Once upon a time, the bride's parents paid the wedding costs - and counted themselves lucky they weren't expected to provide a dowry too! But times and circumstances change. Now, families split wedding costs and planning responsibilities many different ways. Here's the traditional breakdown of wedding costs for parents, although
there are several very common alternatives.
The Traditional Split
The bride’s family paid for ...
- All stationery-related items, including wedding invitations, save-the date cards, programs and placecards;
- Bouquets for the bridal party, flowers for the wedding and reception;
- The groom's ring;
- Gifts for the bride's attendants;
- Photographer and/or videographer;
- The wedding reception, including caterer, bar, music, favors and both the wedding and reception venue.
The groom or his family paid for...
- The engagement and wedding rings;
- The minister or rabbi’s fee;
- The rehearsal dinner;
- Gifts for his attendants;
- Boutonnieres for his attendants;
- The honeymoon.
Some wedding consultants suggest that the groom's family also pay for the bride's flowers and the corsages for the mothers and grandmothers. But there are
alternative ways to split all these wedding expenses.
