Traditional Wedding Coverage: What the Bride and Groom Are Responsible For
- Allyson Brooks
- Dec 29, 2025
- 4 min read
A modern wedding planner’s guide to honoring tradition while making it your own
Who Pays for What, Really?
At The Social Edit, we've helped couples through every stage of wedding planning, and one of the most common questions we hear in the early stages is: "Who pays for this?"
From floral arrangements to rehearsal dinners, wedding costs have long been divided between the bride’s and groom’s families, but as weddings evolve, so do these traditions. Many couples now choose to split costs more evenly, cover certain elements themselves, or redefine what “traditional” even means.
Still, understanding the traditional framework can be an extremely helpful starting point for early conversations about budgeting, expectations, and planning. Whether you're honoring long-standing customs or blending old and new, knowing what was traditionally covered by each side can alleviate some stress from the planning process.
At The Social Edit, we believe that tradition and intention can and should exist beautifully together. At the end of the day, it's about what YOU want to do. This guide breaks down what each side has historically covered, what's changing, and how to make the balance feel fair and stress-free.
Photo by Katie Micha Photography
The Bride’s Side: Traditional Responsibilities
Traditionally, the bride’s family covers most of the wedding day itself, from the venue to most of the vendors. This dates back to the idea of the bride’s family “hosting” the celebration.
Photo by Katie Micha Photography
The Groom’s Side: Traditional Responsibilities
Historically, the groom’s side has handled costs related to the proposal, ceremony preparation, and honeymoon. These were considered his contributions to starting the couple’s new life together.
The Bride’s Side: Traditional Responsibilities
Major Wedding Day Expenses
Venue rental and ceremony costs: This includes the ceremony and reception spaces, decor, and basic setup.
Basic catering and beverages: Reception dinner and drinks for guests are often included under the bride’s family budget. Note: NOT the bar.
Wedding planner or coordinator: Hiring a planner or day-of coordinator is part of ensuring the day runs smoothly.
Floral design and decor: Flowers for the ceremony, reception, and bridal party traditionally fall to the bride’s side.
Attire and Beauty
The bride’s dress and accessories: Gown, veil, shoes, and jewelry are part of the bride’s personal expenses.
Hair and makeup: These are typically covered for the bride, and sometimes for bridesmaids or mothers as a gift.
Photography and Videography
Wedding photography and video coverage: Capturing the day has always been considered a key expense for the hosting family.
The Groom’s Side: Traditional Responsibilities
Engagement and Ceremony Costs
The engagement ring: The groom traditionally purchases the engagement ring.
The bride’s wedding band: He also covers the cost of her wedding band, while she covers his.
Marriage license and officiant’s honorarium: Some traditions assign these to the groom’s side, depending on cultural customs.
Attire and Accessories
The groom’s outfit: Suit or tuxedo, shoes, and accessories are his responsibility.
Groomsmen’s boutonnieres and gifts: The groom covers floral accessories and any thank-you gifts for his attendants.
Wedding Day and Reception
The rehearsal dinner: Typically hosted and paid for by the groom’s family. It includes the wedding party and close family members.
Entertainment: The band or DJ is another element typically covered by the groom’s family.
Transportation: Arranging rides or accommodations for the wedding party and guests.
The officiant’s travel or lodging: If the officiant is a personal connection of the groom, his family may cover these expenses.
Honeymoon and Post-Wedding
The honeymoon: Traditionally, the groom plans and pays for the couple’s honeymoon.
The bride’s bouquet: Some customs designate this as a small but meaningful gift from the groom.
What Couples Are Doing Today
Modern weddings look very different from the ones our parents or grandparents planned. Couples now approach budgeting with more flexibility and partnership, often dividing costs based on income, preferences, or family contributions rather than tradition.
Here are some modern approaches we see couples take at The Social Edit:
Shared budgets. Both families and the couple contribute a set amount to a general wedding fund.
Itemized responsibility lists. The couple decides who covers which categories based on interest or expertise. For example, if one family has connections in catering or florals, they might cover that specific area as a gift to the couple.
Independent planning. Many couples pay for their weddings entirely on their own to maintain full creative control.
Experience-based priorities. Instead of following a traditional split, couples invest more heavily in areas that matter most to them, such as photography, coordination, or entertainment.
There are obviously more vendors and details that go into a wedding day that you can discuss and divide up, but these are the main traditional categories for each side. Even if you're modernizing your day, this list helps you see where traditional expectations come from, so you can plan and adjust accordingly.
Whether you're honoring family customs or creating your own, what matters most is that your day feels authentic and aligned with your values.
At The Social Edit, we specialize in designing weddings that balance tradition with personal expression. From vendor coordination to timeline planning, we help couples bring their vision to life with ease and sophistication.
Let’s create a celebration that feels meaningful, timeless, and completely yours.
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