Every Last Stylish Detail: Royal Budgeting

Tradition stands that the bride's family pays for the wedding. Yet, a lot of modern couples are taking on the majority if not the total cost of the wedding. Money is always a sensitive subject, especially when it is tied to such an emotion-filled and long awaited day such as a wedding. More than any other etiquette or planning question, budgeting is always at the top of the list. If the bride's parents pay does that mean that they have a lot of input into the planning? What if they bride's family is unable to pay for the majority of the wedding, who should take over financial responsibility? Do the groom's parents get to invite a large amount of people if they are not contributing financially? What if they ARE contributing financially? Its all enough to give you a headache and want to elope!

Now, imagine how overwhelming this budgeting must be if you are the newly engaged Prince William & Kate Middleton. I am SO excited to witness a royal wedding and have been keeping up with all the news coverage. It was announced today that the wedding date is set for April 29, 2011 and they will wed at historic Westminster Abbey in London. More coverage has revealed that early estimates of the cost is expected to be close to $40 million not including the $20 million that the taxpayers will be paying for security. All of the excitement around this royal wedding has certainly created larger than life expectations and the bottom line is that someone will be financially responsible for the wedding of the decade. But who? Are Kate's parents expected to foot the bill that no doubt will cover guests that are being invited solely because of proximity to the royal family? Should the royal family pay for the wedding simply because they have the funds to cover such an extravagant affair? I'm staying tuned to see how all of the planning unfolds (the dress! the decor!) and especially checking on the budgeting.