Wedding Costs Breakdown
Let’s talk weddings. You have an idea of what you would like, but do you know the wedding costs breakdown of who pays for what? These days, the roles of the bride and groom as well as their families are somewhat hazy when it comes to who pays for wedding expenses. So let’s look at what tradition has dictated about wedding expenses first.
A Traditional View On Who Pays What
Based on tradition, the bride pays for a gift and ring for the groom in addition to her beauty regiment for the big day. She also pays for attendant gifts and on occasion, hotel expenses for her attendants. The bride’s family traditionally paid for the dress, reception wedding costs, flowers, photographer, guest favors, rental fees and décor for the ceremony and reception and their own clothing and travel expenses.
The groom is traditionally responsible for the wedding cost of the marriage license as well as the engagement and wedding rings for the bride. He also pays for gifts for his own attendants, the honeymoon, corsages and boutonnières and cost for the clergyman or officiant. The groom’s family pays for the rehearsal dinner and all that it implies from the invitations to the entertainment and decorations. They also pay for a wedding present and their own travel expenses.
Today’s Take On Wedding Costs Breakdown
While some tradition is still woven into the dynamics of paying for the cost of weddings, more often than not, the bride and groom shoulder more of the burden. Some people may wonder, “How much does a wedding cost these days?” The average cost of a wedding is about $25,000. That is a lot of money!
In wedding costs breakdown, it helps to write everything out. If you can see how much you plan to spend in food, flowers, entertainment and more, you just might find ways to lower your average wedding costs. Of course, there may be one or two elements that are sacred to the bride or groom and no compromise could be taken. However, there are many ways to help with the cost of a wedding.
In reviewing the average cost of weddings, the bulk of the money is spent on the reception dinner. You could subtract a little from the bottom line of your wedding costs breakdown if you compromised a bit on the menu or even change the wedding to a different time to capitalize on having brunch or cocktails. These hold lighter price tags in the average cost of a wedding.
The approximate cost of a wedding officiant can be lowered if you had a family friend in the clergy. Some churches do not allow you to pay the minister; instead, you make a donation to the church. This portion is based on what you really feel comfortable with.
When it comes to your wedding costs breakdown, keep in mind that there is a big difference in how much a 150 guest wedding costs versus 250. See if you could pare down the guest list to save on the average wedding cost you have accumulated so far. The bottom line is that there are many ways to save money when you get married. You just have to delineate your priorities when you review your wedding costs breakdown.
