Even though modern couples are breaking wedding traditions left and right, there's one big-day convention that doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon: parents paying for at least a portion of the wedding. Though many couples do pay for some of the wedding today, it seems as though a hefty percentage of the ceremony and reception is still being financed by one or both sides of the family. According to the Brides American Wedding Study, parents cover anywhere between 35 and 42 percent of the cost of their children's weddings.
If you are following the rules of tradition, the bride's family is expected to bear the brunt of the expenses including the wedding dress, bridesmaids' gifts, the wedding planner or coordinator, the invitations, the flowers, the reception, photography, the groom’s wedding ring, music, any pre-wedding day meals for the wedding party and transportation and lodging for the bride's family and bridesmaids, as well as transportation for wedding guests, if needed. The groom’s family is traditionally responsible for the bride’s engagement ring and wedding ring(s), all groom attire, groomsmen gifts, boutonnières and corsages for appropriate wedding party and family members, the officiant's fee, the marriage license, rehearsal dinner costs and transportation and lodging for the groom's family and groomsmen.
If the two of you would like your parents' assistance, keep these tips in mind.
Start the Dialogue Early
Have a heart-to-heart conversation about the wedding and ask them outright: “How do you feel about contributing to the wedding?” or "How would you want to be a part of wedding planning?” This is clear and polite. Be mindful of their own financial situation—the last thing you want to do is have your parents take on an undue financial burden just to fund your dream wedding—and definitely don’t wait until the last minute when all the bills need to be paid. This should be a long-term conversation that starts early on in the wedding planning process.
Be Specific
Once you have a clear idea of what needs to be paid for, based on contracts you've signed with your venue(s) and vendors—which should fall in line with your pre-established wedding budget—be really specific about what you would like your parents to cover. Assign them a particular part of the wedding, such as the rehearsal dinner, florals, reception venue and vendor costs. Feel free to break from traditions about who pays for what if, for example, both sets of parents will be contributing roughly the same amount, or one set of parents has their heart set on paying for a specific thing.
If the two of you are covering a portion of the expenses yourselves, one way of divvying up the overall wedding day budget is to ask your parents to pay for a segment of the guests attending, either by percentage or based on the number of family members (and family friends) that have RSVP'd to attend.
Avoid Comparisons
A gift is a gift—be thankful for any and all contributions from your parents and any other family members, too. Avoid comparisons between how much each side is giving and definitely be careful when it comes to telling your respective families how much the other side is contributing. As Rachel Wilkerson of Lover.ly, a search engine that helps brides-to-be save on costs, explains, “Weddings bring up a lot of expectations and social pressure for parents; telling them exactly how much your partner's family can afford can really sting. So avoid mentioning it and try to keep the conversation focused on the number that makes them most comfortable.”
Clarify Any Expectations
Will a financial contribution from either set of parents come with any strings attached? If one side of the family offers to pay for a majority of the wedding, will they expect to have more say when it comes to the wedding guest list, décor, wedding and reception location, even the menu? Make sure these type of expectations are clear from the get-go to avoid any surprises that may lead to wedding planning tension down the line.
