The Citizen, 1999-02-10, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10,1999. PAGE 17.
Couples’ families share wedding expenses
Traditionally, there has been a set
division in expenses between the
bride’s family and the groom's
family at a wedding.
The following is the traditional
list of who pays for what.
As long as it is mutually-agreed
upon by both families, there can be
modifications to the list. The
groom's family, for instance, may
want a larger guest list and offer to
take on some of the expenses of the
reception.
Modern brides and grooms may
also wish to pay for the entire
wedding, or the bulk of the
wedding, themselves. Even in
these modern times, though, the
bride should pay for her own
wedding dress and the groom
should pay for the engagement and
wedding rings, along with the cost
of the marriage licence and the
clergyman's fees.
Expenses of the Bride's Family
- The engagement photo.
- The party where the engage
ment is formally announced.
- The cost of a professional wed
ding consultant.
- Announcements, invitations,
enclosures and postage.
Wedding cakes symbolize luck
From Kapuskasing Northern Times
The centre of attraction at any
wedding reception is the cake, but
probably few people know of its
origin.
The wedding cake dates back to
Roman times and symbolizes
fertility and good luck. In fact
Romans were known to crumble
pieces of cake over the newlyweds
to ensure prosperity and the
Chinese started the custom of
giving cake to guests, and those
who could not attend, as a good
luck symbol.
Newlyweds add luxury to day
Couples increasingly seek
touches of luxury in their daily
routines. They no longer consider
lavishness as a status symbol, but a
reward they deserve.
• Mix and match. The lines
between formal and informal blur
as couples redefine the concept of
luxury. Newlyweds will use fine
tableware as everyday ware (i.e.
orange juice is served in tine
crystal at breakfast on the patio;
sterling silver serves up take-out
food.)
• Casual is in. Stylish casual
dinnerware is attractively priced to
encourage newlyweds to be more
- The wedding dress and acces
sories.
- Groom's wedding ring, if any.
- Rental fee, if any, for rhe place
of the wedding.
- Rental for carpets and canopies
used for the church or place of the
wedding.
- Fees for traffic directors or
parking attendants, if any.
- Fees for the sexton, organist
and soloist.
- Photography, both formal and
informal.
- Videotaping of the wedding.
- Transportation for the bridal
party to the wedding and from there
to the reception.
- The entire cost of the reception,
including wedding cake, music and
all food and beverages.
- Presents from the bride to her
bridesmaids, flower girl and any
other attendants.
- Bride's present to groom, if any.
- Party for the bridesmaids.
- Accommodation for out-of-
town bridesmaids.
- The following flowers: bride's
bouquet and going-away corsage,
bridesmaids' bouquets.
- All decorations, including
flowers, for the place where the
England for centuries had a
tradition whereby the guests would
each bring a bun. These would be
piled in a mound and if the bride
and groom could lean over from
opposite sides and kiss without
upsetting the mound, they would
have a long and happy life together.
In some Pacific Islands the eating
of the cake actually constitutes the
wedding ceremony.
Several myths surround the
wedding cake. The custom of the
bride and groom cutting the cake
together symbolizes that they will
spontaneous about tableware—to
mix patterns, add accessories.
• Dinnerware manufacturers
branch out and place new emphasis
on giftware by creating additional
lines which include such items as
vases, bowls, frames, clocks.
Pillow talk for rings
If you have a ringbearer in your
wedding party, make sure the ring -
- or rings - are fastened to the
cushion with a single thread. A
single thread is easy to break as the
wedding is held.
Expenses of the Groom's Family
- Engagement ring.
- Bride's wedding ring.
- Marriage licence fee.
- Donation to the clergyman or
fee for official who conducts the
ceremony.
- Travel costs and accommo
dation for the clergyman if he
comes from out of town for the
wedding.
- Travel costs and accommo
dation for the groom's parents, if
any.
- Transportation for the groom
and best man to the ceremony.
- Wedding present from the
groom's parents to the couple.
- Wedding present from the
groom to the tride, if given.
- Gifts for the best man and
ushers.
- Rehearsal party.
- His wedding clothing.
- Accommodation, if necessary,
for best man and ushers.
- Ties and gloves for best man
and ushers if they are not part of
clothing rental.
- The honeymoon.
- The following flowers: bouton
nieres for himself, best man,
share everything, but if the groom
attempts to do it on his own then
the marriage will be childless.
The bride should always keep a
slice of cake as this will make sure
that her husband remains faithful.
A young single girl will dream of
her future husband if she puts a
slice of cake under her pillow.
Finally it is said to be very bad
luck for the bride to make, or even
help make, her own cake and by
tasting it before her wedding day,
she ensures the loss of her
husband's love.
• Earth tones lighten up. Popular
earth tone shades, such as blues and
greens, have expanded to
encompass yellows. Hand-painted
leaves, flowers and other earth-
bound motifs are new symbols for
the home.
rings are taken off the pillow.
There is less likelihood of the
wedding rings being lost if those on
the pillow are a facsimile and the
real ones are carried by the best
man and the maid of honour.
ushers, both fathers and grand
fathers, corsages for both mothers
and grandmothers.
Expenses for Bride's Attendants
- Purchase of wedding clothing
and all accessories.
- Transportation to and from the
city where the wedding takes place.
- A contribution to a gift from all
the bridesmaids to the bride.
- An individual gift to the couple
Turnberry St., Brussels
Set The Scene
WifA Flowers
Let us make your wedding day "personally" yours with
beautiful flowers to complement your bridal party and to
create a festive atmosphere at the church & reception. Call
or visit us today. We'll be happy to assist you!
We also rent brass candelabra and topiary tree decorated
with fresh or silk flowers
Call or stop in today for more information.
flowers nThings
fieaf or Si^
Brussels Country Inn
is the ideal setting for
family gatherings,
small wedding receptions
and rehearsal parties.
Comfortable cozy rooms & suites
Elegant dining for breakfast,
lunch & supper
Sunday Brunch
-11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Weekend entertainment
For reservations call 519-887-9035
- A shower for the bride.
Expenses for Groom's Attendants
- Rental of wedding attire.
- Transportation to and from the
location of the wedding.
- A contribution to a gift from all
the groom's attendants for the
groom.
- An individual gift to the couple.
- A bachelor dinner given by the
groom's attendants.
38 Albert St.,
Clinton
482-3689