I get tons of questions asking me who pays for what regarding the wedding. Does the bride pay for this? Can I pay for that? Can I ask someone to pay for this? Is it ok that the bride's family isn't paying for the wedding? Though a small novella would answer all of these questions, here is a simple checklist to let you know the traditional roles in paying for the wedding. Thank you, Emily Post.

Who Pays For What? — Traditional Expenses of The Bride or Bride's Family

• The wedding consultant (wedding planner or wedding coordinator)
• Wedding invitations, enclosure cards, announcements (all wedding stationery)
• Wedding flowers which includes the bridesmaids bouquets, wedding bouquets, and any floral decorations for the ceremony and reception.
• Wedding photographer and photographs
• Wedding videographer and video
• Any music used during the ceremony and reception
• The entire reception (yup, this is the bride's responsibility in full)
• Bridesmaids gifts and attendants gifts
• The groom's wedding ring
• Carpet for the aisle, rental of awnings, etc.
• Cost of soloists and other wedding ceremony musicians/entertainment
• A traffic officer if necessary
• The bridal party's transportation to the reception
• Transportation and lodging for officiant if invited by the bride's family
• Any accommodations (lodging, fees) for the bridesmaids and attendants
• Sexton fees

Who Pays For What? — Wedding Expenses of The Groom or Groom's Family

• The marriage license
• Grooms gift to his bride
• Gifts for groomsmen, ushers, etc.
• Formal wear accessories for groomsmen if not part of the clothing rental package
• In some regions, the bridal bouquet
• The bride's going-away corsage
• Boutonnieres for the groomsmen, ushers, etc.
• Officiant's fee or donation (this is always a groom's fee and is different than accommodations)
• Transportation for groom and best man to and from the ceremony
• The honeymoon package and expenses(yup, bride gets the reception, groom gets the honeymoon)
• The rehearsal dinner
• Accommodations for groomsmen, ushers, etc.
• Bachelor dinner if one is being held
• Transportation and lodging for groom's immediate family
• Corsages for immediate members of both families unless bride includes these in her wedding flowers package
• The bride's engagement ring and wedding ring

Who Pays For What? — Wedding Expenses of the Bridesmaids or Honor Attendants

• Apparel and all accessories
• Transportation to and from the city where the wedding is being held
• Contribution to a group gift from the bridesmaids to the bride if being given
• An individual gift to the couple if given (being in the wedding may be considered one)
• A shower or luncheon for the bride if held

Who Pays For What? — Traditional Expenses of the Best Man or Ushers

• Individual wedding attire rental
• Transportation to and from the city where the wedding is being held
• Contribution to a group gift from the groomsmen to the groom
• An individual gift to the couple if given
• A bachelor dinner or luncheon if held

Who Pays For What? — Traditional Expenses of Out Of Town Guests

• Transportation to and from the wedding
• Lodging expenses
• Wedding gift

This may seem like a lot to absorb at one time. Don't worry about it! Print this list off and keep it for later. I hope this is helpful when you're creating the budget for your wedding. It's always nice to know who pays for what!

Most brides today carry flowers because they are beautiful and it gives the nervous bride something to do with her hands. However, the carrying of flowers goes back as far as the beginning of marriage.  Rooted in superstition, it was thought bridal bouquets consisting of odoriferous herbs and garlands worn or carried would ward off demons and evil spirits. Variations of this superstition are found in many cultures throughout the world.

In India the bride and groom are sprinkled with flower petals to ward of evil. It is said that a Roman bride carried herbs such as rosemary in her veil to ward off evil spirits. In fact, the modern tradition of carrying flowers and herbs in the bridal bouquet stems from this Roman practice. With many cultures sharing their wedding traditions over the centuries, the primitive superstition of smelly garlands went by the wayside. Brides began to use flowers as a way to symbolize emotion, virtue of love and marriage transforming the tradition.

Flowers such as roses became symbols of love for western weddings. Herbs and flowers were mixed together as a symbolic gesture. Over the years, wedding traditions have been manipulated blending old tradition with contemporary ideals. Old Greek wedding traditions used ivy and ribbons; weaving them into crowns for the bride and groom to symbolize unity. This tradition of greenery and ribbons has been incorporated in many modern wedding bouquets. In fact, it is commonplace to see bridal bouquets with greenery and ribbons intertwined in the flowers.

Although wedding flowers are a long standing tradition, the use flowers has become more of a tradition of elegance than one of warding off demons. Thankfully the tradition changed and flowers are now used to decorate the wedding. The bride can now carry a bouquet for beauty and not as protection from evil spirits.

Many wedding traditions stem from very old customs, religions or superstitions, while others evolve through necessity. Some are the result of the love we have for something or someone.  A new "old" wedding tradition that is rising in popularity comes from the love we have for our pets.

Who was the first to include a pet in their wedding and when did it happen? We can't be 100% sure. Most likely it occurred around 2100B.C. in the Bedouins tribes of Egypt who adored their Salukis. A resurgence of this tradition is occurring among contemporary couples all over the world. These couples are choosing to make their furry companions a part of the ceremony.

What is causing the resurgence of this doggie wedding tradition? The rising age of first times brides and grooms seems to be the contributing factor. After all, their pets were their constant companions before the love of their life enter their world.  That's not to say that younger couples haven't included pets in their weddings.  There have been weddings with all different types of pets from snakes to ferrets and from dogs to cats. In all cases, you can be certain that a couple who chooses to have a pet in their ceremony does this out of love for their non-human companion.

