Who Pays for the Wedding in France?

Whether you're a curious wedding guest or you've just got engaged, there will be many of you wondering who is responsible for paying for perhaps the most significant life event there is. 

Like many Western cultures, France used to have a tradition of the Bride's Father paying for the celebration. However, as times have moved on, so have these traditions, with couples often paying their fair share too. 

Who Pays for a Wedding in France? 

Traditionally, the Father of the Bride paid for a couple's wedding in France. However, today, the costs of French weddings are usually shared between both sets of parents and the couple themselves often contribute. 

Both sets of parents usually donate a cash sum to "les futurs mariés", and the bride and groom then use that money (along with any of their own savings they want to contribute) to form a budget for their wedding celebrations.  

What Proportion of a French Wedding is Paid By the Parents?

The proportion paid by the parents will differ from wedding to wedding. In some cases, both sets of parents will pay for everything between them. In other cases, the happy couple can end up spending more than the combined amount donated by their parents. 

Given that the cost of a French wedding can reach well in excess of 10,000 euros, couples often find themselves paying for a considerable chunk of the celebration themselves. For that reason, it's expected for French wedding guests to partake financially, either by buying the couple a nice gift or donating a generous sum of money that will help pay for the wedding or honeymoon.

Summary:

Paying for a Wedding Celebration in France

In short, for French weddings, it is no longer the responsibility of the Father of the Bride to stump up the money for the celebration. As is the case in many Western cultures today, the financial burden of this important life event is shared between the parents, and the couple may decide to add their own funds to the budget to afford the type of celebration they want. 

While not compulsory, French wedding guests are expected to chip in financially with gifts or cash donations to soften the financial burden associated with these grand occasions.