The Traditional Wedding: Who Pays for What?

Floral Finance®

There are many expenses associated with a wedding. By custom, some fall to the bride or her family others to the groom or his family. Keeping it straight can be a real challenge - even for florists!  Fortunately, Modern Bride Magazine has all the answers. Here's Modern Bride's list of who pays for what:

The Bride

• Wedding ring for the groom.
• Wedding gift for the groom.
• Wedding consultant.
• Presents for the bridal attendants.
• Personal stationery.
• Accommodations for out-of-town maid of honor and bride's attendants.
• Her physical exam/blood tests.

The Groom

• Wedding ring for the bride.
• Wedding gift for the bride.
• The marriage license.
• Gifts for the best man, groomsmen and ushers.
• Bride's bouquet, bride's going-away corsage, mothers' corsages and boutonnieres for all men in the wedding party.
• Accommodations for out-of-town best man, groomsmen and ushers.
• His physical exam/blood tests.
• Fee for the clergy.
• The honeymoon.
• Optional: the bachelor dinner

The Bride's Family

• The engagement party.
• The reception, including the food, wedding cake, beverages, decorations, music, flowers, and gratuities for the bartenders and waiters.
• Wedding gift for the newlyweds.
• Wedding invitations, announcements and mailing costs.
• Bride's wedding attire/trousseau.
• Engagement and wedding photography.
• The ceremony, including rental of the sanctuary; fees for the organist, soloist or choir, and sexton; aisle carpets/runners and/or canopy; music; flowers; and any additional costs for decorations.
• Bridesmaids' bouquets.
• Parking costs, coat-check fees, gratuities for traffic attendants.
• Transportation for the bridal party, both to the wedding ceremony and from the ceremony to the reception.
• Bridesmaids' luncheon.
• Wedding albums.
• Videographer's fee.
• Personalized napkins, matchbooks, and guest towels.

The Groom's Family

• Clothes for the wedding.
• Their travel expenses.
• Wedding gift for the newlyweds.
• The rehearsal dinner and any other expenses they elect to assume.

The Maid of Honor

• Her travel expenses.
• Wedding attire.
• Wedding gift for the newlyweds.

The Best Man

• His travel expenses.
• Wedding attire.
• Wedding gift for the newlyweds.

The Attendants

• Their individual travel expenses.
• Wedding attire.
• Wedding gift for the newlyweds.

The Groomsmen and Ushers

• Their individual travel expenses
• Wedding attire.
• Wedding gift for the newlyweds.

Guests

• Their individual travel expenses.
• Wedding gift for the newlyweds.