Budget Etiquette
- Question:
- To save on expenses, my parents want me to choose an inexpensive gown. ("You'll only wear it once!" they tell me). And they're insisting on a certain reception site (that I don't love) because, after all, they're footing the bill. Can I accept their cash but still get my way?
- Answer:
"It is important that the wedding be viewed as a gift with no strings attached," states Sylvia Bigelsen, author of The Ties That Bind...And Bind...And Bind (Element Books). "Just because your parents are paying does not mean they have the only say in how the wedding should be." In the end, neither of you wants to fight over such a happy day. So be ready to compromise (a bit), and try these techniques to navigate through any stormy financial waters.
- This content originally appeared in Modern Bride magazine.
- How much are we supposed to tip, and when?
- How can I get my parents to give me more money for the wedding?
- Who pays for flower girl outfits?
- How can I get my parents to stop making me feel guilty about the wedding's cost?
- Can my dad control the guest list if he is paying?
- Who should I notify about my name change?
- Should I pay for the bridesmaid dresses?
- Can I have a reception with selected guests?
- How should I talk money with my in-laws?
- What does the groom's family pay for?
- Must I invite everyone who invited me?
- How can my poorer guy and I split wedding costs?
- Can we ask guests to pay for their own hotels?
Submit Your Own Etiquette Question
Have an etiquette question you'd like our editors to answer?
- Do I have to have my wedding in my hometown?
- Should I pay for my bridesmaids' and dates' rooms?
- What should I do about a broke bridesmaid?
- How do contributers appear on the invite?
- How do I handle ill-timed financial offers?
- How do I thank those who've helped?
- Can I get what I want if my parents are paying?
- Do vendors prefer cash tips?
- Should my parents have a say?
- Who pays for out-of-town guests' hotel accomodations?
- Must we pay for his parents' hotel room?
- Do we have to tell people how much we're spending on the wedding?
- Do I have to accommodate my fiancé's last minute plans?
- How can I get my fiancé to be more involved in the wedding planning?
- Can I plan my wedding at work?
