Wedding Expenses: The Traditional Division

Traditionally, who pays for what?

As a reference, below is a list of the traditional expenses and responsibilities of the bride's and groom's families, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and even the wedding guests. Keep in mind that these days, all of the following guidelines for family expenses are variable—depending on the particular circumstances of the wedding. Often, expenses are shared by the couple and their families, so assign the responsibilities to fit your circumstances.

Traditional Expenses of the Bride and Her Family

• Services of a wedding consultant
• Invitations, enclosures, and announcements
• The bride’s wedding gown and accessories
• Floral decorations for the ceremony and reception, bridesmaids’ flowers
• The bride’s bouquet (unless it is customary for the groom to pay for it)
• Tent, awning, aisle runner
• Music for church and reception
• Transportation of bridal party to ceremony and to reception
• All reception expenses
• Services of a traffic officer or security, if necessary
• Photographer, wedding photographs, wedding albums
• Videographer and finished DVD
• Transportation and lodging expenses for the officiant if from another town and if invited to officiate by the bride’s family
• Accommodations for bride's attendants
• Bridesmaids’ luncheon, if hosted by the bride or her family
• Bride’s gifts to her attendants
• Bride’s gift to groom
• Groom’s wedding ring

Traditional Expenses of the Groom and His Family

• Bride’s engagement and wedding rings
• Groom's attire
• Ties and gloves for the groomsmen, if not part of their clothing rental package
• Accommodations for the groom’s attendants
• Accommodations for the groom's parents and siblings
• Bachelor dinner, if the groom wishes to give one
• All costs for the rehearsal dinner
• Officiant's fee or donation
• Transportation and lodging expenses for the officiant, if from another town and if invited to officiate by the groom’s family
• The marriage license
• Transportation for the groom and best man to the ceremony
• The bride’s bouquet (when it is local custom for the groom to pay for it)
• The bride’s going away corsage, if wearing one
• Boutonnieres for groom’s attendants
• Corsages for immediate members of both families (unless the bride has included them in her florist’s order)
• The officiant’s fee or donation
• Groom’s gift to bride
• Gifts for groom’s attendants
• Honeymoon expenses

Maid of Honor's/Bridesmaids’ Expenses

• Purchase of apparel and all accessories
• Transportation to and from the wedding location
• A contribution to a gift from all the bridesmaids to the bride
• An individual gift or a group gift from the attendants to the couple (if being in the wedding is not the gift)
• Optionally, a shower, luncheon, or bachelorette party for the bride

Best Man’s/Groomsmen’s/Ushers’ Expenses

• Rental or purchase of wedding attire
• Transportation to and from the wedding location
• A bachelor dinner, if given by the groom’s attendants
• A contribution to a gift from all the groomsmen to the groom
• An individual gift or a group gift from the attendants to the couple (if being in the wedding is not the gift)

Guests’ Expenses

• Transportation to and from the wedding
• Lodging expenses and meals
• Wedding gift