The costs of being in a wedding party

Nov 13, 2009

Responsible Party

Being asked to be part of a bridal party, also known as the wedding party, is a great honor...And it can be a great expense. From the bride's point of view, having bridesmaids can be a huge help, but they can also add a lot of expense to your wedding budget. At OneWed.com, we know that every wedding is different, however, here are some basic guidelines about who generally pays for what.

The Bride and Groom (and their families)

The wedding

The reception
The rehearsal dinner (which includes all members of the bridal party)
Bride's dress, groom's clothing
Bouquets for bridesmaids
Boutonnieres for groomsmen and ushers
Flowers for flower girl
Ring pillow for ring bearer
Bridesmaids' lunch to thank bridesmaids
Gifts for each attendant
Transportation from wedding site to reception site for bridal party

Bridesmaids

Your dress (even if you hate it)
Your shoes
Hair and make-up on the day of the wedding
Transportation and hotel accommodations to the wedding, if necessary
Bridal shower and/or Bachelorette party
Wedding gift for the couple

Groomsmen

Your tuxedo or suit, or rental of tuxedo and shoes
Transportation and hotel accommodations to the wedding, if necessary
Bachelor party
Wedding gift for the couple

Parents of Flower Girl and Ring Bearer

The child's outfit
Babysitting for the child if he or she will not be at the receptio

You'll see many lists that claim the bride's side is responsible for some items, and the groom's side is responsible for others. There are traditions behind these ideas, but there are no hard and fast rules, and not all families help pay for weddings.