Getting Married? Who Pays for the Wedding and Reception?

Here are some practical tips to make organizing weddings easier.

One of the most stressful aspects of weddings is deciding on who pays for the various costs of the wedding. In recent times the tradition of the bride's parents footing the bill has fallen by the wayside, as the costs of the happy event have escalated with the increased expectations of making the day a truly memorable one.

More usual nowadays is for both families to contribute towards the wedding costs. Alternatively, if the happy couple have been working for a while, they may choose to pay the entire cost of the wedding themselves, thereby relieving family members of any guilt and financial pressure.

Realistically, it's up to the bride and groom to have an open discussion with their families and decide on the scale of wedding they want and what their budget is to make that happen.

As a guide, this is what is paid for and who pays for the wedding costs.

The bride and her family pay these costs :

The engagement party.
Any wedding coordinating services charges.
Wedding announcements, invitations, thank you notes and associated postage costs.
The bride's wedding dress, shoes, accessories and bridal bouquet.
Hairstyling and makeup for the bride and her bridesmaids (though bridesmaids often pay for their own).
Wedding photographer and / or videographer and the wedding photo album.
The wedding cake.
The groom's wedding ring.
A gift for the groom.
Bridesmaid's gifts and bomboniere.
Reception venue hire, flowers, decorations and catering.

The groom and his family pay these costs :

The groom's suit, shoes and accessories.
The bride's engagement ring and wedding ring.
A gift for the bride.
Cost of the wedding ceremony venue, music, corsages and flowers.
The marriage celebrant and marriage license.
The wedding cars and guest transport.
Gifts for the groomsmen.
Beverages and entertainment at the reception.
Wedding night accomodation.
The honeymoon.

Bridesmaids are responsible for paying for :

The bridal shower.
Hen's night celebrations.
A wedding gift for the bride and groom.
Their own outfits, accessories, hair and makeup (unless paid for by the bride).

Groomsmen organise and pay for :

The buck's night celebrations.
A wedding gift for the bride and groom.
Their own suits, shoes and accessories.

Once you've decided on who's paying for the wedding you can ENJOY YOUR WEDDING DAY!

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