Who Pays?

This subject can be a tough one to discuss with family members and is the main cause of arguments between the bridal parties. Once you have set your budget, the next step is to discuss who is responsible for payment. Due to changes in society, it is no longer expected that the bride’s family pay for the majority of the wedding; there are a multitude of family circumstances that dictate otherwise.

A Traditional Wedding

Bride’s Family

• Ceremony – to include the flowers, music, registering of the banns and all other related expenses.
• The Wedding Dress – to include shoes and accessories.
• Bridesmaids Dresses – to include shoes and accessories.
• Transport – for the bride and bridal party.
• Reception – to include the venue, food, beverages, entertainment, cake, and favours.
• Flowers – to include the bouquet, ceremony and reception venue decorations.

Groom’s Family

• Outfits – for the Groom, Best Man and Ushers.
• Travel and Accommodation – for the Groom’s family.
• Buttonholes – for the parents and the men.
• Any additional expenses.

Bride and Groom

• Gifts – for the parents, bridesmaids, ushers and best man.
• Any expenses that have exceeded the budget.
• The honeymoon.

A Modern Wedding

There are several options available in a modern wedding, many families will get together and talk through the costs involved and the contributions that each party will be making. A compromise can usually be found especially in the case of divorced parents.

• The costs could be equally divided between the families.
• The wedding couple may choose to pay for the entire wedding.
• The wedding couple may pay for the majority of the wedding with family members making contributions along the way to pay for specific items.
• There may be a fixed amount that each family party contributes towards the wedding and the wedding couple decided how to spend it.