When it comes to planning a Las Vegas ceremony and reception, one of the first things that couples have to decide is who pays for what. This can be a tricky question, especially since there are so many different expenses associated with a wedding – from the venue to the flowers, as well as the wedding photographer, and everything in between! In this post, Always & Forever Weddings and Receptions will break down the typical wedding expenses that traditionally get assigned to the bride or the groom’s family. Keep in mind that every couple’s situation is different, so you may need to adjust these guidelines based on your specific circumstances.
Who Traditionally Pays for What in a Las Vegas Wedding – A Breakdown by Category
Unless you’re booking an all inclusive package, there can be a lot of individual expenses associated with a typical Las Vegas ceremony and wedding reception, so who pays for what can become a tricky question to answer. The best way to figure it out is to sit down with your fiancé and both of your families and come up with a budget that works for everyone. In the meantime, if you would like some help by getting information on who traditionally pays for what, then dive into the details below that’s broken down by the bride and groom’s family:
The Bride’s Family – Wedding Expenses Traditionally Covered
As the bride, you may be wondering who should pay for what when it comes to your Las Vegas wedding expenses. Your family will likely contribute in some way, but if they are able, there are specific expenses that they may want to cover. With that said, here’s a rundown of what the bride’s family traditionally pays for:
- Wedding Engagement Announcements: The announcements are typically handled by the bride, and this includes the cost of the announcements themselves, as well as the mailing costs, unless they are being sent digitally.
- The Engagement Party: The bride’s family traditionally pays for the engagement party, and this can include the cost of the invitations as well.
- Las Vegas Wedding Planner: Not all couples choose to enlist a wedding planner, but when they do, the cost is generally taken care of by the family of the bride. It’s worth noting that our full-service wedding venue provides a wedding planner with each package.
- The Bride’s Attire: As you can imagine, the bride’s dress and all the accessories are paid for by the bride and her family.
- Las Vegas Ceremony Venue: The wedding ceremony venue is on the list of costs that the groom is typically not responsible for. If the bride’s family is on a tight budget, it’s important to seek out wedding specials to help with the cost.
- Ceremony Wedding Flowers: Traditionally, the ceremony’s floral costs are the bride’s responsibility. However, there are actually a few flower uses that are covered by the groom, which we will discuss soon. When you book a Las Vegas wedding package at Always & Forever, you will be provided with floral credits for your special day. We suggest visiting our wedding flowers section for some inspiration.
- Wedding Day Transportation: The bride’s family will normally pay for the transportation to the reception hall after the ceremony. Always & Forever’s Reception Halls are just steps away from the wedding altar, so this cost would be eliminated altogether. Also, you can save even more money when booking with our venue because our larger packages include wedding transportation for up to six people after the reception. If you would like to obtain your own transportation, then dive into our post on Wedding Day Transportation for Las Vegas Weddings.
- Video & Photography: Media costs, such as the wedding photographer and videographer, are generally covered by the bride’s family. Please visit our wedding photographer page to read about how our packages come with a professional photographer who will capture your day perfectly. Also, you might be interested in checking out our post on why it’s important to utilize an experienced wedding photographer.
- Las Vegas Reception Venue: The bride is responsible for the wedding reception costs which includes the venue, meal, wedding cake, table flowers, and more. Head over to our reception only section to learn more about our fabulous banquet halls, as well as read about how a multi-tier wedding cake comes complete with our all inclusive and reception only packages.
The Groom’s Family – Wedding Expenses Traditionally Covered
Now it’s time for the groom to see what his family may be responsible for if you would like to divide the expenses of your Las Vegas ceremony and reception. The following is not set in stone; it’s just a guideline for what has traditionally been done in the past.
- Ceremony Wedding Flowers: The groom’s family normally pays for the wedding corsages and boutonnieres that will be worn by the wedding party and the immediate family, as well as the bridal party. You can learn more about the most common uses of flowers in our recent wedding flowers article.
- Rehearsal Dinner: The entire rehearsal dinner, which includes the venue, food, and drinks, is typically paid for by the groom’s parents or immediate family.
- The Reception Costs: Although the bride’s family covers the costs for the bulk of the Las Vegas wedding reception, the groom can be responsible for the entertainment, such as a DJ or band, as well as the bar related costs.
- Marriage License: The cost of the marriage license is paid for by the groom. We have a full write-up on how to obtain this essential document, so head over to our Marriage License page for all the details.
