The Etiquette and Tradition of Paying for the Wedding

Tradition has it that the parent's of the bride paid for their daughter's wedding, in return for which they were able to increase their family with the addition of a young man. However, with the average cost of a wedding today being in the region of £12,000 it is clearly impossible for the bride's family to pay for the whole thing any more - if indeed they ever did.

When it comes to paying for the wedding, tradition can offer us guidelines which help to split the responsibilities, although obviously the financial means of each family and of the couple have to be considered when dividing the costs.

The following is an indication of who traditionally pays for what:
The Groom
	engagement ring
	wedding ring
	marriage license
	church or venue fees
	formal dress for men in wedding party
	flowers for wedding party
	flowers for wedding venue and reception
	presents for attendants
	transport to and from wedding venue
	honeymoon
The Bride's Family
	all aspects of the the wedding reception
	announcements in the press
	stationery and printing costs
	the brides dress and accessories
	the bridesmaids' dresses and accessories
	bride's transport to wedding venue
	the wedding cake
Today's reality, however, is that the costs incurred by the Groom tend to be shared between the couple and the costs traditionally borne by the bride's family are shared between themselves and the groom's family.

For a typical breakdown of the costs involved, look here