Wedding Check List - Who Pays for What

As the section below indicates, it is customary for the bride's family to bear the majority of the wedding expenses, but circumstances can dictate other arrangement.

These days it is not uncommon for the bride and groom to bear the brunt of the wedding expenses themselves.

The bride and her family traditionally pay for:

The groom's wedding ring and gift
Invitations, reception cards, and announcements
Bride's wedding gown and accessories
Fee for ceremony location
Flowers for ceremony and reception (including flowers for the attendants)
Housing for bridesmaids
Gifts for bridesmaids
Photography
Music for ceremony and reception
Any rented transportation, such as limousines.
All reception costs (location rental, food, decorations, etc.)

The groom and his family traditionally pay for:

The bride's wedding and engagement rings
Gifts for the bride. Housing for the ushers
Marriage license
Officiant's fee
Bride's bouquet
Bride's going-away corsage (optional)
Mothers' and grandmothers' corsages
Boutonnieres for groom's wedding party
Rehearsal dinner
Honeymoon

The maid/matron of honor and bridesmaids traditionally pay for:

Dress and accessories.
Gift for the couple.
Shower gift.
Contribution to bridal shower
Transportation to and from the wedding.

The best man and ushers traditionally for:

Clothing rental (tuxedo, suit)
Gift for the couple
Contribution to the cost of the bachelor party
Transportation to and from the wedding

Remember, these guidelines are not set in stone. No one will faint or put out a warrant for your arrest if your family, instead of the groom's hosts the rehearsal dinner, or if the groom pays for the photographs. If circumstances require doing things differently, don't let these guidelines stop you.

There are many compromises you can make that will have little or no effect on your or your guests' enjoyment of the day. The goal is to prioritize so you can spend money on what is most important to you, on the things you are most likely to carry with you from that day into the future.

Try to keep things in perspective. Your wedding will be the time of your life because you'll be joined with the one you love, surrounded by friends and family, whether you serve chicken instead of steak is really not all that important.

        A One Year Countdown of What to Do Before Your Wedding
        Who Pays for What
        The Groom's Checklist (Yes Ladies, it has more than, 'Just show up!'

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