Wedding Costs - Who traditionally pays for a wedding

One question that usually comes up when a couple announces their engagement is, "Who will pay for the wedding?"

Traditionally, the majority of the wedding expenses are paid for by the bride and/or her family. In our more modern times, however, another approach is to divide the costs up between the bride and groom and each set of parents.

Below is a list of the traditional guidelines for wedding expenses. You may choose to adapt this list to your own personal needs and preferences.

BRIDE/BRIDE'S FAMILY:
- Any needed rental items
- Arrange for accommodations for out of town guests* (grooms family can also arrange this, depending on whose hometown the wedding is taking place at)
- Bridesmaids wedding gifts
- Ceremony Costs
- Ceremony Decorations
- Ceremony/Reception Flowers
- Entertainment (DJ, Band, Harp, etc.)
- Favors
- Flowers (bridesmaids bouquets, all corsages, ceremony)
- Gratuities/Tips for services
- Grooms wedding gift
- Grooms wedding ring
- Guest Book
- Her blood tests/medical checkup
- Invitations, thank you cards, announcements, mailing expenses, etc.
- Lingerie
- Photographer
- Printed items such as napkins, matchbooks, etc.
- Programs
- Reception costs (hall fee, etc.)
- Videographer
- Wedding Breakfast
- Wedding Consultant/Coordinator's Fee
- Wedding Dress, Veil and accessories


GROOM/GROOM'S FAMILY:
- Accessories for men in wedding party, such as socks, gloves, etc.
- Alcohol at the reception
- Arrange for accommodations for out of town guests* (brides family can also arrange this, depending on whose hometown the wedding is taking place at)
- Bride's wedding gift
- Bride's wedding rings
- Flowers (Brides bouquet, all boutonnieres)
- Groomsmens gifts
- His blood tests/medical checkup
- Honeymoon
- Limosine/Carriage costs
- Marriage License
- Officiant Fee
- Rehearsal Dinner expenses
- Wedding Attire


ATTENDANTS/USHERS:
- Any necessary travel expenses
- Shower gift
- Wedding attire and accessories
- Wedding gift for the newlyweds

Wedding Dresses

It has to be said that ever since a lady was a little girl she always wondered what her wedding dress would look like. And now that the decision is there to be made it is obviously very confusing, daunting and exciting for everyone involved. Of course you want to look the very best that you can look on your special day, and there are several ways that you can make sure that you achieve this goal.

What color wedding dress should I choose?

The color of your wedding dress is usually the first place to start when you are making your decision on what to wear. Often women are very confused as to what color they should go for. Traditionally weddings are themed in white, cream or ivory. But the fact is if your skin coloring doesn't suit the lighter shades of pale, then don't do it! I often get ladies from all over the world asking me what colors they should choose for their wedding. And the answer is always the same… think about what colors suit you, and what colors you like. Despite appearances there are no hard and fast rules. Never forget that this is YOUR day, and you should just go right ahead and do what you what to do. Whatever makes you happy!

What shape wedding dress should I choose?

The shape of the wedding dress that you should choose is entirely dependent on your figure. All women are different, and certain shapes suit them better than others. The shape of your wedding dress is actually far more important that the color. It's exactly the same as dressing to go out for a meal somewhere, or to go to the opera or a film premiere. For the best results you need to get into the mindset of a film star… or rather, the film stars' wardrobe designers. You should pick out a dress that suits your body shape – one that accentuates your figure and conceals any lumps and bumps.

Wedding dress shapes explained

A-line - The A-line wedding dresses have fitted vertical seams running down the length of the garment. This means that the dress is tight at the waist and flares out towards the bottom part of the skirt.

Empire line - Empire line dresses are tight beneath the bust and are higher than the a-line cut of cloth. The seam lies just beneath the bust for a more structured look.

Ball gown - Ball gown wedding dresses are traditionally full length and very full and wide. Ball gown dresses usually have very structured, fitted and boned bodices.

Sheath - Sheath wedding dresses are very straight and simple. They usually flow to the floor and skim the body.

Mermaid - Mermaid dresses have a kick at the bottom where the fabric is much fuller. The top half of the dress hugs the figure and accentuates voluptuousness.

Strapless - Strapless wedding dresses are just that – they don't require support over the shoulder. Strapless wedding dresses must be made well and be supported by good bridal underwear to make certain that the bride is both comfortable and secure throughout the ceremony.

Wedding Veils

The wedding veil is probably the oldest wedding tradition that is performed during a wedding. Many people believed that wedding veils protected the bride from jealous spirits. This usually referred to any enemies of the couple who might try to steal her the day of the wedding. Wedding veils, were also a sign of humility, it was not considered proper for women to display their beauty so openly. Even back in the day though, brides were still considered the most beautiful of all women.

Wedding veils are worn today to complete the entire wedding look for a bride. Choosing a wedding veil depends on the personal preference of the bride and the wedding dress she will wear.

For brides with extravagant gowns, it is best to keep the veil as simple as possible. You don’t want your wedding veil and dress to be competing for attention. Plus, this could spoil the elegance of your wedding gown and you could end up looking to overdone. If you want to add a little something to your veil, consider putting a simple ribbon or trim along the edges.

If you have a simple dress, without a lot of beading or embroidery, the veil should add the drama. You can construct the veil to add that extra glamour to your wedding look.

It is important that wedding veils don’t hide anything on your dress. If the back of your gown is the center point, you don’t want to get a long veil that covers your back and hides it. Just make sure when looking at wedding veils, you think of the dress you will be wearing. You want your gown to compliment the veil and vice versa.

Antique veils have become very popular and is considered very “in” when it comes to the fashion industry. Besides the fact that an antique veil is very vintage, it is also considered good luck. Borrowing a wedding veil that your mom or grandmother wore at their weddings can bring luck to your new marriage. Just make sure that you borrow a veil from someone who is happily married for this to work. If you do decide to wear an vintage veil, try not to fix it in any way. You do not want to ruin it by trying to dye it to match your gown. Most of the times, if the veil doesn’t perfectly match, most people can’t tell because the fabric is so sheer.

Make sure you think about the length of the veil is suitable to the length of the aisle. Long wedding veils are great for huge churches such as cathedrals. In other situations, the veil will just bunch up and be a pain to walk around. Also, look at wedding veils that are easy to take off after the ceremony.