Budgeting is one of the most important and most dreaded part of planning a wedding. And figuring out who pays for each part can be tricky and potentially awkward. Here is a very traditional and very basic breakdown of who is expected to pay for what:

The Couple: the rings, all gifts for family and bridal party, the marriage license and their share of the bachelorette/bachelor party.

The Wedding Party: Their outfits for the wedding and their share of the bachelorette/bachelor party.

The Groom’s Family: The rehearsal dinner and a shower, if they choose to throw one.

The Bride’s Family: The wedding and reception.

However, nothing is traditional these days, especially when it comes to weddings. Couples themselves are often paying for a lot more of their big day, leaving their families with less of the financial burden. Or some couples opt for more simple and inexpensive weddings, such as backyard ceremony or reception to save money. But no matter how you break down your budget or how much you plan on spending consider everyone who is helping you pay for your big day when making decisions so no one ends up breaking the bank. It is also important to keep in mind how much you are expecting each person or family to pay. Don’t expect too much or push too hard because money is one of the trickiest topics to talk about and to decide upon. So be smart and save when you can to ensure your big day goes off without a hitch!