Wedding Etiquette-Who Pays for What?

Working out a budget for your wedding is top priority and should be discussed as soon as the date is set. You need to decide if you want a formal or informal ceremony or something in between. This factor will play a part in the cost, of course. Tradition has set that the father of the bride should bear the burden of the wedding ceremony while the groom’s family foots the bill for the reception. However in today’s world, there are no longer hard and fast rules of who pays for what, but there are some general guidelines that may help you decide how to divide expenses.

Traditionally the bride’s family will purchase the wedding gown, headpiece and accessories, the groom’s wedding band, a gift for the groom, groomsmen gifts, wedding cake, wedding favors, rice bags, bridesmaid luncheon, wedding breakfast, bridesmaids gowns, formal wear for bride’s parents, groom’s boutineer, and decor for the wedding ceremony.

While the following are some of the traditional responsibilities of the groom and his family. Groom’s tuxedo, groomsmen tuxedo rentals, formal wear for groom’s parents, wedding gift for bride, and bridesmaids, bride and bridesmaids bouquets,ceremony and reception flowers and a very important one-the marriage license.

This is a basic start, but in the end, it’s whatever the two of you decide you want to invest in your special day!!

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