Wednesday Wow: Disbursing the wedding receipt

 Disbursing the wedding receipt

Almost seven years later and I am getting ready for my nieces big day. I hope we can walk away with gas money after the wedding day. Setting a budget is one of the most important parts of wedding planning – but before you can figure out how much you can afford to pay for your big day, you’ll need to decide who is paying for what.

Many couples pay for everything themselves. My dad paid for much of the ceremony, and my mom’s brother paid for our wedding cake.  My husband’s family is a Justice Of The Peace’ type family so they didn’t cover anything.

In the end, it’s really up to you to decide what works best for you and your families.

Here is the breakdown of the “traditional” way to divide up the budget – use this as a starting point,but don’t get our feelings hurt by expecting others to pay up.

Bride’s Family
Engagement Party
The Wedding Ceremony – venue, décor, and music
The Wedding Reception
Catering
Music
The bride’s attire
Wedding planner
Flowers (except, in some cases, for bride’s bouquet, men’s boutonnieres, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers)
Stationery – invitations, ceremony programs, etc.
Favors
Photography
Videography
Transportation
Cake
Day-After Brunch (if desired)

Groom’s Family
Rehearsal Dinner
Honeymoon (if desired, often the couple themselves pay)
In some parts of the country, it’s tradition for the groom’s family to pay for the alcohol at the reception

Bride
Bridesmaid Gifts
Groom’s Wedding Band
Hair and Makeup for Herself and Attendants
Wedding-Day Gift for the Groom
Gift for Her Parents

Groom
Marriage license
Officiant
Bride’s Rings (Engagement Ring and Wedding Band)
Groomsmen’s Gifts
Groom’s Attire
Wedding-Day Gift for the Bride
The Bride’s Bouquet, Men’s Boutonnieres, and Mothers’ and Grandmother’s Corsages (this is a very traditional way of doing things – usually the bride’s bouquet and the boutonnieres are paid for by whoever’s handling the total flower budget)
Gift for His Parents
Wedding Night Accommodations

Wedding Party
Their Attire
Their Travel and Accommodations
Wedding Gifts for the Couple
Other Parties – Bachelor/Bachelorette, Bridal Shower, etc.

Parents of Flower Girl/Ring Bearers
Children’s Attire

Again, this list is based on traditional roles, and nowadays, it’s rare for anyone to follow it exactly. I advise all couples to have an open and honest discussion with family members about their roles in the wedding budget. Ready to start planning your wedding budget? Head to The Knot Interactive toolkit to get organized and stay on track!