Traditional ettique - who pays for what

The bride’s family traditionally pays for

• The engagement and wedding photography and videography

• The engagement party

• The wedding invitations, announcements, and enclosures, including mailing costs

• The bride’s wedding attire and trousseau

• The rental fees for ceremony site

• Incidental ceremony expenses, such as fees for organist, soloist, or sexton

• Ceremony site accessories, such as the aisle runner or canopy

• Transportation for the bridal party to ceremony and to reception

• The entire cost of the reception (site, catering, bar, cake, and music)

• Bouquets or corsages for bridesmaids, honor attendants, and flower girl

• Flowers for ceremony and reception

• Flowers sent to all hostesses who entertain the bride and groom

• Their own wedding attire

• Their own wedding gift to the couple

The groom’s family traditionally pays for

• The rehearsal dinner

• Their own wedding attire

• Their own travel costs and housing

• Their own wedding gift to the couple

• Any other costs, as decided

The bride traditionally pays for

• A wedding gift for the groom

• The groom’s wedding ring

• Her own hair stylist and make-up artist

• Her own medical examination

• Housing for her out-of-town attendants

• Presents for her attendants

• Personal stationery and thank-you notes

• The wedding guest book and other accessories (cake knife, ring bearer pillow, and so on)

Either the bride or her family may pay for

• The services of a bridal consultant

• Boutonnieres for the fathers and grandfathers

• Security arrangements for gifts at home

• A traffic policeman and/or valet parking as needed

• A party for the bridesmaids, if no one else pays for it