Widowed mothers and fathers can escort their children alone.
She was Prince Harry's date to the wedding.
I only know of Judaism doing this: 1. BOTH parents escort the groom 2. BOTH parents escort the bride 3. ALL brothers and sisters take part in the wedding party 4. Grandparents - even great-grandparents - can either stand onstage or sit onstage in chairs
The wedding ceremony begins with a procession of the wedding party members. At the wedding site, both sets of parents escort the bride and groom down the aisle. The marriage ceremony is performed under a special canopy, called a huppah, which represents God's presence, shelter and protection.
If you don't want to invite your parents to a wedding don't tell them about the wedding in the first place.
what does the groom parents pay for at a traditional wedding
No it is not mandatory. Some parents (could be the bride to be's parents) may have the groom, bride, their parents and the wedding party out for dinner in the evening a few days before the wedding, but this is not mandatory either.
The wedding of Franklin and Eleanor - March 17, 1905
The family of the parents, perhaps some of those people who officiated at the wedding (bridesmaids / best man etc) and the children of the parents.
If the parents have paid for the wedding and reception and the wedding is canceled and the bride does not have the funds to pay her parents back for the expense then unfortunately the parents are stuck with the bill. If the bride can afford it then yes, she should offer to pay it back. The parents may decide not to take the money or they may be happy to receive it. If the parents gave the bride and groom money before the wedding to put towards a honeymoon; towards a house, etc., then yes, the check or money should be given back to the parents.
There is no such thing as a totally free wedding ceremony. If the couple get married by the Justice of the Peace there is a fee; if they have a traditional wedding then the bride's parents pay most of the costs and the groom's parents pay less of a cost for that wedding and reception.
The parents of the bride are very hapy.