What does the groom traditionally pay for?

Short answer

Traditionally, the groom pays for the engagement ring, the wedding rings, the honeymoon, and often the rehearsal dinner or pre-wedding meal. He may also cover the officiant's fee and the couple's marriage licence. These are old customs, not rules.

In the UK, the traditional list for the groom includes the engagement ring, both wedding rings, the honeymoon, and sometimes a meal for the bridal party the night before. He might also pay for the officiant or registrar, the marriage licence, and his own outfit and the outfits for his attendants if he has any.

But tradition is only a starting point. Most modern couples sit down together and work out a budget that suits them, not their great-grandparents. You might split everything 50/50, or one of you might earn more and contribute more. Some families still offer to help, and that is lovely, but no one should feel pressured to follow an old script.

What matters is that you both feel comfortable and that money does not cause tension. Talk early, write things down, and be honest about what you can afford. If a parent offers to pay for something specific, accept it with thanks and let them know what it covers. The goal is a wedding you both enjoy, not a list of who owes what.