Who Traditionally Pays For What In A Wedding?

The bride’s family traditionally pays for the majority of wedding-related expenses, including the engagement party, venue, catering, music, attire, and accessories. However, this custom is rapidly changing as couples increasingly choose to handle at least half of the wedding expenses on their own. In Mexican culture, weddings are generally paid for by sponsors or Los Padrinos.

In a traditional wedding, the bride’s family covers most of the expenses, including the engagement party, venue, catering, the bride’s dress, entertainment, and the rest of the wedding day costs. The groom’s family typically pays for extra activities like the rehearsal dinner and the honeymoon, in addition to alcohol at the reception.

The bride’s and groom’s parents cover about $19,000 of the wedding’s expenses in total, or roughly two-thirds of the total. On average, the bride’s parents contribute $12,000, and the groom’s parents $7,000. Only one in ten couples cover the entire cost of the wedding themselves.

The groom’s family would traditionally pay for the groom’s suit and any accessories, such as a tie. According to the WeddingWire Newlywed Report, parents pay for 52% of wedding expenses, while the couple pays for 47%.

In summary, the bride’s family traditionally pays for most wedding-related expenses, including the engagement party, venue, catering, attire, music, and the reception. However, modern couples are increasingly choosing to handle at least half of the wedding expenses on their own.

Who traditionally pays for what at a wedding?

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

Who stereotypically pays for the wedding?

Traditionally, most costs were covered by the brides family, with the grooms family and the groom adding smaller amounts. But not all weddings have a bride and groom—and not all families are able to contribute according to antiquated guidelines. The heteronormative gender roles for who pays for a wedding are changing, says Meyer. They are much more modern and equal, taking into account both families resources, guest lists, expectations, and the wedding location, as well as the resources and wants of the couple. For same-sex couples with either no bride or two brides, the rules are not applicable, adds Meyer: Families must discuss and be open and honest about what is possible for them.

If youre not sure how to work through these questions with your own family, these traditional cost breakdowns can provide a helpful framework for deciding what works for you—and what doesnt.

What the Brides Family Traditionally Pays For. The brides family traditionally pays for the majority of the wedding-related expenses, from the engagement party to the newlyweds getaway car. According to Christin Gomes and Ida Gibson, PhD, of Common Courtesy, these costs have typically included:

Who traditionally pays for the honeymoon?

The question of who pays for the honeymoon has shifted over the years as certain norms and traditions have changed. Traditionally, the grooms family paid for the honeymoon, but like every wedding, no two couples are alike — and neither are their families. The question of who pays for the honeymoon often depends on family relationships, traditions, and, of course, the couples personal preference.

If youre having trouble deciding who pays for the honeymoon and how you should decide which route to take, were here to help. Keep reading to learn more about who pays for the honeymoon and how a honeymoon fund like Hitchd can help make your honeymoon the trip of a lifetime.

For traditional couples. Traditional couples tend to style their weddings as maybe their parents or grandparents once did. They have never lived together, and they may be still living at home with their respective parents. They might also come from religious backgrounds that frown upon couples living together before marriage. When they do marry, they may move in with one or the others parents and save money before buying their own home.

What does the father of the bride traditionally pay for?

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.

Why does the bride’s family pay for everything?

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.

Though this rule isnt set in stone, its one that many couples have chosen to follow over the centuries. The grooms family, meanwhile, has traditionally picked up the tab for the rehearsal dinner, honeymoon, and/or alcohol for the reception. The groom himself may be expected to pay for a variety of expenses, including:

• Engagement and wedding rings
• Marriage license and officiant
• Groomsmens gifts
• Wedding day gift for the bride
• Corsages, boutonnieres, and the brides bouquet

Is it tradition for the groom’s parents to pay for the honeymoon?

The question of who pays for the honeymoon has shifted over the years as certain norms and traditions have changed. Traditionally, the grooms family paid for the honeymoon, but like every wedding, no two couples are alike — and neither are their families. The question of who pays for the honeymoon often depends on family relationships, traditions, and, of course, the couples personal preference.

If youre having trouble deciding who pays for the honeymoon and how you should decide which route to take, were here to help. Keep reading to learn more about who pays for the honeymoon and how a honeymoon fund like Hitchd can help make your honeymoon the trip of a lifetime.

For traditional couples. Traditional couples tend to style their weddings as maybe their parents or grandparents once did. They have never lived together, and they may be still living at home with their respective parents. They might also come from religious backgrounds that frown upon couples living together before marriage. When they do marry, they may move in with one or the others parents and save money before buying their own home.

What is the groom’s family 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