Whether you’re opting for a low-key affair or a lavish celebration, a wedding is going to be costly – but who pays for the wedding?
WHAT TRADITION SAYS
1. The venue
When it comes to the venue – both the ceremony and the reception – the bride’s family is responsible for the cost. And this doesn’t just mean the venue hire. Budget for all decorations, food, musical accompaniments at the ceremony and the officiant’s fee.
2. The reception
If you’re the bride, your parents are probably breaking out in a sweat just thinking about the bill that’s coming their way. But the financial responsibility doesn’t rest solely on their shoulders. The groom’s side normally pays for the DJ and the booze – two important and often pricey aspects of any wedding.
3. The attire
Perhaps the most important detail for any bride, the dress also doesn’t come cheap. Butter up Mom and Dad, because they’ll be paying (you hope). But what about dresses for your bridesmaids? Buying their attire is not expected, but it’s a nice gesture. The groom covers the cost of his suit and can choose whether to pay for his groomsmen’s get-up or not. If you’re asking them to buy their own, make sure it’s not expensive!
4. The small details
It may seem as though most of the big expenses are for the bride’s parents to cover. However, there are a few smaller but no less important details for the groom’s account too. The most obvious are the bridal bouquets, corsages for the mother-of-the-bride and boutonnières for the groomsmen.
5. The rings
It only makes sense that the groom pays for his bride’s wedding band and she does the same for him. If you’re on a tight budget, look at more affordable metals or simply forgo wedding bands altogether.
6. The honeymoon
It’s something newlyweds really look forward to, whether it’s an island getaway or a local adventure – and it’s for the groom to plan and pay for! Some couples ask guests to make a contribution to a honeymoon fund rather than buy gifts.
WHAT WE SAY
If you choose to buck tradition, split the budget according to who can afford what. Here are some ideas:
1. Chip in as a couple
If you have money saved, what better way to spend it than on your wedding? Most of the guests attending will be your friends, so consider covering the music and bar tab, which you know they’ll get the most enjoyment from.
2. Draw up a budget
Sit down with all parties involved to discuss splitting the costs equally – it may just be a win-win for everyone.
3. Pay for your own wedding dress
Especially if your parents are paying for most of the wedding. You can find ways to cut costs in this department, from buying off the rack or on sale to asking friends or family who are talented seamstresses to help design your gown.
4. Ask the groom’s family to cover the venue hire
With the cost of decorations, food and staff, the reception can be a financial sting for the bride’s parents.
Classic black dress shoes aren’t your only footwear option. Here are 5 wedding shoes for men to suit any attire. Keep things fresh by opting for a shoe in brown…
Flowers (and more recently, a flower theme) have been a part of wedding ceremonies for as long as we can remember. It is believed that in certain European countries women would carry bouquets to mask the scent of not having bathed for a few months.
Nowadays, florals are a huge part of the decor and, of course, the bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets. Typically, florals fit into your specific wedding theme or colour palette, or your entire theme can revolve around your flowers and other natural elements.
So how should you choose your floral arrangements? We have 7 easy steps to help you create the floral setting you’ve always dreamed of.
FIRST THING’S FIRST
Decide on your budget and whether you want to go big or small. If florals fall into your theme, you’ll want to set aside a larger portion of your budget to them.
GET INSPIRED
Try to research designs or arrangements you want to see at your wedding, while still keeping an open mind and have at least two extra options. Pinterest is a great app for finding all the inspiration you need!
RESEARCH
While looking for inspiration, you should also start to familiarise yourself with the kinds of flowers you want to have at your wedding, whether they’re in season, and their basic information. It will really benefit you when you meet with a florist and you understand the terminology.
FIND A FLORIST
Before picking a florist, make sure you research their work and pricing to ensure that you go with someone whose style will match your desired theme. Also keep your options open here, and make several consultations with different florists to get a feel for what would suit you best.
