User Pays?
Hundreds of years ago, women were considered chattels and the bride's family used to have to pay off the groom's family in the form of a dowry to take their daughters off their hands.
Thankfully we’ve advanced a fair bit since then but it’s a big and often expensive question.
Basically you’ve got four options.
One side’s parents pays for the lot.
The cost is split evenly between both sets of parents.
The cost is split between both parents and you into thirds.
You pay for the lot.
However it’s vital to address this question early on in the piece to avoid any uncomfortable scenes, or in the case of you having to stump up for everything, to either start saving madly, petition the bank for a loan or convince your partner that eloping down country might be the best and definitely the most prudent option.

