The Bridal Party

Choosing the bridal party is one of the most important decisions you will make for your wedding. The right attendants will help make the wedding planning easier and a lot more fun for you.

Usually, it is a simple and happy duty.

However, there can be complications that require creative solutions from you.

Just because someone is your sibling or best friend does not necessarily mean that they are the right person to be in your wedding party.

Keep in mind personalities and abilities before asking someone to be an attendant in your wedding.

A wedding is often a very stressful situation for everyone involved. You would hate to end up losing a good friend!

Other Considerations

What if your best friend just found out she is pregnant and her due date is around your wedding date? What if your best friend is a guy? Or, you have twin sisters?

What do you do?

SELECTING THE BRIDAL PARTY MEMBERS

In earlier times the bridesmaids were responsible for protecting the bride from evil spirits and to verify that she was not being married against her will.

Today, your attendants will be there for support, advice, and to assist you in making your wedding a very special and memorable time for you.

Number of Bridesmaids

How many wedding attendants should you have in the bridal party? Traditionally, there is one bridesmaid for every 50 guests, but there are no set rules.

It is perfectly acceptable to have two maids of honor or two best men as attendants. They will share all responsibilities.

Having only one attendant is fine too. The less bridal party members you have makes coordinating fittings, events and schedules a whole lot easier and cheaper for you.

It is not even necessary to have an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. (Although it does look more balanced at the alter and in pictures.)

The main thing is to surround yourself with the people you love and care about.

Who Should You Ask To Be a Part of the Bridal Party

Choosing your maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man and groomsmen is more than just who you have known the longest or who you think expects to be asked. Select attendants who are important in your life today. Not who was important to you ten years ago.

Consider the personalities of the friends or family members you are considering for this role. There will be conflicts! So, it is best to think about how each attendant will fit in with the group.

Also, consider the person's financial situation. Being a bridal attendant can be expensive. If you have chosen someone who can not afford to participate in the bridal party, consider helping them with the cost.

If someone does have to drop out of the bridal party due to unforeseen circumstances, it's perfectly acceptable to ask another friend - even if it is at the last minute.

Although it is a loving gesture to invite the groom's sister(s) to be part of the bridal party, it is not mandatory. However, if you feel guilty or think there will be hurt feelings, have them participate in some other way.

Also, you are not required to include someone just because she included you in her wedding.

Role Reversal

What if your best friend is a guy? No problem!

Today's brides and grooms are all about making new traditions and opposite sex attendant are a wonderful new feature in many of today's wedding party. Some terms used for the attendants are, best friend, man of honor, and best woman.

When choosing the wedding attire for your opposite sex attendants, have them fit in with the same style as your other attendants. For example, your man of honor, would wear a tux with a cummerbund and tie that match the bridesmaid's dress and the best woman could wear a pantsuit or black dress to match the groomsmen.

Pets

Many couples consider their pets to be a part of the family and have started to include them in their wedding ceremony. Dogs, cats and even birds are playing major roles in today's weddings.

For more information on including your pets in your wedding, click here.

Still Can't Decide On Your Wedding Attendants?

If you still can't decide on who to have in your wedding party, then don't have any adults! Have only flower girls and pages

This is a new innovation that many couples are choosing!

The point is there are no set rules for modern weddings.

The choice is yours!

CHOOSING A MAID OF HONOR

The Maid of Honor is the bride's main assistant. She will help the bride take care of the details in preparing for her special day. This needs to be a close family member or a very close friend, because there is a long list of duties for the Maid of Honor.

Learn more about the Maid of Honor duties.

PICKING BRIDESMAIDS

Being a bridesmaid is a great honor that a bride can pay to a close friend. While role of bridesmaid is not as demanding as that of the maid of honor, she will still play an important role in the wedding.

Get a checklist of the bridesmaids' duties.

HOW TO PICK A BEST MAN

The best man is there to lend the groom support and assistance. He is one of the most important members of the wedding party.

You will want to select somebody who is dependable and willing to help out as needed. The best man is usually a brother, father or best friend.

Learn more about the Best Man duties.

CHOOSING GROOMSMEN AND USHERS

The groomsmen and ushers are usually brothers, relatives or close friends of the bride or groom.

Like the bridesmaids, while the role is not as demanding as that of Best Man, the groomsman still has an important part in the wedding.

Get a checklist of the groomsman's duties here.

JUNIOR BRIDESMAID, FLOWER GIRL, RING BEARER AND TRAIN BEARER

Whether to have children in the bridal party is not always an easy decision to make.

If your wedding is late in the evening, you want an adult only affair, or you want your wedding to go perfectly, then don't allow children to be a part of the ceremony.

However, if the children are yours, your wedding is early in the day, you are easy going and understand that children can be unpredictable, then you should include them in your wedding.

For a list of the duties for a junior bridesmaid, flower girl, ring bearer and train bearer, click here.

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