How common is it for a bride and groom’s families to split the cost of a wedding?

BlairLuvr: How common is it for a bride and groom’s families to split the cost of a wedding?
It was always my observation/belief that the bride’s father paid for the wedding. In the US.

Answers and Views:

Answer by ShoreGirl
The Bride’s family paying is definately a tradition but times have changed and so has the make up of “families” as well as the overall cost of a wedding. People have stepparents, half brothers and sisters, you name it.

It’s pretty common for both families to contribute, it’s actually even more common for the couple to pay for a certain amout and for each family to contribute towards guests on their respective sides which may put the wedding cost above the budget of the couple.

Answer by New Name
I’d say it’s one of the most common ways to pay for a wedding. I’d say it’s more common than the bride’s family paying exclusively. With the cost of living now, it’s really hard for one family to pay solely for a wedding, unless you’re wealthy.

Answer by Mrs♥B
That’s the old way of thinking. It’s completely different now. this still happens, but now it’s usually the couple that pays for most of it, with some help from anyone who wants to give it.

Answer by Seafoam Green
Yes, traditionally the Bride’s family pays for the wedding and the groom’s family pays for the rehearsal dinner. Actually, there is a much more detailed breakdown, which includes the groom’s family paying for the bridal bouquet, and some other odd details. I will google it in a minute to see if I can find it.

But this is 2009!!! Times have changed. Women can VOTE now! Slavery is abolished! We’re progressing as a society. Now, the couple can pay for their own wedding, or if the parents choose to, they can all contribute as well.

Answer by Just tryin’ to help
Traditions change, my friend. Now, with marriages happening later in life, it is mostly the couple’s responsibility to pay for it themselves.

My husband’s family chipped in A LOT for our wedding. Not as much as my parents’, but still a lot. We’re forever grateful to all who helped us!

Answer by melouofs
That was long ago….

Now, I believe it is the norm that the couple is primarily responsible, with assistance from the families, if either offers.

Answer by I love my love
that’s pretty antiquated, I don’t know how common that is anymore. I think the bride and groom’s parents both offer them a large cash wedding gift and they can use it on the wedding, mortgage, car, college loans, honeymoon, whatever.

Answer by Lily
Both sets of parents and my grandparents contributed much to our wedding 4 years ago…and we live in the US. It was indeed a wonderful thing that we much appreciated. It doesn’t happen often and more so these days, the bride/groom pay for their own wedding entirely.

Answer by Soon to be Mrs.V
Clearly times are different now, my fiance & I are paying for most things with some help from my parents, since his parents said they would help us out but still haven’t gotten a penny from them. It all depends on how you are financially.

Answer by nova_queen_28
This is 2009 and times have changed.

I don’t know of any couple whose parents paid for their wedding. My fiance & I are paying for ours 100% on our own. I have known a few people whose parents have chipped in, but the couple still paid for most of the wedding.

Answer by truefirstedition
I don’t have any scientific data on this, but I would say the most common thing in the US today is for the couple to pay for the wedding themselves, perhaps plus some contributions from one or both sets of parents.

Back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was typical for the bride’s parents to pay for the wedding, but remember that for the vast majority of people weddings were a LOT smaller and less expensive in those days. Ceremony in a church or courthouse, reception in the parlor at home, with cake and punch. No limo, no fancy dinner, no dancing.

But now, most people getting married – men and women alike – have their own jobs, their own incomes, and may even own their own homes. They aren’t going straight from their parents’ house into married life. It is expected that the couple will have a wedding that they can afford to pay for, without requiring anyone’s parents to foot the entire bill.

Answer by gary
Well it’s pretty common nowadays that both share the cost not in the US alone but other continents around the globe. But of course, if the groom could afford it on his own, then the better.

Despite the fact that both men and women is of equal importance and has equal human rights, but women are physically and emotionally weaker than men in nature, it’s actually mens’ responsibility to protect, love and cherish his partner.