Evening star., 1962-05-27

in from those who are in the
midst of planning a wedding
during the coming summer
months. The question most
often asked is who pays for
what2"
In an endeavor to assist
the harraSsed parents on
both sides, and the bride
groom himself, here is a brief
outline of the customs that
have come down through the
years with regard to this
problem. If you follow them
you can't go wrong and no
one can be critical of your
actions.
The parents of the bride are
financially responsible for the
purchase Of the trouSSeau in
its entirety, the engraved in
vitations or announcements
and their preparations for
mailing, including addressing
and sealing and, of course,
postage; the brides gifts to
her attendants something Of
a personal nature, for exam
pie, a piece of jewelry. a COM
pact or perhaps an initiated
evening purse.
While the bride-to-be Sc
lects her attendants gowns,
she does not pay for them.
In addition, the parents OF
the bride pay for all floral
decorations for the church
or home and the reception,
the bridal attendants bou-
quets or corSages (the brides
bouquet may be correctly paid
for by the bridegroom for
sentimental reasons) and she
makes the selection Of the
flowers herself so that they
will blend in with the gown
she is to wear.
Also the fees for the or
ganist, choir or SoloiSt and
the sexton; automobiles and
chauffeurS to escort the
bridal party from the home to
both the church and the re-
ception; the reception in its
entirety. including the cater
ing service, liquid refresh
ments, the wedding cake, the
charge for the place where
the function is held, tips to
the walters and an orchestra,
if there is one.
Parents are not responsible
for the hotel expenses in
Cured by visiting friends and
relatives from out Of town.
If room allows, it is nice to
put up the close relatives
that come from far and near
to attend the rites in your
own home. If you wish to
assume their financial ex-
penses in the hotel If this is
impossible, it is correct to do
so, but it is not obligatory.
1t is obvious that the
brides family shoulders most
of the who pays for what"
in the wedding expenses.
However, there are a few
items for which the BRIDE
groom is responsible.
They are the engagement
and wedding rings Cif it is a
double ring ceremony the
bride purchases the ring for
her bridegroom); a personal
gift for his bride on the we'd
ding day, such as a string of
pearls: the wedding license.
his bachelor dinner, ties, bou-
tonnieres and gloves for him.
self, best man and ushers and
a gift for each of them
(again something personal,
perhaps engraved cufflinks or
initiated wallets, the fee to
be paid to the clergyman.
Actually this is not a "fee."
1t is a donation to be applied
by the clergyman to a charity
of his choosing. The amount
depends on whether the we'd
ding is a large formal one
or a small informal service.
Never less than $40, however.
The bridegroom is also re-
Sponsible for the brides bou-
quet and going-away corsage
and a corsage for his mother
and the mother Of the bride.
Questions, Answers
Question: Can I eat aspar-
agus with my fingers? I love
them very much but some
how they don't taste the same
when you cut them up with a
fork. I see people eating
them this way all the time