It is no longer expected that wedding costs will be assigned according to tradition. The bride and groom should discuss their plan and budget for the wedding with their families to determine whether to follow a traditional division of financial responsibility for the wedding costs.

If circumstances don't allow the families to follow tradition, the proper rationale in deciding who pays for what portion is basic: whoever is most willing and most able to pay for a wedding expense assumes responsibility for that expense.

Establishing a wedding budget is the first, and most important step of the planning process.

Look over the following expense categories. Then prioritize the categories by determining which elements of your wedding celebration are most important to you (example: We want to have funds for a videographer so we will cut back on.....).

Determine the financial resources available to you and your fiancé from your own funds and from family. Allocate ample budget for the important items.

Your wedding reception will probably be the most costly part of your plan. Be realistic. Don't expect to get great food and service for "take-out" prices. If you have to make cuts, reduce the size of your guest list, not the quality of your party.

Don't be surprised or concerned if your budget priorities and allocations shift during the early stages of the budgeting process. Just be sure to stay within total-budget bounds and to use a pencil for the first round!

You may want to hire a Bridal Consultant to help you. A Consultant's knowledge of the local wedding industry can help you to save time and money!

Bride

• Personal Stationery
• Groom's Wedding Ring
• Wedding Gift for Groom
• Gifts for Bridal Party
• Gowns for Bridal Party (optional)
• Accomodations for Out-of-Town members of Bridal Party (optional)
• Luncheon for Bridal Party
• Gifts for Parents (optional)

Bride's Family

• Engagement Party
• Wedding Gift for Newlyweds
• Wedding reception costs
• Wedding ceremonty facility costs, including decorations
• Bride's wedding apparel and trousseau
• Bride's parents' wedding apparel
• Invitations, announcements, thank-you notes, postage
• Wedding ceremony programs
• Engagement and wedding photographs
• Videographer
• Musicians/vocalists
• Bridal party bouquets and flowers for Flower Girl.
• Flowers for ceremony and reception
• Transportation for bridal party to ceremony and reception
• Security and insurance for gifts
• Welcome party for out-of-town guests (optional)

Bridal Party Members

• Bridal shower for bride
• Wedding apparel and shoes
• Accommodations for self

Groom

• Bride's engagement and wedding rings
• Bride's bouquet and going-away-corsage
• Wedding gift for bride
• Honeymoon
• Boutonnieres for men in wedding party
• Mothers' corsages
• Gifts for best man, groomsman, and ushers
• Groomsmen's apparel (optional)
• Accomodations for out-of-town members of groom's party (optional)
• Marriage license
• Fee for Officiant
• Gift for Parents (optional)

Groom's Family

• Engagement party (optional; following party by bride's parents)
• Groom's personal stationery and thank-you notes
• Groom-s wedding apparel
• Groom's Parent's wedding apparel
• Rhearsal dinner
• Wedding gift for newlyweds
• Shipment of wedding gifts to couple's new home
• Welcome party for out-of-town guests (optional)

Groom's Party Members

• Bachelor party
• Wedding apparel and shoes
• Accomodations for self

Accessories For Reception

• Cake knife & server
• Cake topper
• Guest book & pen
• Toasting flutes
• Flower girl/Ringbearer accessories
• Favors for guests/cameras

Gifts

• Bridesmaids
• Groomsmen & Ushers
• Parents
• Other participants

Wedding Coordination

• Bridal Consultant
• Event insurance
• Gift insurance

Additional Expenses

• Tax on products & services
• Tips for vendors

Optional Expenses

• Wedding party accomodations
• Bridesmaids' gowns
• Flower girl's dress
• Groomsmen's formal wear
• Ringbearer's formal wear
• Bridal party luncheon

Don't Forget

• Bride's engagement ring
• Sewing kit: thread, needle, saftey pins and scissors
• Groom's wedding ring

Videographer

• Wedding package fee
• Viedo copies

Flowers

• Bride's bouquet
• Bridesmaids' bouquets
• Boutonnieres/corsages
• Ceremony site flowers
• Reception site flowers
• Flower girl's flowers

Music/Entertainment

• Ceremony
• Reception

Transportation

• Limousine service
• Transportation for guests
• Other transportation

Health & Beauty

• Hair & make-up
• Manicure/pedicure
• Spa/skincare

Stationery

• Invitations/Reply cards
• Wedding programs
• Thank you notes
• Announcements
• Maps/Save the date cards
• Postage

Reception

• Catering/food servers/tax/gratuity
• Facility rental
• Rental equipment/decorations
• Beverages/bar/corkage fee
• Cake/cake cutting fee

Ceremony

• Facility rental
• Officiate's fee
• Marriage license
• Rental equipment decorations

Apparel (Bride)

• Bridal gown
• Headpiece/veil
• Shoes
• Lingerie/Hosiery
• Jewelry
• Alterations

Apparel (Groom)

• Groom's formal wear
• Accessories (shoes, cufflinks, etc.)

Photographer

• Wedding package fee
• Prints/Album
• Engagement portrait/prints
• Wedding protrait/prints

Other

• Add other items you would like to have included for your wedding.