Who pays for what in a marriage: the million dollar question

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Evelyn Carpenter

Natalia Mellado Perona

In case there are still those who believe it, it is not true that the bride's father pays for the wedding, as this was the case many years ago, when marriages were arranged for convenience.

Who pays for the wedding? Nowadays it is the couple who pays the expenses, although this does not prevent them from having some extra help.

How to finance marriage

Since there are many items to be covered, the most common is that the promised make use of your personal savings Or, from the moment you decide to get married, start saving in a common fund. Hence the importance of starting well in advance to prepare for marriage, ideally a year before.

However, if you prefer not to wait so long, another alternative is to apply for a consumer credit at a banking institution for the estimated amount to be spent.

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Who pays what

How are the wedding expenses divided? While purchasing power used to rest with the man, today it is up to each couple, where each party can contribute equally.

Of course, above deciding if he will pay for the banquet and she will pay for the decoration; or he will pay for the rings and she will pay for the stationery, the main thing is to establish a clear budget to invest in the celebration. And that will be the starting point for everything that is to come.

The contribution of parents

Once it is clear that it is the bride and groom themselves who pay for the marriage, the parents can also collaborate and, in fact, in most cases they are happy to do so.

What does the bride's family pay? The bride's parents are usually responsible for the cost of the dress and accessories, including the bouquet of flowers, but they are also responsible for the bridal trousseau, which has a powerful emotional value.

The groom's family The most important thing, however, is to pay for practical aspects, such as hiring a photographer or renting a vehicle.

On the other hand, if the parents of the bride or groom wish to invite a distant relative or friend of their interest, who is not on the guest list, then it will be up to them to pay for these people.

Witnesses' input (if other than parents)

In addition to fulfilling the tasks proper to their designation, which are to participate in the manifestation and celebration of the marriage, witnesses often also contribute financially.

They usually assume expenses related to the ceremony, for example the decoration of the church, or they may be in charge of the wedding ribbons, the wedding cake or the souvenirs for guests, among other elements. What will be born from them will certainly lighten their burden. .

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The contribution of the guests

Finally, there is another modality that makes it possible to cover the expenses of the marriage, at least in part and has to do with the type of gifts you choose to give .

And it is that in parallel to the traditional bridal lists of commercial houses, there are now companies in which, symbolic gifts purchased by guests, become cash deposited directly into a current account.

This way, as the guests buy gifts, the bride and groom have more budget to spend. It's also very practical for couples who already live together and don't need to furnish.

What does the bride's father pay for the wedding? Where does the budget come from to invest in the marriage? If at some point you asked yourself these questions, now you know that the bride and groom pay for the wedding, but always with the possibility of receiving a contribution.

Evelyn Carpenter is the author of the best-selling book, All you need for your marriage. A Marriage guide. She has been married for over 25 years and has helped countless couples build successful marriages. Evelyn is a sought after speaker and relationship expert, and has been featured in various media outlets including Fox News, Huffington Post, and more.