In the past, many thought of a bride’s family to pay the majority of the wedding expenses.  Nowadays, the costs of weddings are growing, and with many bride and grooms tying the knot later in life, when they are more likely to have careers and incomes of their own, more bride and grooms are found to contribute or even pick up the entire cost of the wedding. 

When it comes to working out your budget, one of the first steps to be accomplished with planning a wedding, could be a tough conversation to have with your fiancé and family.  Even though the traditional breakdown of who pays for what doesn’t apply necessarily in the present, still looking over the elements these list, can be a good starting point for the discussion of all potential expenses that may go along with your wedding. 

Listed below is a traditional breakdown of all expenses that can be brought up to plan. 

Bride’s Family may pay for: 
-Engagement party (optional) 
-Wedding invitations and other signage (announcements, thank-you notes, etc.) 
-Services of bridal consultant 
-Wedding gown and accessories 
-Flowers for ceremony and reception sites 
-Bouquets for bridesmaids 
-Music 
-Photographer 
-Videographer 
-Reception 
-Bridal party transportation to ceremony and reception 
-Family’s wedding attire 

Groom’s Family may pay for: 
-Engagement party (optional) 
-Rehearsal dinner 
-Their own wedding attire 

Bride may pay for: 
-Groom’s ring 
-Gifts for bridesmaids 
-Wedding gift for groom 

Groom may pay for: 
-Bride’s rings 
-Marriage license 
-Officiant’s fee 
-His formal wear 
-Personal flowers: the bride’s bouquet, boutonnieres for wedding party, corsages for mothers and grandmothers 
-Gifts for groomsmen 
-Wedding gift for bride 
-Gifts for parents 
-Honeymoon 
-Transportation to honeymoon 

Bridal Party may pay for: 
-Bachelor and Bachelorette parties 
-Gifts for bride and groom (individual gifts or chip in for a group gift) 
-Bridal shower 
-Their wedding day attire and accessories 
-Transportation to and from wedding town/city 

Again, this traditional breakdown all depends on the bride and groom’s finances; in which these past traditions of who pays for what, can fall behind. Having this conversation with your fiance and your families early on, will really help you create a budget and stick to it!

-Amanda