Who Pays for What When Planning a Wedding?
Just years back, the bride’s family usually pays for all wedding costs. This is still so with families or societies who traditionally choose to do so. However, more recently, wedding costs are shared between the couples getting married and their families, and sometimes, even friends.
Statistics on How Wedding Expenses Are Shared When Planning a Wedding
Before the statistics are listed, let’s note the main parties that pay for a wedding. In recent times, four parties are mainly responsible for the costs. However, these parties do not equally share the costs, some incur higher costs compared to others. These parties include
The bride’s familyThe groom’s familyThe bride And the groom
Moving on to the statistics, based on research carried out by The WeddingWire Newlywed Report, parents cover 52% of wedding expenses, the couple covers 47%, and other family members take 1%. Another percentage varies from generation to the type of marriage, these have been listed below:
Based on Generation
For weddings of individuals who are part of Generation X, parents cover 20% of the wedding cost, while the couple covers 78%. Couples of the millennial generation pay 42% of the expenses, and parents handle 56%.
Based on Type
For weddings of heterosexual couples, their parents handle about 93% of the cost, and the couple takes care of the rest. Couples who identify as LGBTQIA+ often bear more of the expenses for their wedding. They cover 61%, while their parents pay 37%. Lastly, couples having their second wedding bear most of the cost. They pay 88%, while their parents barely cover 10% of the expenses.
Breakdown of What Each Party Pays for When Planning a Wedding
This breakdown is based on the four parties responsible for the wedding expenses. First, let’s talk about the families, and the top on the list is the bride’s family.
1. Bride’s Family
The bride’s family carries a huge part of the wedding cost. It is not surprising as many years before now, the bride’s family alone covers the expenses. Close your eyes for a second and try to list a wedding checklist, and the bride’s family covers all that? Well, they should be grateful that the story is different now. Today, most of what they pay is connected to the bride, things like:
Bride’s wedding gown and accessoriesA wedding planner (if necessary)Bridesmaids accommodation Transporting the bride and her maidsVenue and decorReception programWedding cake and other catering needsPhoto and video coverage
2. Groom’s Family
Like the bride’s family, the groom’s family caters to things somewhat related to the groom. In some cases, most of the items they take care of are handled by the groom. These include
The rehearsal dinner before the weddingMarriage license (sometimes handled by the groom)The wedding officiant (also sometimes handled by the groom)Band or DJDrinks, most likely alcohol at the reception
3. The Groom
Aside from the items listed above that the groom and groom’s family can handle, there are other unique things the groom handles, like
His outfit for the weddingThe bride’s ring and bandBouquet for the brideWedding gifts for the bride, groomsmen, and parentsHoneymoon (sometimes handled by his parents)
4. The Bride
The bride handles the following:
Her hair and makeupHair and makeup of bridesmaids (if the bride desires a certain look for her train)Groom’s wedding bandGifts for the groom, bridesmaids, and her parents
Any other expenses that have not been stated above are either not taken care of by a specific party. It is either done by other family members or wedding guests. Some of these expenses include engagement party, wedding invitations, individual attire, Bridal Shower, Bachelor/Bachelorette Party, outfits for flower girls and page boy/ring bearer.
Depending on the families and society, sometimes exceptions as to who pays for what can be made considering the financial capacity of the parties involved. What matters at the end of the day is that everything needed for the wedding was provided for or gotten and the couples have a beautiful ceremony.
So, once the “who pays for what” phase has been settled, the rest of the planning is done with so much fun and anticipation.
