If you and your future spouse are lucky enough to have family or friends assisting in the wedding planning process and budget, it can be tricky and awkward to determine who is meant to pay or contribute to what. When it comes to money (and weddings!) it’s imperative to be delicate and sensitive, so take a look at this traditional break down of what aspects each person or group might be financially responsible for.
Disclaimer: These are traditional allocations, but by no means do they have to be this way for every couple! Have open, honest conversations with everyone who is apart of your special day to make this process clear and manageable.
The Groom – The groom is usually responsible for:
- Bride’s engagement ring
- Wedding ring
- Gifts for his groomsmen
- Marriage license
- Officiant fee
- Bride’s bouquet
- Corsages & Boutonnieres for close family members (such as the mother of the bride, the mother of the groom, grandparents, etc.)
- Alcohol for the reception
- Reception entertainment
- The honeymoon
Between pre and post-wedding day costs, the groom should expect to pay about $10,000, but this can vary greatly depending on the ring and honeymoon cost, or if the couple has registered for a “honeyfund”.
The Bride – The bride is generally on the hook for:
- Groom’s wedding ring
- Gifts for her bridesmaids
- Thank you cards
The bride should expect to spend about $2,000 – $5,000 on the wedding, depending on how many bridesmaids she has and the cost of the groom’s wedding ring.
The Groom’s Family – The parents of the groom are traditionally responsible for:
- Lodging costs for the officiant and out-of-town guests (usually just close family)
- The rehearsal dinner
On average, this comes out to between $2,000 – $5,000 (depending on the scale of the rehearsal dinner).
The Bride’s Family – The parents of the bride are traditionally responsible for:
- Engagement party
- Wedding invitations
- Bride’s gown and accessories
- Any necessary day-of transportation costs
- Venue fee
- Catering
- Photographers
- Flowers (for both the ceremony and the reception, with the exception of the bride’s bouquet)
This amount can vary greatly, but the portion paid for by the bride’s family in an average wedding is around $20,000. Pro tip: Because the bride’s family pays for the bulk of the wedding, they are honored by having their names listed first on the invitation. Not sure about the proper invitation wording etiquette? Check out more information on that topic in our Wedding Invitation Wording Tips & Etiquette blog post.
The Best Man and Groomsmen – The groom’s party chip in to cover the costs for:
- The groom’s shower
- Their attire for the wedding day
- The bachelor party
- The groom’s gift.
If you’re asked to be a groomsman, prepare to spend around $1,000 on the entire wedding and events, more if you’re the best man.
The Maid (or Matron) of Honor and Bridesmaids – The bride’s party pays for:
- The bridal shower
- Their attire for the wedding day
- The bachelorette party
- The bride’s gift
If you’re a bridesmaid, prepare to spend around $1,000 on the entire wedding and events, more if you’re the maid of honor. Pro tip: If the bride is requesting specific or costly makeup, hair or accessories, she should consider fronting some or all of that cost for her bridesmaids. To keep the costs down for everyone, the bride could consider the mix and match bridesmaid dress trend, which lets each woman select a dress in her price range.
Weddings are expensive for everyone involved, and the happy couple can often feel uncomfortable discussing the budget and expectations with family and friends. With a lot of communication and most likely a little compromise, your family, friends and guests will enjoy a beautiful day celebrating your love!
Erika focuses on email marketing, copywriting and merchandising at Zazzle, but she has a secret obsession with all things wedding! During the week you can find her writing punny subject lines while also pinning the latest wedding trends, and outside of the 9-5, she is usually cheering on the San Jose Sharks, reading a good murder mystery, or hunting for the best Philly Cheesesteak in the Bay Area.
