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who pays for what

This entry was posted on Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 3:22 pm and is filed under Money Matters.

It is perfectly acceptable for the grooms parents to help bear some of the financial burden and in fact is becoming the norm. The bride and groom themselves will also help. Work out how much you and your family can comfortably afford to contribute and start working your budget from there.

Traditional cost breakdowns for a wedding are:-

The brides parents pay for:
• Announcements
• Stationary(including invitations, postage), Order of Service Booklets, napkins, place cards, cake boxes etc
• Clothing including the bride’s dress and accessories (not the bouquet), dresses for the bridesmaids.
• Cars and transport for the bride`s side of the family and her bridesmaids, both to the church and the reception.
• Floral decoration for the church and the reception
• Any costs associated with the music in the church and at the reception.
• Photography and videos
• Chauffeurs
• The reception venue, food, caterers, wedding cake, catering staff.

The groom`s parents pay for:
• The drinks at the reception and any associated costs like glasses & ice etc.

The groom pays for:
• The engagement ring
• Stag night
• Bride`s wedding ring
• Buttonholes for the best man and both fathers, corsages for both mothers, flowers for the bride and her bridesmaids.
• Church or civil wedding fees.
• Any legal costs including the marriage licence.
• Hire of clothes for himself, the best man and the ushers, although to bride, best man and attendants` gifts.
• The honeymoon and all associated costs.

The Bride pays for:
• The groom`s wedding ring
• Accommodation the bridesmaids (if they live some distance from the wedding venue).
• The bridesmaids dresses (if they are a style that they are unlikely to wear again).
• The bridesmaid`s presents
• Her wedding dress and going away outfit.

The Bridesmaids pay for:
• Their dresses (if the Bride isn’t paying for them)

The Best Man, Groomsmen and Ushers pay for:
• Their suit hire