It's customary for the couple to give gifts to all the members of the wedding party—including their parents—on or around the wedding day (the rehearsal dinner is a good time to do this). It's common for the groom to buy a gift for his mother that's sentimental and special to their unique relationship.
If the groom's parents are contributing financially to the wedding, they don't necessarily need to give the bride a large gift—paying for their portion of the wedding is gift enough.
Typically, a groom will buy their mum a gift, but it's also a lovely gesture if their partner buys a gift for their future mother-in-law, too. This will show how much you both appreciate the mother of the groom and all the help and support she has given with wedding planning.
It's customary to buy a gift for the father of the groom as a small thank you for the part he's playing in the wedding. Not only that, but it's also an opportunity to thank him for all the love, guidance, and wisdom he's provided over the years. If you're not sure what to get, you've come to the right place.
A memory box including photos, favorite items, toys, awards, artwork, certificates, and memorabilia of the groom from his baby days to date is a gift that the bride will cherish. Not to mention it's a treasure box for future grandchildren to get to know dad when he was a kid too.
Parents of the bride and groom collectively contribute about $19,000 to the wedding, or about two-thirds of the total cost, according to WeddingWire. The bride's parents give an average $12,000, and the groom's, $7,000. Just 1 in 10 couples pays for the wedding entirely on their own, according to TheKnot.com.
Traditionally, the groom's parents are the ones to plan and host the rehearsal dinner. They are usually also responsible for hosting any other welcome parties for the rest of the guests. They may want to utilize the couple's wedding planner to help with the event, or they can choose to plan it all on their own.
Chief among father of the groom duties is walking the groom's mother down the aisle. If the groom's parents are divorced and the father is remarried, they should, instead, escort their new spouse down the aisle and to their seat. In certain ceremonies, the father of the groom will also walk their son down the aisle.
Mom and Dad, I love you two. Sometimes, I don't know how I got as lucky as I did to have such a great family. You two have provided a shining example for me of what marriage should be: loving, kind, patient, and understanding. I hope that I can be as good a husband to [wife's name] as you are to Mom, Dad.
Put succinctly, tradition states that the father of the bride is responsible for paying for the wedding.
The Groom: The groom proceeds to walk down the aisle accompanied by their parents, with his father on the left and his mother on the right. The Bridesmaids: The bridesmaids then proceed in pairs, starting with those standing farthest from the bride. The Maid or Matron of Honor: The bride's right-hand woman walks alone.
She can spend a little time with both the bride and groom.
If that's the case, she may want to start her morning with the bride and her group, then leave once she has her hair and makeup done. After, she can head to the groom's getting-ready area to help him prepare for his walk down the aisle.
Groom's parents
It's optional to honor the groom's parents by having them walk down the aisle. They can be seated after all of the guests and before the mother of the bride.
You could express your gratitude for their unconditional love and support, acknowledge their hard work or appreciate their cooking, mention some values they've taught you to live by, or reminisce about some childhood memories that you'll cherish.
Traditionally, the groom's mother will take care of the rehearsal dinner arrangements and help prepare the guest list for the groom's side of the family. Both tasks should be done with both the bride and the groom's input. Any other responsibilities can be negotiated among the families.
While this speech has traditionally been given at rehearsal dinners, it's not unusual for the mother of the groom to speak at the wedding reception, either. If you're struggling to put words on paper to express the joy, happiness, and love you have for your son, you're not alone.
The bride and groom will dance first. This is the usual format. Then the parent dances with the couple - the father with the bride and the mother with the groom. The groom's father will then dance with the bride and the groom with the mother-in-law.
Tell him you love him
If you find a few moments alone with your son on the big day, express how proud you are of him; how thrilled you are that he found someone special to share his life with; and how much you love him.
Traditionally, the groom's parents pay for the entire cost of the honeymoon. Honeymoon costs include flights, hotels and fun vacation activities. Note: More modern couples are saving for their honeymoon together or requesting their wedding guests to pay for some parts of the honeymoon as a wedding gift.
The groom's family traditionally paid for all costs associated with the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon, wedding day transportation, and the officiant. The groom paid for the bride's engagement ring, wedding ring, and groomsmen gifts. It is also common for the groom's family to pay for the alcohol at the reception.
The bride's parents and grandparents are seated together, often with their children, children's spouses, and grandchildren if space is available. The groom's parents and grandparents are seated at another table, often with their children, children's spouses, and grandchildren if space is available.
Bride's Parents and/or Family Members
If you're going the very traditional route, the answer to the question “who pays for the wedding?” is “the bride's family.” But you'll see that even in traditional roles, the bride's family doesn't actually pay for everything—but they're definitely a big part of the equation.
A typical cash wedding gift could range from $50 to $500, depending on the same factors listed above. Even then, aiming for the $100 mark is generally sufficient and will be comparable to the average cost of a physical wedding gift. For those looking to gift the newlyweds cash, they may wonder how much to spend.