Traditionally, the Bride’s parents have footed the bill for the bulk of the wedding expenditure, but recently things have changed - partly due to trend, partly due to changing family dynamics, and partly due to the increase in cost.
Depending on which source you get your information from, you will find that what everybody is responsible for paying for in 21st Century Britain can vary a great deal.
Outlined below, we detail what each party is traditionally responsible for paying for plus a couple of other options which you may find useful.
|
ITEM/ACTIVITY |
OPTION 1
TRADITIONAL |
OPTION 2
MODERN |
OPTION 3
ULTRA MODERN |
|
Engagement Ring |
Groom |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
|
Engagement Party & invites |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Engagement announcement in newspaper |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Wedding Insurance |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Flowers for the Service |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Flowers for the Reception |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Reception Venue |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Reception Meal & Drinks |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Evening Reception Venue |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Evening Reception Meals & Drinks |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Bride’s Outfit |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
All Stationery excluding Thank-You Cards |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Thank-You Cards |
Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
|
Transport for Bride, Father of the Bride, Mother of the Bride & Bridesmaids to the Service |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Transport for Father & Mother of the Bride, Best Man, & Bridesmaids to the Reception |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Photography |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Videography |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Wedding Cake |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Overnight accommodation for Bride’s Family if required |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Wedding Favours |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Day Entertainment |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Evening Entertainment |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Groom’s Parents |
|
Corsages & Buttonholes |
Groom |
Groom’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Bride’s Bouquet |
Groom |
Groom’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Wedding Rehearsal expenses |
Groom’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Bridesmaid’s Outfits |
Bridesmaids |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Usher & Best Man’s Outfits |
Ushers & Best Man |
Groom’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Groom’s Outfit |
Groom |
Groom's Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Day Balloons & Decorations |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Evening Balloons & Decorations |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Transport for the Groom & Best Man to the Service |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Transport for the Bride and Groom to the Reception |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Overnight accommodation for Groom’s Family if required |
Groom’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
Groom’s Family |
|
Overnight accommodation for the Bride & Groom if required |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
|
Gift for the Groom |
Bride |
Bride |
Bride |
|
Groom’s Wedding Ring |
Bride |
Bride |
Bride |
|
Bride’s Hen Night Costs |
Attendants |
Bride |
Bride |
|
Hair & Beauty Treatment |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
Bride’s Family |
|
Gift for the Bride |
Groom |
Groom |
Groom |
|
Bride’s Wedding Ring |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
|
Groom’s Stag Night Costs |
Attendants |
Groom |
Groom |
|
Gifts for Bridesmaids |
Bride |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
|
Gifts for Ushers and Best Man |
Groom |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
|
Honeymoon |
Groom |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
|
All Church or Registrar Fees |
Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
|
Gifts for the Father & Mother of the Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
Bride & Groom |
The Traditional method as outlined in the table sees the majority of the expense being paid for by the Bride’s Family. The Groom is responsible for a reasonable amount of the purchases with the Bride, Groom’s Parents, Bride & Groom and even the Best Man, Bridesmaids and Usher’s footing some of the bill.
In modern times, it is common for the bills to be spread more evenly. The Bride’s Parents still cover the majority, albeit a reduced one. The Groom still has his core purchases to make although some are now paid for by his family whilst, in this time of equality, others are shared with the Bride. The remainder of the Wedding Party now rarely foots any of the bill, and overall the whole expenditure seems a little more balanced.
On an ultra-modern front, although still in its infancy, is the situation where responsibilities are broadly the same as those outlined in a ‘modern’ funded wedding, with the difference being that the Groom’s Parents take ownership for paying for the Evening Reception (assuming that there is to be one!) and its associated costs. This is becoming more common and can help to balance the lop-sided parental contributions somewhat as well as helping to involve both families.
If you do decide to allocate responsibility for paying for specific goods and services, then please remember that whilst the detail outlined in the table may be a good place to start, it need not be the finished article and you are welcome to allocate the budgeting in the most appropriate manner. In fact, we wholly recommend that if you are opting for an allocated budget that you sit down and discuss the options with all parties who have offered to contribute before determining the final allocations.
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Recommended Reading
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