In the 21st Century the rules have changed from the olden days on who pays for what.

The bride’s family used to take most of the responsibility for the costs, the rest were covered by the groom. Today, it is a little different. Most couples want the perfect wedding with no expense spared and they are prepared to contribute jointly towards this, as they would for, say, a birthday or engagement party. The groom’s family are often prepared to pay a major portion towards the cost. The budget should be set by the bride and groom on the announcement of their wedding and both sets of parents should be involved in talking about the finer details, without being over optimistic on what each party can afford.
Here are some basic guidelines for the expenses which have been traditionally met by each of the major participants, but your own expectations could be slightly different.

THE BRIDE’S FAMILY/ THE BRIDE

• Press announcements
• Printing of Invitations
• Order of wedding service
• Place Cards
• Menu
• Thank you notes
• Hen Party
• Flowers for the Church and reception
• Photographs/ Videography/ Albums
• The bride’s dress and accessories
• The bridesmaids & flower-girls dresses and accessories.
• Transport for the bride’s family to the church and for the bride’s parents to the reception.
• Hire costs for the reception
• Catering
• Décor
• Wedding co-ordinator
• The cake
• The groom’s ring
• A gift for the groom

THE GROOM’S FAMILY/ THE GROOM

• Engagement and wedding ring
• Flowers for the bride and attendants
• Buttonholes for the men in the retinue
• Corsages for the two mothers
• Presents for he best man and attendants
• Stag party
• Transport for himself and the best man to the church
• Transport for himself and the bride to the reception and to the honeymoon
• Legal costs
• Church costs i.e. minister’s fee, choir, organist, bell ringers, etc
• The drinks
• The men’s retinue attire
• Bridesmaid’s presents
• A gift for the bride

THE BEST MAN

• His own clothes for the wedding

WHO DOES WHAT?

Initially the bride works out with her groom the format for the event. After the general plan is worked out, the families get together with the couple and plan the details together. Each detail should be planned perfectly between the parties concerned.

After which the best man and bridesmaids should be brought in to put the plan into action. If everyone is happy with the plans, this will be a good start for the couple in the future with their married life. The cross-checking, arrangement planning and discussions will make for great success in the future.

Some arrangements will be easier for the bride’s mother; the groom, the bridesmaids or best man. Here is a list for the couple to sort out together:

• What sort of wedding do you want?
• The timing and date of the wedding and reception
• What sort of newspaper announcements, if any?
• The venue for the reception
• The theme for the reception
• The type of reception, i.e. wedding breakfast, cocktails or formal dinner
• The catering, silver service, buffet
• The décor
• The music for the service, reception and party
• How many in the retinue?
• What will the retinue wear?
• The type of flowers for the church, reception, bouquets, buttonholes
• The guest list
• The cake
• The bridal registry list
• Gifts for the bridesmaids and attendants
• The stationery
• The videography, photography
• Rings: what style and design?
• Stag & Hen parties
• Transport for the retinue to the Church and reception
• The honeymoon

Femme Bride