Etiquette - Who Pays for What?
It is traditional for the bride's parents to pay for the wedding reception. They are receiving the groom into their family, hence the father of the bride saying, "I am not losing a daughter, I am gaining a son." The groom also has responsibilities for certain aspects of the day.
Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for:
Newspaper
announcements
Printing
costs
The
bride's clothes and those of her attendants
The
reception: food, drinks, entertainment and decorations
Transport
to the church for bride
The
wedding cake
Traditionally, the groom pays for:
Engagement
and wedding rings
All
fees connected with the church including music, marriage licence
Flowers
for the bride and bridesmaids,buttonholes for himself, best man, ushers
and both fathers
Corsages
for both mothers
Any
flowers in the church
Presents
for bridesmaids, ushers and best man
Bouquet
for mothers to be presented during his speech
The
honeymoon
Car
to the church for himself and best man and car from the church for himself
and the bride
Although the bulk of wedding costs tradtionally falls on the parent's of the bride, no assumptions should be made about who'll be paying for things. Ideally, costs are something that will have been addressed from the beginning, and all parties contributing should be in agreement about wh is paying for what.
Who pays for the bridesmaid's dresses and any special dress requirements for the ushers is a matter of some debate. Traditionally the bridesmaids were provided with a bolt of material from which they made a dress to their own designs. The bride could only dictate the colour, the rest was up to them, allowing them to make dresses that suited them. Modern brides are keen to have things that match and might wish to be more dictatorial. In this case, and particularly if the dresses will not be worn again, the bride or her family should pay.
The groom might choose to pay for waistcoats for his attendants. However, parents might be willing to pay for their children's clothes and older bridesmaids might help out with the costs of their dresses.
It is traditional for the bride's parents to pay for the wedding reception. They are receiving the groom into their family, hence the father of the bride saying, "I am not losing a daughter, I am gaining a son." The groom also has responsibilities for certain aspects of the day.
Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for:
Newspaper
announcementsPrinting
costsThe
bride's clothes and those of her attendantsThe
reception: food, drinks, entertainment and decorationsTransport
to the church for brideThe
wedding cakeTraditionally, the groom pays for:
Engagement
and wedding ringsAll
fees connected with the church including music, marriage licenceFlowers
for the bride and bridesmaids,buttonholes for himself, best man, ushers
and both fathersCorsages
for both mothersAny
flowers in the churchPresents
for bridesmaids, ushers and best manBouquet
for mothers to be presented during his speechThe
honeymoonCar
to the church for himself and best man and car from the church for himself
and the brideAlthough the bulk of wedding costs tradtionally falls on the parent's of the bride, no assumptions should be made about who'll be paying for things. Ideally, costs are something that will have been addressed from the beginning, and all parties contributing should be in agreement about wh is paying for what.
Who pays for the bridesmaid's dresses and any special dress requirements for the ushers is a matter of some debate. Traditionally the bridesmaids were provided with a bolt of material from which they made a dress to their own designs. The bride could only dictate the colour, the rest was up to them, allowing them to make dresses that suited them. Modern brides are keen to have things that match and might wish to be more dictatorial. In this case, and particularly if the dresses will not be worn again, the bride or her family should pay.
The groom might choose to pay for waistcoats for his attendants. However, parents might be willing to pay for their children's clothes and older bridesmaids might help out with the costs of their dresses.
