When you think of your wedding day, who do you want to spend most of your day with? You might already have specific people coming to mind – your soon to be husband or wife (of course!), your closest family, your childhood bestie… so many options! If there is one thing I could tell you about your wedding party, it’s that it doesn’t have to look one way. Here are some things to consider when it comes to your wedding party:
1. Do you want a wedding party & if so, how many?
This is the best place to start! You can go either way – you might be the type of person who wants to include all of your very best friends & all of your siblings. It’s a myth that your wedding party needs to be symmetrical on both sides. You can have how ever many you want. I’ve seen weddings where you just have a best man & maid/matron of honor, which makes for a really relaxed & laid back time when getting ready. It also cuts down on time with your portraits! Or maybe you don’t want to have a wedding party at all! This might not be on your priority list and that’s completely fine!
2. Who is meaningful to YOU?
Consider who you want by your side throughout your wedding day. Who will be there handing you tissues if you cry during your ceremony or who is going to run interference for you during the day so that things can be as stress free for you as possible? If your mom, dad, aunt, or uncle is your best friend – include them in your wedding party! Why not? There’s no rule in the wedding planning book that says you can’t. It might not be traditional but I’ve seen this done several times and it’s so special! Remember you can choose who you want to be in your wedding party. When I look back at my own wedding day, I often wish I had included my brothers as my bridesmen! I don’t have any sisters but I honestly thought that meant I couldn’t have my brothers in my wedding party! Bridesmaids, groomsmen, bridesmen, groomswomen… I’ll say it again, YOU get to decide! Even if you want your grandmothers as your flower girls (which I think is the most adorable thing ever!) please do!
3. Attire & Accessories.
There are a lot of ways you can go when it comes to what your wedding party wears! Maybe you want bold and dramatic coloros next to you on your big day, or a mix and match with prints and solids. Then there’s the route of florals or monochromatic. And remember you can always add some variety by using different fabrics: chiffon, satin, lace. Decide too what style and vibe you want your wedding day to encapsulate, whether that be classic, black tie formal, or laid back. Remember too that if you want variety, but afraid of going overboard, you can always choose the same tone but different dress styles.
4. Establish roles.
Ask yourself what do you want your wedding party to be involved with? Do you want assistance with choosing wedding attire, putting together invites, last minute errands? Do you want your Maid of Honor or Best Man planning the bachelor/bachelorette parties (or is that something you’d like to control!) Do you need someone to be in charge of making sure gifts make it back to your home or any other valuables? And don’t forget moral support – this might be one of the biggest ways your wedding party can help! Wedding days can come with a lot of different emotions for various reason! You want people who can ride those highs and (hopefully not many) lows with you!