Revisit your favorite stories from past issues.
This article first appeared in our January/February 2008 Wedding issue.
 Who
Picks
Up
the Tab and for What?
If you have a daughter you can easily relate to other parents with girls and that tiny corner of your brain reserved for the pending wedding even years down the road! You’ve heard your entire life the burden lays on the bride’s family but today it’s not unheard of for potential in-laws to offer to help with expenses. Often, to insure they have the exact ceremony they want, the bride and groom foot the larger portion or all of the bill. Based on what is still a traditional custom, here are some guides for your budget planning.
Bride:
Groom’s wedding ring
Groom’s wedding gift
Bridesmaids’ gifts
Personal stationery
Bride’s Family:
Invitations
Services of wedding planner
Wedding gift for the couple
Bride’s gown and accessories
Bride’s parents attire
Bride’s trousseau
Bridesmaids’ luncheon
Lodging for out-of-town bridesmaids
Rental of wedding site
Fee for officiant
Music for ceremony and reception
Flowers for ceremony
Bridesmaids’ bouquets
All reception expenses
Engagement and wedding portraits
Ceremony and reception photography
Videography
Transportation of bridal party to site
Traffic officer for parking
Bridal Attendants:
Purchase of apparel
Transportation to and from city of wedding
Contribution to gift from all bridesmaids to bride
Bridal shower or luncheon
Groom:
Bride’s engagement and wedding rings
Bride’s wedding gift
Gifts for best man and groomsmen
Groom’s attire
Marriage license
Clergy or judge’s fee
Bride’s bouquet and going-away flowers
Flowers for the mothers/grandmothers
Boutonnieres for all men in the wedding party
Groomsmen’s gloves, ties (ascots)
Transportation for officiant, groomsmen and groom’s family
Lodging expenses for officiant, if from out of town
Groom’s Family:
Lodging for out-of-town groomsmen
Their own wedding attire
Wedding gift for the couple
The rehearsal dinner
Groomsmen:
Wedding attire
Transportation to and from the wedding city
Contribution to the groom’s gift from all groomsmen
Individual gift to the couple
Bachelor party
Another important job, usually for the best man, is to be in charge of tipping. Gratuities need to be in envelopes, labeled in advance with one or two extra envelopes prepared just in case a service has missed your inspection! Be vigilant to check every bill in case the gratuity has already been included. To help insure that perfect day, keep a suggested 15 percent of your budget for tipping a “thank you” to all the folks who are satisfyingly supporting you with the event. Remember your wait staff with 15 to 20 percent of food and drink bill, same amount for caterer, bartender gets 10 percent, powder room or coat attendants get anywhere from fifty cents to one dollar per guest, parking attendants are tipped per car usually fifty cents to a dollar, limousine drivers also get 15 to 20 percent, delivery truck drivers for flowers, cake, etc. usually receive $5 to $10 each, musicians and/or DJ are optional or $20 each.
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