Who Pays for What?

Although, generally speaking, modern weddings no longer have strict rules as to who pays for what, the traditions of yesteryear were clearly defined. For hundreds of years it was not only expected that the bride’s family pays for her dowry, but most of the marriage costs. If your family is particularly traditional, or if you’d simply like an insight into how this tricky business of working out who pays for what, we’ve compiled a breakdown of costs for a traditional wedding.

When planning how to structure your wedding payments, it is absolutely imperative that you have a frank discussion with your partner and respective families about your budget specifics. Most commonly today, both families will either split all costs 50/50, or the bride and groom will pay for their wedding themselves, and each pay 50%. And however you structure your payment, remember that the person who will care most about your wedding and all its details is you- so remember to try take as relaxed an apporach as possible, and to cut yourself a bit of slack!

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The Bride:

•  Groom’s wedding ring
•  Gifts for the groom and bridal attendants.

The Groom:

• The bride’s engagement and wedding ring.
• A wedding gift for the bride. 
• Gifts for the best man and groomsmen.
• Suit hire for himself
• Bride’s & bridesmaid’s bouquets, the corsages & boutonnieres.
• Celebrant & ceremony fees
• The honeymoon

The Bride’s Family:

• Engagement party
• Newspaper announcement
• The Reception
• Bridal Gown & accessories
• A wedding gift for the bride and groom.
• Wedding invitations
• Ceremony & Reception flowers
• Wedding Photographer
• Wedding cake

The Groom’s Family:

•  Wedding gift for the bride and groom.
•  Any general expenses they may wish to contribute.

The Attendants:

•  Wedding gift for bride and groom.
•  Hens night given by maid of honour or bridesmaids.
•  Bucks night given by best man or groomsmen.

The Bride and Groom:

•  Gifts of appreciation for parents or others who helped with your wedding.