Your wedding could be the biggest party you ever have and cost more money than you imagined. Fortunately, parents often help with the expense. The groom’s parents have traditional financial responsibilities, but there are no hard and fast rules. Because the financial status of the parents of each groom varies, the parents must determine if they can afford to contribute and how much. Practices vary, regardless of tradition, and the couple or the bride’s parents may play a considerable role in the financing.
Rings
Traditionally, the groom or his parents pay for the bride’s engagement ring and wedding ring, while the bride and her family pay for the groom’s ring.
Flowers
Flowers are an important feature in most weddings and can cost a considerable sum. The groom’s parents pay for the bride’s bouquet and going-away corsage, corsages for the mothers and grandmothers of the couple and boutonnieres for the groom’s men.
Clothes and Accessories
The groom’s parents pay for the groom’s clothes, and ties and gloves for the groom’s attendants, if they are not included in the tuxedo rental. The groom’s father also pays for his clothes if he is the best man.
Ceremony
The betrothed couple or their parents may select the officiant who will marry them. If the groom’s parents choose the officiant, they are responsible for his fees, as well as his lodging and transportation, if he is from out of town. The groom's parents also pay for the marriage license.
Accommodations and Transportation
Parents of the groom secure accommodation, and sometimes transportation, for immediate members of the groom’s family who come from out of town. They arrange transportation to the ceremony and reception for the groom and his best man.
Food and Drink
The groom’s parents plan and host the wedding rehearsal dinner, the groom’s bachelor dinner and some aspects of the reception. Opinions vary about what these aspects should be, but some parents pay for the wine and other alcohol, while others pay for the alcohol and the entertainment.
Honeymoon
The parents of the groom pay for the honeymoon. They may give the couple some money to plan the honeymoon they want or surprise them with a pre-purchased package.
Modern Alternatives
Financing for a wedding takes various forms, regardless of traditional practices. According to Emily Post, up to 70 percent of couples pay for their wedding themselves or share the costs with their parents. Often, each set of parents provides a third of the budget. A meeting with the parents to discuss financing would be helpful for the couple. This way, they know how much they can spend and what each family can handle.
References
Writer Bio
Tina Amo has been writing business-related content since 2006. Her articles appear on various well-known websites. Amo holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in information systems.