Who Traditionally Pays for the Honeymoon. "'Traditional' older etiquette states that the groom and his parents are supposed to fund the honeymoon because the bride and her family are paying for the wedding," explains Forrest Skurnik while noting that these rules no longer apply.
Today many modern couples save up for their honeymoon together or ask wedding guests to pay for certain parts as a gift. But traditionally it is the groom or his family's job to pay the full cost of the honeymoon from flights to hotels to excursions.
What Does the Groom's Family Pay For, Traditionally? The groom's family is responsible for corsages and boutonnieres for immediate members of both families, the lodging of the groom's attendants (if you have offered to help pay for this expense), and sometimes the costs of the rehearsal dinner.
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.
More couples pay for wedding and honeymoon
Nowadays, it's far more common for engaged couples to pay for both their wedding and their honeymoon. In the past, parents often stepped in to pay for the nuptials, but that's changed now. A lot of it comes down to the couple.
Traditionally, the bride's family foots the majority of the bill, but that's not stopping modern couples from spending their own savings to have the wedding they want.
Though it's a relatively modern take on the traditional wedding registry, asking your guests to help fund your honeymoon is becoming a more common occurrence. "In my opinion, honeymoon funds are absolutely acceptable," says etiquette expert Elaine Swann.
Splitting wedding costs equally between the couple and their families is becoming more common across the board: The Knot 2021 Real Weddings Study found that couples pay approximately 49% of their wedding costs, with their families covering the rest at 51%.
An easy rule of thumb is to stay within the average range of $75 to $200, but you can adjust the exact amount based on your personal finances, as well as your relationship with the couple.
According to tradition, the bride and her family should cover the majority of expenses including the bride's dress, venue hire, cake, decorations and other services, while the groom's main responsibilities are to pay for the engagement ring, honeymoon and the flowers for the bride.
Ceremony. The bride and her family generally pay for the church, synagogue, or house of worship, along with the sexton, organist, and other vendors specific to the ceremony. The groom and his family pay for the marriage license and officiant fee.
The Best Colors for a Mother of the Groom
"Wear a flattering color that compliments the color palette of the wedding," advises Valiente. For example, jewel tones and earthy hues are perfect for fall nuptials, while formal gowns in navy or silver would be ideal for black-tie weddings.
Superstitious beliefs have kept many a couple separated until the ceremony, protecting their matrimonial fate from being doomed from the start. The tradition of spending the wedding eve apart is when to-be-weds refrain from seeing one another the night before their wedding, often until the ceremony.
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.
Traditionally, the breakdown of expenses was very clear: The bride's family paid for the groom's ring, engagement party, the wedding and reception, a brunch the next day, and a belated reception (if there was one).
Who Pays for the Mother-of-the-Bride and Groom's Beauty Team? As with most beauty questions, there is no hard-and-fast rule. Some brides may offer to cover hair and makeup services in order to thank the wedding party for being a part of their special day.
As the wedding begins, the groom's mother will be escorted down the aisle, to the first pew, right-hand side, by the head usher or a groomsman who is a family member. A nice touch includes the groom escorting his mother down the aisle. As the groom's mother is escorted to her seat, her husband will follow along behind.
Who Buys the Mother of the Groom Gift? 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.
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.
You don't need an extravagant gift to let your son know you'll always be there for him. Really, all it takes is a heartfelt exchange of words or a handwritten note. That said, if you do want to take it a little bit further, this small, personalized token is a thoughtful gesture.
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.
– “We're so excited to start our lives together and can't wait to go on our dream honeymoon. We would be grateful if you could contribute towards our honeymoon fund.” – We're so excited to start our lives together and grateful to have such supportive friends and family.
All-Inclusive Honeymoons
The average cost of an all-inclusive honeymoon is between $5,000-$10,000, but it may save some couples money because you pay most expenses ahead of time. Staying close to your hotel cuts down on transportation costs and gives you an upfront look at your total spending.
Ultimately, your budget is your business. That said, there's no better time to open your wallet than when you're on a trip to celebrate the most important decision of your life. It's okay to splurge in the name of love. Don't be stingy on your own honeymoon – you only get one chance to get it right.