Who Pays for Honeymoon? Who Covers Costs and What’s Fair in 2025

When it comes to the honeymoon, a post-wedding trip funded by one or more parties to celebrate the marriage. Also known as a bridal getaway, it’s no longer a fixed obligation—it’s a personal choice shaped by finances, culture, and family dynamics. There’s no rulebook saying parents must pay, the groom’s family has to cover it, or the couple should go broke to afford it. In 2025, most couples pay for their own honeymoon—or split it with both sets of parents—because weddings themselves are rarely paid for by just one side anymore.

The idea that the groom’s family pays for the honeymoon? That’s an old tradition from the 1950s. Back then, men were expected to be the primary earners, and the honeymoon was seen as their gift to the bride. Today, over 60% of couples in the UK fund their own trips, according to real wedding budget surveys. Some parents offer to help as a gift, but only if they can afford it. Others say, "We already paid for the wedding," and that’s fair. The bride's parents wedding cost, the financial contribution made by the bride’s family toward wedding-related expenses doesn’t automatically include the honeymoon. Same goes for the groom's family contribution, financial support provided by the groom’s side, often for events like the rehearsal dinner or honeymoon. Neither is owed. It’s a bonus, not a bill.

What’s more common now? Couples saving up for months before the wedding. Or using cash gifts from guests. Or booking a modest trip and upgrading later. Some even skip the honeymoon entirely and put the money toward a house or student loans. There’s no shame in that. What matters is communication. If your parents say, "We’d love to help with the honeymoon," ask what they’re comfortable with—not what they "should" do. If your partner’s family expects to pay, talk about it before the wedding. Don’t wait until the reception to find out they thought they were only covering the flight.

You’ll find posts here that dig into the real math behind wedding spending—like how much the bride’s parents actually pay today, or how couples are cutting costs on everything from flowers to catering. None of it is set in stone. The same logic applies to the honeymoon. It’s not about tradition. It’s about what works for you. Whether you’re dreaming of Bali or a weekend in the Cotswolds, the money should come from a place of joy—not guilt or pressure.

Below, you’ll see real stories and practical advice from couples who’ve been there. Some paid for it themselves. Some got help. Some didn’t go at all. And guess what? They’re all happy. No one remembers how much the honeymoon cost—they remember how it felt. So focus on that. The rest? That’s just numbers.