I Now
Pronounce You Paid In Full:
Who Pays for What During the Wedding Celebrations
There’s no two ways about it: weddings are expensive. Paying for
every detail is enough to drain any family’s financial coffers and –
even worse – leave them wrestling with debt. Especially for new
couples paying their own way during the wedding, the expenses
quickly add up. The following is a traditional guide to dividing
expenses equally and fairly among the four major participants in
planning the four main parts of the wedding celebration: rehearsal
dinner, ceremony, reception, and honeymoon. These are guidelines
more than rules, and are intended to show tradition more than
carved-in-stone etiquette.
The Bride’s Family
There’s a popular misconception among the unmarried of the world
that the bride’s family foots the entire bill. That’s not entirely
true, though unfortunately it may feel that way for the father of
the bride! Traditionally, the bride’s family finances the reception
dinner with all its facets: the food, drink, venue, service staff
(including tips), flower arrangements,
wedding favors, and any
other miscellany. The bride’s family also pays for many of the
necessities leading up to the ceremony: these usually include the
bridal gown, the
wedding invitations and save-the-date reminders, as well as the
engagement and wedding photographs. Finally (!) the wedding ceremony
costs, the photographer and videographer fees, the cost of the ring
bearer and flower girl accessories, the transportation costs and
bridesmaids bouquets are all picked up by the bride’s family.
Honestly… if you’re the parent of a young girl, start saving right
now.
The Bride
Compared to her family, the bride gets off relatively easy. Brides
traditionally pay for the groom’s wedding band,
gifts for
her bridesmaids, the bridesmaids’ luncheon, her blood test fees,
and the wedding day lingerie. In the strictest traditional sense,
the bride should also pay for her out-of-town bridesmaids
accommodations.
The Groom
Okay, guys. Time to pony up. Following the engagement ring (that
two-month’s salary guideline is passé, by the way) you’ve still got
a few things left to buy. You’ll pay for the honeymoon, the marriage
license, and
gifts
for your groomsmen. The gentleman groom, however, also pays for
the bridal bouquet and corsages for your mother and your new
mother-in-law. You’ll also pick up the boutonnieres, ties, and
accessories for the groomsmen, and finally the bride’s wedding ring.
Gifts for the ushers and for your parents go the extra distance to
showing your class. You should also pay the honorarium for the
judge, justice of the peace, or clergyman who officiates the
ceremony, too.
The Groom’s Family
Besides their own attire, the groom’s family is responsible for the
rehearsal dinner and all its details.
The Maid of Honor
Bachelorette parties and
wedding showers are the responsibility of the maid of honor.
This includes all the details, top to bottom.
The Best Man
The best man is master of ceremonies and godfather of the bachelor
party, from the planning to the execution to pouring all the guests
into cabs at the end of the night. It’s a dirty job, but someone’s
got to do it.
The Groomsmen and Bridesmaids
Most of the attire – for example, the tuxedo rental and costs of the
gown – are the responsibility of the individual wedding party
member. They also give a gift to the newlyweds. Groomsmen arriving
from out-of-town are also expected to pay for their accommodations.
My Wedding Favors
has a complete selection of elegant yet inexpensive wedding favors
to fit any taste and style. We also carry a complete selection of
groomsmen and bridesmaids gifts. Visit us online at
www.myweddingfavors.com
to browse our complete catalog.
Enter coupon code TAKE25 to receive $25 off orders over $200.
Dr. Kelly
Carr, Pastor and Author of
Wedding Vow Kit and the
Wedding Rehearsal Genie.
Pastors,
Ministers, and Wedding Officiates try
www.WeddingIncome.com
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