Mother of the Brides: 3 Ways to Have the “Money Talk” with the Groom’s Parents

Talking about money can often be one of the most awkward wedding conversations that the parent’s of the bride and the parent’s of the groom have to have together, especially if this is one of the first times that they are meeting. But, if that conversation doesn’t happen, or ends up happening too late, a hint of confusion and even resentment may start to blanket the overall wedding experience. Times are changing and it’s not always the bride’s parents who pay for the entire wedding rendezvous anymore. So to make sure that happens and to make sure the money conversation is fluid and fast, here’s three ways to bring up the topic of who is paying for what when it comes to wedding planning.

 

1. Turn the conversation into a dinner

Skip the business meeting kind of conversation and have the money talk in conjunction with a dinner. That way, everyone is a bit more relaxed and the setting is neutral and conversational. You can start by chatting about the excitement surrounding the wedding and then dive into the details of who would like to contribute for the different vendors and events that will take place throughout the wedding adventure.

 

2. Come With a Game Plan

Nobody where you have the conversation, it’s important that you come prepared. Know already what you feel comfortable paying for and have a loose idea of what you’d like them to cover the cost for. That way, you can come to the table letting them know that you’d like to pay for x, y, and z and then let them know what expenses are left.

 

3. Be Open and Honest

Try to be as flexible as possible with your game plan. If you see things are getting too complicated by delegating who should pay for what, you can take a step back and come up with an overall amount that you’d like to contribute and see if they can come to the table with an amount they feel comfortable with. From there, you can start delegating who can cover what different costs.