A: Traditionally, the bride's family would pay for the ceremony and reception costs, the groom's family would pay for the rehearsal dinner and the groom covered the honeymoon. Today, however, any combination of finances—including from the bride and groom—is fine. While many families do look to tradition to divide the costs, the key nowadays is never to assume what kind of contribution will come from whom. Set a time to talk to your respective parents about the wedding budget; with the average wedding in America costing north of $25,000, people will need time to look at their personal finances first. When you do have the conversation, respect what people offer to give; it's not fair to ask anyone to contribute more simply because you know they have more means. Their finances are their own to do with as they wish. Remember, any contribution is essentially a gift; be sure to treat it as such. — Anna Post, The Emily Post Institute
Q: If the groom's family is more well-off than the bride's, is it appropriate to ask them to pay for more of the wedding costs?
