Traditional Division of Wedding Expenses

If you have chosen to have a traditional wedding that is completely hosted by the bride's family, there are rules about how to divide the expenses.

The bride and her family pay for:

• Invitations, reception cards, and announcements
• Any fees for the church or other ceremony location
• The total cost of the reception
• The wedding gown and accessories
• Flowers for the ceremony, reception, and attendants
• Music for the ceremony and reception
• Photography
• The groom's wedding ring and gift
• Gifts for the attendants
• Hotel expenses for attendants
• The cost of transportation (carriage or limousine)

The groom and his family pay for: 

• The rehearsal dinner
• The marriage license
• Minister or other officiant's fee
• Bridal bouquet, corsages for mothers and grandmothers, boutonnieres for grooms attendants
• Hotel expenses for groom's attendants
• The bride's wedding and engagement rings and gift
• Honeymoon