What costs can parents help with for their child's wedding?

Collaborative Post | Watching your child get married is a significant moment in any parent’s life. Not only is it a time to celebrate the love they share with their partner, but it’s often a rare opportunity to have all of the family together. Whether your family is large or small, moments such as weddings really bring people together.
 
Something that many families find tricky to talk about, however, is money. But parents often want to contribute to the wedding financially. After all, weddings are expensive. If you’re able to, providing money or paying for a part of the day is a real gift.

​A common way of contributing to the cost of a wedding is to ‘gift’ something that needs to be booked. Of course, it’s up to you how much you would like to give but there are options which cost varying amounts. In this guide, we explore some of these choices, how much they can cost, and why it’s a great way to help your child with the expense of a wedding.

Helping your children with the costs of a wedding (Photo by Photos by Lanty on Unsplash)

The venue

One of the largest wedding expenses, typically costing thousands of pounds, the venue is also one of the first things couples need to find and book. Helping with all or some of the cost would be highly appreciated, but it’s important for parents to let the couple know how much they would like to contribute so that they can take this into consideration for their budget when they start their search. Also be wary of committing to paying for all of the venue (or anything else) before investigating the costs yourself because you need to consider your own financial circumstances too.
 
Some parents have large homes and gardens, or connections to places which host weddings, such as a golf course or restaurant. This can be a more affordable way of ‘gifting’ the venue.

The bride's dress

If your daughter is getting married, you might decide to pay for the dress. Traditionally brides will invite their mum to try on wedding dresses, but it might be a surprise for the dad on the wedding day. This can make it quite a special item to give because both parents will have been involved in the journey in different ways.
 
Customised or borrowed family heirlooms are also a way parents can contribute to what the couple wear on their wedding day. For example, items of jewellery or watches might be gifted or keepsakes added to bouquets. These are just some of the ways couples might want to remember and honour loved ones who are no longer around to attend the wedding.

A wedding band

​A real highlight of any wedding, hiring a live band can create a buzz on the day. While it may be tempting to choose a band who play music that matches your personal taste, remember it’s about the couple. You could even go and watch some bands in person or on YouTube together to choose something you all enjoy.

The bar or cake

For many people, enjoying some drinks is part of the celebration of a wedding. Putting some money behind the bar is a nice way of gifting everyone who attends – a way that parents can thank all of the guests if they’d like to. Usually this will be announced or shared somewhere.
 
If you have more of a sweet tooth, you might feel it’s more fitting to pay for the wedding cake. Or perhaps you’d like to try baking it yourself if you are talented in the kitchen.

Photo by Wedding Photography on Unsplash

However you decide to contribute to your child’s wedding, it’ll be a day to remember. Enjoy the moment with your loved ones as you’ll have the memories for years to come.


​Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post