wedding Etiquette Says About Who Pays. Customarily, the norm, at least in the United States, has been for the brides family to cover wedding expenses. This tradition of the brides family paying for the bulk of a wedding comes from the tradition of a dowry. This ancient custom dating back to the Roman Empire was a gesture from the brides family to offset the cost of her living expenses.

The notion of the brides family paying for the wedding evolved from the tradition of a dowry, where the brides family transferred property or money to the husband or husbands family upon marriage, says Cynthia Meyer, a certified financial planner at Real Life Planning in the greater New York area.

Do Indian parents pay for a wedding?
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Do Indian parents pay for a wedding?

  • The brides family is expected to provide all the supplies for the wedding and pay for all costs associated with it
  • Dowry is given by the brides family to the grooms family, traditionally in cash or property
  • A ceremonial bath called sindoor is applied to both the groom and bride by their respective parents
  • The groom wears a mangalsutra (a necklace) given by his wife as a symbol of marriage

Indian Wedding Reception Traditions and Rituals. Indian weddings are a time of celebration and joy, and it is also when the bride and groom are showered with love by their friends and family. The rituals of an Indian wedding reception vary from region to region, but some commonalities can be found in all areas.

In most parts of India, the bride is generally not allowed to see her groom before the wedding ceremony; this tradition is called Kanya Daan (giving away the daughter).

What parents pay for wedding?
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What parents pay for wedding?

  • Reception. The bride and her family pay for all professional services, including food, flower arrangements and decorations.
  • The grooms family pays for the DJ or band and liquor.
  • Wedding Rings. The bride and/or her family pay for the grooms ring.
  • The groom and/or his family pay for both of the brides rings.

Stationery. The bride and her family pay for invitations, announcements and wedding programs.;

Which family pays for an Indian wedding?
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Which family pays for an Indian wedding?

After the date and time have been set, its time to send out the wedding invitations. In the old custom, the brides family pays for the wedding costs. In this case, the brides side would be in charge of coming up with the guest list and sending out the invitations.

Today, the wedding is a celebration for both brides and grooms families. Both sides will hand out invitations to their own guest list. Just like in American culture, it is customary to send out the invitations either by hand or through the mail.

The invitation suite often includes a list of all events that will take place during the wedding celebrations, similar to a wedding program, but more comprehensive and spanning multiple days.

Most weddings usually start their festivities with a religious ceremony at home or in a place of religious procession (a temple or gurudwara). “Puja” (Hinduism) or “Path” (Sikhism) means prayer offerings, and are often made to Lord Ganesh, the god of wisdom and salvation, and Lord Vruna, the god of Water.

Do Indian brides pay dowry?

Paying and accepting dowry is a centuries-old tradition in South Asia where the brides parents gift cash, clothes and jewellery to the grooms family. Even though the practice has been illegal in India since 1961, it continues to thrive and leaves women vulnerable to domestic violence and even death.

Do parents pay for son's wedding?
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Do parents pay for son’s wedding?

If you are following the rules of tradition, the brides family is expected to bear the brunt of the expenses including the wedding dress, bridesmaids gifts, the wedding planner or coordinator, the invitations, the flowers, the reception, photography, the grooms wedding ring, music, any pre-wedding day meals for the wedding party and transportation and lodging for the brides family and bridesmaids, as well as transportation for wedding guests, if needed. The grooms family is traditionally responsible for the brides engagement ring and wedding ring(s), all groom attire, groomsmen gifts, boutonnières and corsages for appropriate wedding party and family members, the officiants fee, the marriage license, rehearsal dinner costs and transportation and lodging for the grooms family and groomsmen.

If the two of you would like your parents assistance, keep these tips in mind.

Start the Dialogue Early. Have a heart-to-heart conversation about the wedding and ask them outright: “How do you feel about contributing to the wedding?” or How would you want to be a part of wedding planning?” This is clear and polite. Be mindful of their own financial situation—the last thing you want to do is have your parents take on an undue financial burden just to fund your dream wedding—and definitely dont wait until the last minute when all the bills need to be paid. This should be a long-term conversation that starts early on in the wedding planning process.

Who pays for honeymoon in India?
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Who pays for honeymoon in India?

Traditionally its been the groom or the grooms family that usually pays for the honeymoon.

The reason for this is that it would also traditionally be the brides family that paid for the majority of the wedding. This was a way to make things a little fairer. Back in the day, everyone had their roles on what theyd pay for and everyone stuck to them. No questions asked.

But hello, more modern couples are doing things a little differently.

In reality, there is no correct answer to who pays for the honeymoon. However, from our research, weve found that the funds usually come from one of these 5 sources or a combination of them all.

What are the groom's parents supposed to pay for?
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What are the groom’s parents supposed to pay for?

The brides parents also traditionally hosted the engagement party, while some maids of honor cover the cost of the bridal shower. (Or any person, really, besides the couple themselves.) The grooms family traditionally paid for all costs associated with the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon, wedding day transportation, and the officiant. The groom paid for the brides engagement ring, wedding ring, and groomsmen gifts. It is also common for the grooms family to pay for the alcohol at the reception. Yet its important to remember this adage from Emily Posts Wedding Etiquette guide: “Traditions make weddings special, and a spending plan should be something that facilitates these traditions, not a burden to be held against an old and outdated standard.”

  • The grooms wedding ring
  • Bridesmaids lunch or party
  • Accommodations for the bridal party (if a bridesmaid is coming from out of town)
  • Wedding party gifts
  • Invitations and announcements
  • Wedding gown and accessories
  • Floral arrangments and corsages
  • Ceremony arrangments
  • The reception party and vendors, like food
  • Necessary transportation
  • Wedding photographer/videographer
Why do the wife's parents pay for the wedding?
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Why do the wife’s parents pay for the wedding?

Consider who traditionally pays for the wedding. Traditionally, the brides family assumed most of the financial costs associated with a wedding, including the wedding planner, invitations, dress, ceremony, reception, flowers, photography, and music. “Its harder to think about this now, and I am a feminist, but historically it has to do with the ancient practice of a brides family giving a dowry to the grooms for assuming the ‘burden of a bride,” Post says.

The brides parents also traditionally hosted the engagement party, while some maids of honor cover the cost of the bridal shower. (Or any person, really, besides the couple themselves.) The grooms family traditionally paid for all costs associated with the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon, wedding day transportation, and the officiant. The groom paid for the brides engagement ring, wedding ring, and groomsmen gifts. It is also common for the grooms family to pay for the alcohol at the reception. Yet its important to remember this adage from Emily Posts Wedding Etiquette guide: “Traditions make weddings special, and a spending plan should be something that facilitates these traditions, not a burden to be held against an old and outdated standard.”

  • The grooms wedding ring
  • Bridesmaids lunch or party
  • Accommodations for the bridal party (if a bridesmaid is coming from out of town)
  • Wedding party gifts

📹 Indian Wedding Baraats 101: Everything You Need To Know About Traditions And Customs

If you’re planning an Indian wedding or just interested in learning more about South Asian wedding traditions, this video is for you.


Who Traditionally Pays For An Indian Wedding
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Christina Kohler

As an enthusiastic wedding planner, my goal is to furnish couples with indelible recollections of their momentous occasion. After more than ten years of experience in the field, I ensure that each wedding I coordinate is unique and characterized by my meticulous attention to detail, creativity, and a personal touch. I delight in materializing aspirations, guaranteeing that every occasion is as singular and enchanted as the love narrative it commemorates. Together, we can transform your wedding day into an unforgettable occasion that you will always remember fondly.

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