BOUQUET
If you or your fiancé plan to carry a bouquet, make sure that this is your starting point, as it features as a big element on the day. You ideally want the bouquet to match the wedding dress, and can design your flower arrangements from there.
SCENTED
When picking your flowers, you also need to consider whether you want scented florals or not. The idea of a lovely sweet scent in the venue seems tempting, but it may affect some of the guests. When you send out your invitations, ask guests to let you know if they have any allergies so that you can avoid any unpleasant experiences on the day.
PLAY MATCHY
While not everything has to be perfectly coordinated, it is elegant to match your flowers to your wedding style. Whether it be formal, playful or mystical, flowers can really emphasize the atmosphere you want to have on your big day.
“A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love.” – Max Muller
A Redditor named trehlo cut a hollow square into the pages of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” then attached a ring inside the hollow section so it…
We’ve all heard of or experienced getting cold feet before big, life-changing events, and it’s a relatively common occurrence when it comes to a few days before your wedding. You may feel that in your heart you are destined to be with your significant other, but still have those fears of taking the step towards marriage.
And it’s completely normal!
Pre-wedding stress after months of planning and organising is no cause for concern. You’re worried about things going wrong on the day, how you’ll look and also taking the steps to legally wed your partner – it can all be a bit overwhelming.
If you’re experiencing cold feet, here are a few tips to help you ease the stress.
1. GIRL TIME
Spend the night with your bridesmaids or some close girlfriends watching movies and pampering each other to take your mind off of any pre-wedding jitters.
2. RELAX
Enjoy a relaxing massage scheduled at your favourite spa for later in the evening the day before your wedding to help you unwind and sleep more easily.
3. MEMORIES
Look back at some old photographs of you and your partner to remember all the incredible times you have spent together, and all the amazing memories you have yet to make.
4. COMMUNICATE
You may not be spending the night with your future husband or wife, but if you really feel you need to, give them a call or message them to let them know how you’re feeling. They are probably feeling the same and you can talk it through with each other.
5. MEDITATE
If it works for you, put on some ocean songs or rainfall sounds and sit or lie down in a comfortable position while practising breathing exercises to clear your mind.
Image: Unsplashed
Whether you’re someone who likes to plan things down to the last detail or you just like to let things flow naturally, you should definitely try to write…
Nowadays, pets have become one of the most important parts of everyday life, so much so that they have even become a part of bigger life events, such as weddings. If you’re planning your big day and would love to have your furbabies join the party, here are a few adorable ways that you can include your pet.
FLOWER GIRL
Adorn your furchild with ribbon, dog jersey, tutu or even a flower crown and let them lead the way as you walk down the aisle.
RING BEARER
Give your pet the honour of bringing you the rings, which can be placed securely in a basket or on a ribbon around your their neck. If your pet isn’t well-behaved enough to walk straight down the aisle themselves, ask a family member or friend to assist by walking your furchild to you and your soon-to-be spouse.
THEMED SAVE-THE-DATES
Surprise your future guests with DIY save-the-dates including a photograph of your pet/s that will have them ‘aw-ing’ at the cuteness
VIDEOGRAPHER
Want to get a unique view of your big day? Strap a GoPro camera to your pet’s back and allow them to wander around your wedding venue and amongst your guests. You can look back at it after your big day and share some laughs at what your pet got up to! Ask your official videographer to include the footage in your wedding video.
FAMILY PORTRAIT
If you just want a simple reminder that your pets shared in your day, ask your photographer to take some shots of you and your pets during your shoot time. You can even dress them up in little suits, bow ties, tutus or flower arrangements to have them fit with the theme!
Having your pets join you in celebrating your big day is definitely an exciting time, but also remember to be aware of your pet’s personality and behaviour to ensure that they are not overwhelmed or mistreated at the event. If you can, assign a pet-nanny for the day to make sure they are comforted, fed, watered and not getting up to mischief.
Header image: instagram.com