Listed below are the usual expenses of a wedding and the parties traditionally responsible for them. Depending on where you live and your family traditions, there will be variations. This will give you a starting point to work with.

Bride & Her Family’s Expenses

• Bridal consultant or secretarial services
• Invitations, announcements, postage
• Wedding dress and accessories
• Floral or other decorations for ceremony and reception
• Bridal bouquet, bridesmaids flowers, corsages, etc.
• Photography – formal and candid
• Videotape
• Music for ceremony and reception
• Transportation of bridal part to ceremony and to reception
• All reception expenses
• Bride’s gifts to her attendants
• Bride’s gift to groom
• Groom’s wedding ring
• Fee for services performed by sexton
• A traffic officer, if necessary
• Accommodations for bride’s attendants, if required
• Bridesmaids’ luncheon, if one is given by the bride.
• If needed, rental of awning for ceremony entrance and carpet for aisle
• Transportation and lodging expenses for pastor or rabbi if from another area and if invited to officiate by the bride’s family

Groom & His Family’s Expenses

• Bride’s engagement and wedding rings
• Groom’s gift to his bride
• Groom’s gifts to his attendants
• Boutonnieres for the groom’s attendants
• Ties and gloves for the groom’s attendants, if not part of their clothing rental package
• The bride’s bouquet in areas where local custom requires it
• The bride’s going-away corsage
• The minister’s or rabbi’s fee or donation
• Expenses of the honeymoon
• All expenses of the rehearsal dinner, if one is held
• Bachelor dinner, if he wishes to give one
• Accommodations for the groom’s attendants, if required
• Corsages for immediate members of both families unless the bride has included them in her florist’s order
• Transportation and lodging expenses for groom’s parents
• Transportation and lodging expenses for pastor or rabbi if from another area and if invited to officiate by the groom’s family

Bridesmaids & Honor Attendants’ Expenses

• Apparel and all accessories
• Transportation to and from the location of the wedding
• A contribution to a gift from all the bridesmaids to the bride
• An individual gift to the couple
• A shower and/or luncheon for the bride, if given

Best Men & Ushers’ Expenses

• Rental of wedding attire
• Transportation to and from the location of the wedding
• A contribution to a gift from all the groom’s attendants to the groom
• An individual gift to the couple
• A bachelor dinner, if given by the groom’s attendants

Out-of-Town Guests’ Expenses

• Responsible for their own transportation and lodging.