How Much Money Should The Groom’s Parents Give?

Chances are when you think of paying for a wedding, it isn’t a cheap price tag. A lot goes into making the day special and perfect for both the bride and groom. All of the decor, attire, reception and ceremony needs can add up quickly. 

Everyone has responsibilities and expenses they pay for. While the bride’s parents often pay for most of the wedding, the groom’s parents also pay for some. So, how much money should the groom’s parents give?

Although there isn’t a set price, the groom’s parents typically pay for about 13 percent of the wedding expenses. The average wedding costs $30,000 which means that the groom’s parents pay for about $4,000 of the special event.

Being such a special event, it is a well-known fact that weddings are expensive. Everything from the wedding dress to the catering can add up quickly to cost a lot of money for the happy couple. Traditionally, the bride’s parent’s pay for most of the wedding. Although the groom’s parents contribute a little, they don’t pay for too many of the expenses. 

Now, the amount that each family pays can vary based on how much the wedding will cost. A cheaper wedding will require the groom’s parents to pay a cheaper price and a more expensive wedding a more expensive price. 

Generally, the parents of the groom will have the responsibility to pay for certain wedding expenses. I will go into more detail about what exactly they are supposed to pay for in the next section.

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What Is The Groom’s Parents Supposed To Pay For?

All the glittering decor, gorgeous flowers and the gigantic wedding cake at a wedding are paid for by someone. Parents of the bride or groom have certain things that traditionally they should pay for. 

So, what is the groom’s parents supposed to pay for?

The groom’s parents have the responsibility to pay for certain wedding expenses. These normally include the rehearsal dinner, corsages and boutonnieres, the bride’s bouquet, lodging for the groomsmen and the officiant, as well as their own attire.

Now, these are what are traditionally paid for by the groom’s parents, not what they “have” to pay for. If they want to pay for more expenses like helping out with the reception, they can. 

The bride and groom should discuss with both sets of their parents how they want to split the bill. Some couples who are able to decide to pay for a majority of the wedding instead of having their parents pay for it. 

In recent years, it’s becoming more and more popular for the bride and groom to pay for most of the wedding themselves. Many couples are getting married at an older age and with being on their own for a while, they have the money needed for a wedding. 

Younger couples may not have the means necessary to pay for such a large event and so their parents usually volunteer to help them out. So, as you can see, who pays for what can be done traditionally or it can all depend on what the couple and their parents decide they want to do.

How Much Do The Groom’s Parents Pay For In A Wedding?

Weddings are beautiful and special and every parent wants the best for their son or daughter. This is why the parents of the bride and groom help out a lot when it comes to wedding expenses. 

But how much do the groom’s parents pay for when it comes to a wedding?

There isn’t an exact amount of money given by the groom’s parents for their son’s wedding but there are certain expenses they pay for. On average, the parents of the groom pay for about 13 percent of the total wedding expenses. 

It is wedding etiquette and customary for the bride’s parents to pay for a majority of the wedding and for the groom’s parents to pay for certain expenses. Here is a list showing what is traditionally paid for by the groom’s parent and ana average cost of each:

1. Rehearsal dinner – $1,300 depending on what kind of food and drinks, how much, etc.
2. Corsages / boutonnieres – $10 to $30 each depending on the type of corsage or boutonniere
3. Lodging of groomsmen – $100 to $300 a night depending on the hotel
4. Lodging of officiant – $100 to $300 a night depending on the hotel
5. Their own attire – $50 to $100 depending on the outfit
6. Bride’s bouquet – $10 up to $160 depending on the type of bouquet (real, faux, big, small, etc.) 
7. Reception entertainment – $1,000 depending on who and what the entertainment is
8. Reception drinks – $2,000 depending on what kind of drink are served
9. Grooms attire / accessories – $300 depending on the type of tuxedo
10. Officiant fee – $400 to $800 depending on professional experience, level of service, customization, etc.

So, even though the groom’s parents don’t pay for the majority of the wedding, they still have expenses they pay for which can add up quickly. Of course, this list can be altered according to how the couple want to do their wedding. 

These items also don’t have to cost as much as was listed. This is just an average cost of what couples are paying for each expense. If you want to pay less, consider opting for cheaper choices. 

It is a good idea to set a budget of what you are willing to spend on each wedding costs and stick to it. This can be important when you only have a certain amount of money you can spend and can also help you to avoid overspending. 

As the groom’s parents, you don’t want to go into debt over your son’s wedding. You can still make it a special day without spending a lot of money.

Final Thoughts

The groom’s parents aren’t tied down to give a certain amount toward the wedding. There are certain expenses that traditionally they are responsible for but this can be changed according to what the bride, groom, along with their parents decide to do. 

About 13 percent of the average wedding costs is paid for by the groom’s parents. These costs include the rehearsal dinner, corsages and boutineers, the bride’s bouquet, lodging for the groomsmen and officiant, their attire, etc. 

Some expenses of the wedding can be cheaper or more expensive depending on how expensive they are. So, while it is hard to say exactly how much the groom’s parents will give towards their son’s wedding, they do pay for a portion of the special event.