April 2011 - On the Couch
- Unable to locate crossword 188
Should the bride's parents pay for the wedding?
With Royal Wedding fever reaching a peak this month, we ask if
tradition is important when a couple ties the knot, or if marital
costs should be shared?
Gary Owen, 52, works as an assistant head teacher and counsellor in West Lothian. He believes in tradition and wants to pay for the wedding of his only daughter.
Caroline England, 32, is engaged and paying for her own wedding, but the singer-songwriter from Merseyside would also like to contribute when her two girls grow up.
Jo Beck, 39, is a mum-of-two from Nottingham and thinks both the bride and groom plus both their families should split the financial cost between them.
Who should pay when a couple gets married?
Jo: "I think because it's a family celebration, and with people not having a lot of money now due to the recession, it's nice if people from each family chip in. When I got married various people contributed to my wedding. My mum and dad were separated, so they both gave us money, as did my gran and my brother. Plus my partner and I took a loan out."
Gary: "I find myself going from one opinion to another. I have a 19-year-old daughter who wants a big traditional wedding and I've said I will pay for the whole thing. I'll happily give her the money, but I'd much prefer it if she used it for a deposit on a house instead, and opted for a slightly smaller wedding. But then there's part of me that thinks it's going to be a once-in-alifetime thing for both of us, because she's my only daughter. When my sister got married, my dad spent £15,000 on her wedding and always said it was the best day of his life, so that has always stuck in my mind."
Jo: "But that's quite a lot of money for one person to spend on just a few hours. If you've got that money and are willing to do it then great, but nowadays not many people have and I don't think the father of the bride should feel obliged to pay for everything anymore."
HAVE YOUR SAY!
Should the bride's parents pay for the wedding? (CLOSED)
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Comments:
"I think nowadays it is not traditional as it used to be. It depends on financial position, many are out of work or in low paid jobs, so are not in a position to pay as they would like too."
Karen Randall - Sunday 3rd Apr 2011
"it depends on the financial position of parents and their daughter. We paid for our own wedding in 1977, and so didn't have a lavish do - our daughter wants everything and thinks we should pay, even though she earns nearly as much as my husband, has her own home etc.Any advice ? "
Margaret Davies - Tuesday 22nd Mar 2011
"I think it is reasonable to expect some help in paying for the wedding, if the daughter is living at home and contributing to the running of the household. If however you are living with your partner I dot not think it should be expeced that the parents pay"
Marie Wallace - Monday 21st Mar 2011