Wedding Budgeting and Etiquette Basics

Weddings are, by and large, social events, which have certain expectations on etiquette, especially when it comes to financial responsibilities. Questions like, who will pay for the SLC, UT wedding venue? Who will cover the entourage’s clothes? These are based on culture, as well as your beliefs and preferences as individuals. These financial etiquette basics can serve as your guideline to help you decide how to go about your wedding planning.

Financial responsibilities

Traditionally, the bride’s parents, especially the father pays for everything, including the gowns, the wedding location, the reception and so on. Now, in modern times, the bride, the groom and their respective families are expected to pay for specific items needed for the wedding. However, in more modern times, some brides and grooms have amended these to suit their personalities. For instance, some couples decide to shoulder all the expenses.

Below are some of the usual financial responsibilities. These may vary, depending on culture/traditions:

The Groom: The groom is usually expected to pay for the engagement ring (unless his mother passes on a family heirloom such as her own engagement ring), the wedding ring for the bride, the expenses to get the marriage license, the male entourage’s gifts, accessories and accommodations, the honeymoon, the flowers for the entourage and the fee/honorarium for the officiant.

The Bride. The bride usually pays for the female entourage’s accessories/gifts and accommodations, as well as the wedding ring and gift for the groom.

The groom’s family. The groom’s family will pay for the wedding clothes, lodging and travel expenses (where applicable) and for the wedding gift for the couple. The groom’s family will also host the rehearsal dinner.

The bride’s family. The bride’s family, on the other hand, will cover the expenses for the wedding gown and trousseau, the printed materials (i.e. invitation and mailing costs), the reception (including rental of the wedding reception location), as well as for the videographer, photographer and other costs related to the ceremony. The bride’s family will also hold the bridesmaids’ luncheon.

The entourage. The best man, maid of honor, groom’s man and brides’ maid typically shell out for their own clothes and travel expenses, and expenses for hosting a stag or hen party. The attendants typically also provide one gift for the bachelor/bachelorette party and one wedding gift. However, some couples decide to pay for the entourage’s outfits and accessories as part of their gift to their attendants.

With regards to financial responsibilities of the groom, the bride and their respective families, tradition has varied so that the families may sit down together and decide on how they will handle wedding expenses. For instance, the families of the bride and groom may decide to foot half of the set budget each. This is particularly true if the families are on equal footing, financially. If one family can also afford to contribute more, it is now okay for them to contribute a larger percentage of the wedding budget. Or, the families may decide to cover the wedding expenses for each guest they want included in the wedding party.

The important thing is that each one involved in the wedding understands and agrees to his or her part of the wedding.

 

 

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