These days, couples commonly finance their wedding with a combination of their own funds and contributions from both sides of the family. On average, parents contribute 51% of wedding costs, while couples cover the remaining 49%, according to a survey by The Knot, a wedding-planning website.
The expectations may be different depending on your own financial situation and your family’s cultural or socioeconomic background. But with the average cost of a wedding coming in at about $35,000, it’s not unreasonable to ask parents to pitch in — if they can afford it.
Make a wedding budget
Before you ask anyone for money, establish a budget. It should include all potential expenses, such as a venue fee, floral arrangements and non-floral decor, photography, stationery (invitations, programs and signage), transportation for guests between lodging and the venue, a day-of coordinator, a wedding officiant, music, cake, gifts for your wedding party, the bar, and dinner at the reception.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
To estimate these expenses, you’ll need to start with a guest count. “The guest list is the area where costs can really balloon,” says Jessica Bishop, founder of TheBudgetSavvyBride.com. Here, you can familiarize yourself with the typical cost of wedding services in your zip code. To create the most-accurate estimates, contact vendors you’d like to work with for quotes.
Discuss wedding budgets with your family
Once you’ve established your estimated expenses, consider asking your family to review them. This could be a good launching point for a discussion about whether they’d like to help and, if so, how much they’re willing to contribute. Come prepared with numbers and specific wishes.
If your family offers financial help before you have the chance to ask, you and your partner should discuss the offer before accepting it, Bishop says. Even if a family member insists there are no strings attached, the power of the purse could affect your plans.
For example, your parents might want to finance a big wedding although you would prefer something more intimate. You could ask your parents to help pay for a specific expense, such as the floral arrangements, the bar bill or the photographer.
Advice for parents on wedding budgets
If you want to contribute to your child’s wedding, familiarize yourself with potential costs before agreeing to any financial support. If you have credit card debt, car payments or other outstanding high-interest loans, you may not be in a position to make a financial contribution. You should also have three to six months’ worth of expenses set aside in an emergency fund before offering to cover any wedding costs.
Think about future financial obligations, too. If the bride or groom is not your only child and is the first to marry, your contribution to the wedding may set your other children’s expectations of how you’ll help with their own nuptials someday.
Finally, remember that it’s ultimately your child’s wedding, not yours. The goal is for your child to celebrate in the way that feels most authentic to them and for you to feel good about where your contribution is going.
Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.
Related content
-
What Wall Street's CEOs Are Saying About Trump's TariffsWe're in the thick of earnings season and corporate America has plenty to say about the Trump administration's trade policy.
-
The Role of the U.S. Dollar in Retirement: Is It Secure?Protect your retirement from de-dollarization, because “capital always goes where it is treated best."
-
Walmart Week 2025: Exclusive Perks and Deals for Walmart+ MembersWalmart+ Week runs April 28 –May 4 with fuel savings, free express delivery and six months of Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. See all the perks.
-
How to Make Changing Interest Rates Work for Your RetirementHigher (or lower) rates can be painful in some ways and helpful in others. The key is being prepared to take advantage of the situation.
-
Four Reasons It May Be Time to Shop for New InsuranceYou may be unhappy with your insurance for any number of reasons, so once you've decided to shop, what is appropriate (or inappropriate) timing?
-
How to Put Together Your Personal Net Worth StatementNow that tax season is over for most of us, it's the perfect time to organize your assets and liabilities to assess your financial wellness.
-
Bouncing Back: New Tunes for Millennials Trying to Make ItAdele's mournful melodies kick off this generation's financial playlist, but with the right plan, Millennials can finish strong.
-
What Are AI Agents and What Can They Do for You?AI agents promise to be the next big thing in artificial intelligence, but what exactly do they do?
-
Should You Buy an iPhone Now Before Tariffs Hit?Looming tariffs can make an iPhone purchase seem urgent. Here's what to do if you need another phone but want to save money.
-
Here's When a Lack of Credit Card Debt Can Cause You ProblemsUsually, getting a new credit card can be difficult if you have too much card debt, but this bank customer ran into an issue because he had no debt at all.
