8 Ways to Ask Your Parents to Help With Wedding Money

The wedding money discussion is never easy. Asking your parents for money is packed with all kinds of uncomfortable connotations like responsibility, independence, obligation, power, class, and privilege. When you add something as emotionally charged as a wedding to the money conversation, it can be a tinderbox. Factor in stepparents, cultural differences, and economic instability and it can seem impossible.

Yet not having the wedding money talk won't magically make everything okay. In fact, one of your first planning tasks is to figure out your budget – which includes how you're going to pay for everything. Since each family dynamic is different, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to having the money talk. Here are five ways to ask your parents for wedding money:

• The indirect approach
  Most parents love being asked for advice, and it might surprise you how much of that advice is invaluable, even when it's not quite what you want to hear. After you've created your wedding budget, ask your parents to review it with you. Share with them research about what you've found about average costs in your area, the choices you'll make to save money, and how you plan to pay for everything. This conversation creates a natural and easy way for them to say, "We were planning to contribute." If they don't speak up, you can assume they are unable to. This is also a good way to get everyone speaking the same language, so they'll understand why they can't invite 50 people to your small and intimate ceremony.
  
  
• Ask them to pay for a specific wedding cost
  Since even the most tightly-controlled wedding budgets have a way of growing, parents might feel uncomfortable with agreeing to pay for "half of the wedding" or another non-specific commitment. Instead, you can ask them to pay for one discrete portion, such as your dress, the flowers, or the rehearsal dinner.
  
  You might ask them for something they have a particular connection to – for example you might say, "Do you want to help us pay for the wedding? We particularly thought you might be interested in helping us with the flowers, since you know so much about flowers and flower arranging." That then gives them an area that they can feel ownership in – rather than just becoming an ATM.
  
  Or, you might say, "We've found a reception venue that is absolutely perfect for what we want. Unfortunately, it's more than we had budgeted. We wondered if there's any possibility that you could help us with the difference."
  
  
• Ask them to pay for the entire wedding.
  In some families it's taken for granted that the bride's family will pay for the majority of costs. Your parents might even have a separate bank account where they saved for this big day. But don't be the spoiled brat who just assumes: it's not only obnoxious, it also often leads to disappointment. Instead, be direct and to the point. "Will you be able to pay for our wedding?" If they say yes, they were planning on paying for it, it's appropriate to ask what size budget they were planning for. If they say no, tame your inner brat and don't get upset. It's a gift, not an obligation. I suggest you bring with you this guide to who traditionally pays for the wedding
  
  
• Ask them to split the costs with you/other parents
  When you've got divorced parents, stepparents, and other kinds of blended families, money woes can add to already existing tension. To make things fair, say to each parent, "We're asking each of our parents to contribute 1/5th of the wedding budget. Is that something that you will be able to give us?"
  
  
• How do they want to participate in the wedding?
  This is perhaps the most natural way to do it. Simply ask, "How do you want to be a part of wedding planning?" If they don't bring up money, you can add, "Would you be able to financially contribute?" This also helps avoid hurt feelings by making sure they're present for the parts of planning that matter to them most.
  
  
• Ask them to pay for their wedding guests
  It's no secret that each wedding guest adds costs to the wedding, and parents often want to invite more people than their children want them to. You might say to your parents, "We're starting our guest list, and we wanted to see who you'd want us to invite. There's room for each set of parents to invite up to 30 people, however, we would ask you to cover the costs for those guests. Right now, our catering estimate is $80 per person." You will have to determine if you're asking them to cover costs for family members, or if it's limited to friends and business associates.

Each of these approaches come with pros and cons, and a certain relinquishing of control. Some parents will respond well to the direct approach, while others will hate it. Some will resent being asked to pay for their guests, while others will see that as an extremely fair option. You should choose the one that's best for your family and situation. And, no matter which tactic you choose, be polite and respectful, while still being clear and setting boundaries. The Do's and Don'ts of Asking Your Parents for Wedding Money.