Wedding expenses have skyrocketed over the years, and it can be tricky determining who pays for what. How can you get the wedding you’ve always dreamed of without breaking the bank? Here are a few ways, both traditional and modern, of paying for the big day.
The Bride’s Parents
Traditionally, the bride’s parents paid for the wedding – every expense was accounted for from the flowers to the reception. This is still a pretty popular way to go, but there are pros and cons.
While you won’t need to shell out any cash for your big day, your parents are 
footing the bill so you’ll need to be willing to compromise. Generally speaking, whoever pays for the wedding gets what they want, even if they aren’t the ones getting hitched!
So, while you and your intended get to save for your nest egg, mom and dad pretty much have the say-so. Additionally, having your parents pay for the wedding might put them into severe financial distress if they aren’t well off financially to begin with.
The Bride and Groom
Modern couples are starting to foot the bill for their own weddings and, while you have complete control over the planning with this option, you could find yourself in some serious debt if you aren’t careful.
If you intend on paying for everything, make a budget and stick to it. Be willing to compromise if some expenses are more than you bargained for. Also, don’t shut out the rest of your family just because they aren’t paying for the wedding. Who knows – they might have a few good ideas to pass along to you!
Split the Bill
Finally, you can divide the expenses between the bride and groom and both sets of parents so no one party is bogged down with extra expenses they can’t afford. If you can’t split the cost equally, have everyone contribute what they can afford.
Paying for your wedding this way can be quite economical, and you don’t relinquish complete control of the planning because you are contributing as well. However, all of you will have to be willing to negotiate and hear input from all sides.
In today’s economic climate, paying for your dream wedding can seem impossible. With different ways of taking care of expenses, however, you can have you dream wedding without breaking the bank. Learn to compromise and communicate with your intended and everyone’s family for a wedding that goes off without a hitch.