Who pays for what?

Today’s father and mother of the bride are luckier than those in times past; the modern trend is for the families of both the bride and groom to share in the wedding expenses. Here is a typical way of dividing the payment arrangements.

The bride’s family pays for:

• invitations and all wedding stationery for church and reception
• bride’s and bridesmaids’ dresses and accessories
• flowers for the church and reception
• photographer/videographer
• all reception costs, music, etc. (excluding drinks, barmen and related expenses)
• the wedding cake.

The groom and his family pay for:

• legal expenses
• ceremony expenses (marriage officer’s fee, organist, choir, soloist, tips, etc.)
• the bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets, as well as boutonnieres and corsages for the wedding party
• clothes for himself and best man, if necessary
• gifts for the bridesmaids and best man
• drinks at the reception and related expenses, such as the bartender
• rental of glasses, cutlery, etc.
• transport of the bride to the church and reception
• accommodation for the wedding night and for the honeymoon.