Dear Bridal Guru,
My fiancée and I are arguing over what each is responsible for in the wedding. Is there a guideline we can follow? Stacy in Senatobia
Dear Stacy,
We don’t want discourse before the first course. Here are some tips for you and your fiancée. Keep in mind, many brides and grooms are flexible with the budget and who pays for what. Some couples do cross the lines and help in payment for the other’s list. The groom may want a particular band and it is above the bride’s budget, so he pays. The bride may want a particular car in which to leave the reception, so she foots the bill. Over-all, here are the traditional expenses for each:
Bride and her Family
- Wedding coordinator/consultant
- Invitations, announcements, save the date, programs and other printed materials
- The bride’s wedding gown, veil, shoes and accessories
- Event Designer
- Rentals for the ceremony and reception
- Floral decorations for the ceremony and reception plus the bridesmaids’ flowers
- Photography
- Videography
- Music for church and reception
- Transportation of bridal party to ceremony, and from ceremony to reception
- Reception: Venue, catering, lighting, floral, décor
- Bridesmaids’ gifts
- Bride’s gift to groom, optional
- The groom’s wedding band
- Fees for church, if required
- A traffic officer, if necessary
- Transportation and lodging expenses for priest or rabbi if from another town and if invited to officiate by bride’s family
- Accommodations for bride’s attendants, if required
- Entertainment, like a photo booth
- Guest favors
- Guestbook or mat for the guests to sign
- Guest bags with food, drink, an itinerary and map for out-of-town guests.
- Bridesmaids’ luncheon, if one is given by the bride
Groom and his Family
- Bride’s engagement ring and wedding band
- Rehearsal Dinner, including venue, catering, flowers and event design, rentals
- Honeymoon
- Marriage license
- Groom’s gift to bride, optional
- Gifts for the groom’s attendants
- Accommodations for groom’s attendants, if required
- Boutonnieres for the groom’s attendants
- Ties and gloves for the groom’s attendants, if not part of their clothing rental package
- Bride’s bouquet
- Bride’s going-away corsage, optional
- Mothers’ corsages or bouquets (bride may pay for this sometimes)
- Officiant’s fee or donation
- Transportation for the groom and best man to the ceremony
- Transportation from the reception to the honeymoon suite or leaving the reception
- Transportation and lodging expenses for the minister or rabbi if from another town and if invited to officiate by the groom’s family
- Transportation and lodging expenses for groom’s parents
Finally, yes, there is a guideline you can follow. Pick up a copy of Premier Bride of Mississippi. All this is listed in the Bridal Guide. You’ll also find it online: www.premierbridems.com
Have a question? Ask The Bridal Guru: ask@msbridalguru.com