- Grooms Attire: The groom and his family pay for his wedding day attire, just as the bride pays for hers.
- Honeymoon: The bride gets a break on this high-ticket item because the groom’s family traditionally covers the honeymoon.
Common Questions that Brides & Grooms Ask About Wedding Expenses in the Las Vegas Area
If you have a few inquiries regarding wedding costs, you’re in luck because we are here to answer all of your questions! Our wedding consultants would love to speak with you to discuss any questions you may have. Until then, we are listing out a few of our most popular questions on the subject. So, dive in and remember to contact Always & Forever Weddings and Receptions if you have your own set of questions.
Is a Las Vegas ceremony and reception expensive?
Some think that tying the knot in Las Vegas will break the bank, but this can’t be further from the truth; there are plenty of budget-friendly wedding venues, such as Always & Forever, that have designed packages for all budgets. This can include packages for lakefront all-inclusive weddings to packages for saying your “I DOs” within an elegant wedding chapel at an affordable price. Of course, there are extravagant options for those who want to splurge on their big day, but with a little bit of research and planning, anyone can have their dream Las Vegas wedding without breaking the bank.
You can start by checking out our Wedding Specials page, as well as our Wedding Packages section. We also suggest booking an All Inclusive Package since it can bundle your Las Vegas ceremony and reception into one affordable price.
How much is the average price for getting married in the Las Vegas area?
No matter where you’re getting married, when it comes to weddings, the sky is (almost) the limit when it comes to a budget. But if you’re looking to stay grounded and realistic about what you can expect to spend on your big day, here is some helpful information on average pricing.
First, we would like to say that every wedding is different – and your specific costs will depend on a number of factors, including the location, number of guests, if you’re booking a ceremony only or all inclusive package, and so on. But in general, most couples who marry at Always & Forever Weddings and Receptions can expect the low-end cost to be around $650, and on the high-end, around $10,500.
Take a moment to view some of our packages to get an idea of what you can expect as far as price is concerned:
- Swan Garden All Inclusive Packages
- Grand Garden All Inclusive Packages
- Waterfall Garden All Inclusive Packages
- Heritage Garden Ceremony Only & All Inclusive Packages
- Lakeview Chapel Ceremony Only & All Inclusive Packages
For more information on different sized weddings, see our articles on planning a small wedding ceremony, as well as a wedding for two, or our post on putting together a wedding for 50 guests or more.
Las Vegas Ceremony & Reception Resources for Your Big Day
Weddings are very special occasions that deserve to be planned out perfectly. Fortunately, there are tons of resources available to help make your wedding day as beautiful and memorable as possible, and we have provided a few below to jump-start things for you – from planning a Las Vegas wedding ceremony, and what steps to take to get your marriage licenses, as well as tips for an amazing maid of honor speech. By diving into these resources, you can get the tips and inspiration you need to make sure that your wedding day is everything you have always dreamed it would be.
- Take a look at our Ceremony Information page if you want to learn more about what we offer at Always & Forever.
- Find out which wedding traditions are the most popular so you can add them to your big day.
- We have a Venue Packages page that you will want to see if you’re getting married in Las Vegas.
- If you’re looking for a reception only venue, we have elegant banquet halls in the Las Vegas area that you will love!
- Make sure to book your bridal hair and makeup appointment well in advance.
- Dive into our Reception Information page for all the details on our popular banquet halls and what’s included in our packages.
- If you would like to have an outdoor wedding, then be sure to head over to this post.
- Our venue offers fabulous outdoor wedding spaces that have beautiful lake and garden views.
- See why choosing your bridesmaids can be easier than you think!
- You can have the fairy tale wedding you have always dreamed about with one of our ceremony gazebo packages.
- An evening wedding has many advantages – find out what they are.
- Have a beautiful sunset wedding that allows you to capture stunning ceremony photos.
- Choose your bridal updo style carefully by heading over to this post for some fabulous examples.
Always & Forever Boasts Affordable Las Vegas Ceremony and Reception Packages!
No matter who is paying for what when it comes to your Las Vegas wedding, Always & Forever has packages that make getting married near the Vegas Strip affordable! In addition to this, because we know that not every couple has the same budget, we’re happy to work with you to tailor a package that fits your needs. So, if you’re looking for an affordable option for your Las Vegas ceremony and reception, look no further than Always & Forever. Contact us at (702) 318-5683 to start planning your dream wedding – we look forward to hearing from you!