This groom purchased San Francisco Giants gear for his groomsmen. Wedding by Blissful Events. Photography by Xense Studio.
A wedding translates to two major things –
happiness and a huge bill. While the former is something everyone gladly participates in (you and your bride should soak in it), the latter tends to be an uncomfortable and hard to table discussion.
While you and your bride have already taken a long time discussing the bills and dimes that you’ll have to spend for your big day, a harder conversation to have is that with your groomsmen. Yes, they should have financial responsibilities but to what extent?
Specifically, should you foot the bill for their attire?
That is, rather, not a straightforward question to answer. To get a fine balance, you need to start by asking yourself these questions, before finally knowing what to do at the end. So, read on.
What Are The Pertinent Bills?
Before groomsmen and their choice of attire start bothering you, you need to be aware of what pertinent bills you have first. This means that you first have to ask yourself questions about the cost of the venue, caterers, wedding officiant, and any other critical service you need for the D-day.
Why?
Because traditionally, these core costs fall on the groom’s wallet.
More importantly, having a budget for your core bills allows you to gauge how much float you have lying around for a bit of generosity with your groomsmen. You can’t promise to foot their bills if there isn’t enough cash to even secure a wedding planner now, can you?
How Does The Bride Handle Her Party?
Okay, what of the other side? Does the bride pick up the tab for her party?
Yes and no.
And the decision lies mostly on what bills her bridesmaids will have to foot just to look sassy for the big day.
Traditionally, bridesmaids tend to spend more than groomsmen on their wedding preparations. Typically, a bridesmaid will have to pay for her undergarments, jewelry, dress, shoes, and alterations.
On top of that, getting those hairdos and makeup done bangs a dent in their purses.
So, in most cases, a bride may subsidize the costs of the bridesmaids’ attire to help reduce their strain. That means paying a certain percentage of the total attire cost as the subsidy.
However, if the bride, just like you, is locked down financially with huge bills for core things such as her wedding dress and makeup, letting the bridesmaids handle all their bills is still considered fair.
What Financial Commitments Do The Groomsmen Have?
Before you let the burden lie on the boy’s shoulder, you also need to consider how much, and for what, they’ll be footing bills for. And the first area in this is your bachelor party.
You don’t pay a dime to have booze, loud music, or an epic camping experience as the perfect send-off of your last days as a bachelor. Your groomsmen will take care of this.
Apart from the bachelor’s party, your groomsmen will also have to pay the bill for the tuxedo rental, especially if it’s a formal wedding. On average, a good tux might take you back $135 a piece. And if you decide to go with a designer, the costs can shoot up to $200.
Finally, despite you preparing groomsmen gifts for the boys, they also have the responsibility of getting you a gift from a selection in your wedding registry, or just give cash.
While your wedding registry might offer a bit of financial flexibility, it’s still paramount that you consider this is cash they’ll have to part with for the big day.
Should I Now Consider Picking Up The Tab?
So, considering all these responsibilities that you and your groomsmen have, and factoring in how the bride traditionally handles her party, are you obligated to pick up the tab for your groomsmen’s attire?
No. It’s an open decision.
While the bride’s decision to subsidize her party’s attire costs is seen as warranted goodwill, groomsmen tend to have fewer costs. Yes, a tuxedo can be super expensive especially if renting one isn’t an option.
However, not dealing with a makeup artist or hairdresser eases a bit of financial burden on the boys’ side, removing the necessity of subsidizing their costs.
But what the bride does or does not do shouldn’t be the ultimate decider. Rather, your groomsmen’s financial situation should be the proof that lands the hammer on the head.
Given you know these men personally, some might find it as a huge financial stretch to pay $200 for a tuxedo rental or even have a designer tux made altogether. Make sure you’re open to each guy so that he can tell you whether he’s experiencing difficulties footing the bill or not.
And if the bills seem too high, swoop right in and ease the strain. But if they can take the financial thrashing, then picking up the tab is not necessary.
Photos are by Xense Studio.
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