Of course, dogs are the most common wedding attendees.  They have even been members of the wedding party. Dogs have served as ring bearers, flower carriers, and even the bride or groom's "dog of honor" or "best" dog.  You can even find tuxedos to fit your pet to carry this tradition to the full extent.

This "old" new tradition is one that is gaining in popularity. So, don't be surprised if at the next wedding you attend you see a furry friend escorting the Bride to the alter.

Where Did The Tradition Of Tying Shoes To The Bridal Vehicle Come From?

Some people believe the tradition stems from the Egyptians.  It is said that Egyptians once exchanged sandals after exchanging goods. As a result, it is thought that the father would give the groom his daughter's sandals (bride's shoes), symbolizing that they were the grooms property now.

Another  idea of shoes and wedding traditions comes from the bible.  In Ruth 4:7 it states that ; Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel.

Both ideas show how shoes can be part of commitment to a contract.  Incorporating shoes into the tradition of weddings seems natural, since wedding vows and ceremonies are contracts of commitments between a bride and groom.  But how did the old tradition turn to shoes being tied to bumpers?

During the Anglo-Saxon years( 5th century), people took to throwing shoes at the bride and groom as a way to wish them luck on their journey, as well as fertility. It could be that maybe, just maybe, someone threw a shoe just a bit to hard and bit to precise. Possibly knocking either the bride or groom out thus resulting in a change of tradition at the next wedding. Instead of throwing shoes, they tied them to the carriage. After all the point of a tradition is merely symbolization. Tied shoes symbolizes the husband and wife being "tied" together (committed to one another) and tying baby shoes to the bumper certainly symbolizes fertility.

We can't be certain of when the tradition changed; but even in today's time, you will see many different countries still carrying on the "tying of the shoes" wedding tradition to the couples car.

Ask The Wedding Guide: Where could I purchase what is called a sixpence.  Jackie

Reply:

Jackie,

Today, most brides who want to follow the "something old, something new and a sixpence in your shoe" wedding tradition simply use a penny or another coin as a symbol of the six pence.  I don't believe six-pence are in current circulation. However, if you have your heart set on a sixpence try one of these places:  coin collectors who deal in British coins , wedding accessory shops who deal in wedding tradition items, wedding supply compaines with wedding tradition items.

India has many beautiful wedding customs. The majority religion of India is Hinduism. The wedding customs and traditions in India stem from their religious and culture back grounds.  In Hindu weddings the bride wears a sari (a wrap style dress) with her hair up usually in a bun style and a veil called a ghunghat.  In India the covering of the bride's head is mark of respect to the gods as well as the elders.  The groom wears dhoti, which is an un-stitched fabric about seven yards and wraps around his waste where it is tied in knot, along with a shirt.

One of the most commonly known Hindu wedding traditions is mehandi (henna tattoo).  Mehandi is an exotic non-permanent tattooing of intricate patterns that decorate the bride's hands Read the rest of Indian Wedding Customs -Traditions »

Ask The Celebration Advisor: Do our ushers need to wear tuxedos? What about the groom's father? Also, should the ushers have boutonnieres?  Sue

The Celebration Advisor: Traditionally ushers were considered the grooms attendants and required to dress in the same formality as the groom.  So if the groom wore a tuxedo, the groomsmen and usher also wore a tuxedo.  Contemporary wedding etiquette has relaxed this tradition for ushers.  It is now acceptable for ushers to Read the rest of What Is The Appropriate Attire For Wedding Ushers? »

Greek Wedding Tradition… Oopah!

Greek Orthodox weddings are very theatrical. One thing that may surprise you is that in a tradition Greek Orthodox wedding the bride and groom do not exchange vows. Tradition dictates that the bride and groom meet outside the wedding ceremony location (the church) and enter together. The church sees the standing before the priest as a serious commitment and thus no need to exchange vows. They enter the church with the guest following. Yes the guest wait outside the church waiting for the couple to enter first, and take seats where ever they like, there is no brides side or grooms side in traditional Greek weddings.

There are several parts to the wedding ceremony the first is the Rites of the Betrothal. This is the beginning of the ceremony, the priest stands before the bride and groom and ask the bride first do you wish to marry this man, and then ask the groom do you wish to marry this women. After the answer the priest then says a prayer, the “Crowning” takes place the priest holds two wreaths over the bride and grooms heads. The wreaths signify how much give and take a marriage must have, as well as symbolizing that they are now king and queen of their own kingdom.

The couple then drink from a single cup of wine, symbolizing that in marriage all things are Read the rest of Greek Wedding Tradition….. Oopah! »

Wedding traditions are charming ways we hold on to our heritage and ethnicity. When we are able to incorporate even minute details of our heritage it makes our wedding day that much more special. But what if you don't have a direct relationship to a particular heritage or ethnicity?  Can you follow their traditions?  Remember imitation is the best form of flattery.  So why not incorporate the traditions of an ethnicity or  culture that you admire.  For me some of the wedding traditions that began with the Italian culture are the most special.

In fact, Italian wedding traditions are easily incorporated into any wedding celebration. If you’re a bride who Read the rest of Infusing Italian Wedding Traditions Into Your Special Day »

Who Walks The Bride Down The Aisle

Blended families are a normal part of life these days, but when it comes to deciding who walks the bride down the aisle—father or step-father—it can be anything but a "normal" decision. However, there are some guidelines to follow to help make the decision.

Guideline for Walking Bride Down Aisle:

The first thing to keep in mind is that walking the bride down the aisle or "giving the bride away" is a Read the rest of A Walk Down the Aisle: Father or Step-Father? »