Let’s Get Married! Now, Who’s Paying for This?

So, you’ve just ask the love of your life to marry you. She’s the perfect catch: smart, sassy, sexy and full of spirit. You have given her the engagement ring you agonized over, and maybe broke the bank over, too. The two of you have agreed on the date, the church, the hotel reception room and the dream honeymoon location. Or, more likely, you’ve nodded your head yes as her euphoria keeps her up night planning the big day.

Now your fiancée is spending hours on the phone, promising to invite everyone from her third cousin to the Starbucks girl who makes her vente latte with light foam everyday. Then it hits you. Who is going to pay for all of this?

Now, situations can vary widely on who pays for what. Financial status of the groom, the bride, the parents, etc., can all play a role. For example, Donald Trump should be paying for his own wedding, and not following the traditional path of letting the parents of his model fiancee foot the bill. For an older couple that’s financially secure, picking up the check is also common. But for the sake of this article, let’s stick to when tradition dictates who pays for what at the wedding.

Ceremony and Reception: The most common financial tradition people are familiar with is the bride’s family paying for the wedding. Why do you think so many fathers cry on their daughter’s wedding day? Of course the father is filled with emotion over his little girl’s big day, but just wait until he gets the bill for the open bar. On the groom’s side, it’s customary for the family to pay for the wedding license and the official’s fee.

Flowers and Photography: The bride and her family take care of flower arrangements for the location of the ceremony and at the reception. They are also responsible for bouquets and corsages worn by the bridesmaids. The groom’s side handles the bride’s bouquet, boutonnieres for the men and corsages for mothers and grandmothers. Photography and video falls on the bride’s side.

Rings and Clothes: You’ve already got the engagement ring, so there are two rings to go. This is a simple switch. Bride’s family pays for the groom’s ring and vice versa. When it comes to dressing for the wedding, keeping track of this one is easy. Everyone pays for themselves. Bride’s family covers the wedding dress plus accessories, while the groom pays for his own outfit. Bridesmaids and groomsmen pay for their own clothing.

Honeymoon: Now the real fun begins! This is the time when you hope your parents hit it big in the stock market because it can make the difference between honeymooning in Maui or Michigan. This responsibility lies with the groom’s family.