Select Your Wedding Party & Avoid These Mistakes

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Choosing your bridesmaids and groomsman is deeply important. They are more than just people that help you plan a bachelorette party. First, they will be your support system thru the whole process of planning.

Secondly, they will be by your side for many hours of your wedding. Individuals who are not prepared to handle pressure could be negative to you.

tips on how to select your wedding party without hurting any feelings

There is no simple answer, but we have some advice to make it easier. You want to make sure anyone you choose is a good fit for your expectations. Keep in mind there are no rules regarding wedding parties.

You can either have a big or small party or skip having a bridal party altogether. Hopefully, you can figure out who will ‘make the cut’.

Take It Seriously

When you just get engaged, you are at a high moment. You are happy to share the news with everyone. You might even ask a close friend to be part of your bridesmaids.

But it would be wise to analyze any decision before moving forward. Here is our list of things newly engaged couples forget.

A bridesmaid or groomsman will stand by your side during your ceremony & will likely appear in many of your formal photos. Still, he or she will also be part of the wedding planning process. You need to have someone reliable & dependable.

rethink your decision before moving forward… they will appear in many of your formal photos

It is not like you are hiring them to be your wedding planner or wedding coordinator. They must have some level of commitment, especially if you know your time is limited.

You will need to delegate wedding-related tasks. Try to choose friends committed to helping. Some with time, others with resources, or perhaps with crafty hands.

However, you might be a couple with plenty of time to plan your wedding. If so, then you should not have to pay attention to delegating friends to work at your wedding. Also, if you have the budget to hire an event planner, they can take care of it all.

Have Realistic Expectations

You must be practical about your expectations. Your bridal party is a support system, but they are not your wedding planners. Things can go south really quickly.

Try to choose individuals who are there for you and get along with each other. The least you need is drama among them.

Try to be clear about your needs. If you need help finding a draping vendor, you can ask one of your bridesmaids to check into DIY draping kits.

If you need help finding unique wedding monogram lighting, they can help you set up those rentals. But you need to be clear & communicate effectively.

Include Your Family

Family always comes first. If you have a close relationship with your family or your in-laws, you should make them part of your wedding party. Likewise, your sister-in-law or brother-in-law will much appreciate being on your side when the big day arrives.

After you choose your family members then include your closest friends. Remember that these people will more than likely be speaking on your behalf. This means that whomever you choose will be giving a best man speech or maid of honor toast.

How Many Bridesmaids Should You Have

So there isn’t an exact science as to how many bridesmaids or groomsmen you should have in your bridal party. However, we want to cover a couple of important points.

Tips for Amount of People in Bridal Party:

• Even numbers work best

• Odd numbers are ok (2 girls walk with 1 guy)

• 8-12 people total is the norm (4-6 each side)

• Micro weddings can have a best man/maid of honor only

• Avoid people that like drama/attention!

I’ve seen a wedding once with 25 couples… their ceremony entrance took a half hour!

The issue with too many people is that it is exhausting. They all want to to do speeches, everything takes longer, you need to coordinate with more people.

Keep in Mind the Size of Your Wedding

There isn’t an exact answer regarding how many bridesmaids and groomsmen a wedding should have. We believe bridal parties should be proportioned to the size of your wedding. If you are planning a 30-guest wedding & half of them are your bridal party, it could look awkward.

Another point is that smaller micro weddings require less planning. You do not need as much help from others to plan. Stick to your closest friends or only have a maid of honor instead of many bridesmaids.

it is important to keep it proportioned for the bride & groom

If there are four bridesmaids, then there should ideally be four groomsmen. But again, whatever you feel is right is what you should go for. It doesn’t matter if you have an uneven number of people standing up on either side.

For example, you can pair (2) bridesmaids with (1) groomsmen for walking down the aisle or a grand entrance. The most important thing to remember with mismatched sizes is to have everyone walk down escorted instead of by themselves.

Choose Trustworthy Individuals

If you choose to do all the planning, then you might not need your bridal party to be completely reliable. Your wedding party still must participate in many moments during your wedding.

They need to be on time to get ready. This includes performing for your ceremony & being present during your photoshoot.

if your friends are late even to work; perhaps you should not consider them

There are alternatives for how to handle unreliable bridal party members. You can still include them during your wedding planning process. We recommend inviting them to activities where it is not that important if they show up or not.

For example, a DIY decoration project or assembling your wedding invitations. They will still feel part of your wedding planning while not being compromised to attend & be part of your ceremony formally.

Consider Your Bridal Party Budget

We know it is your wedding day & it should be all about you. It would be thoughtful to consider your potential wedding party’s financial situation.

Double check everyone is okay with financial decisions before committing to any ideas. This means that your bridal party will need to dress the part. If you have certain attire picked out it needs to fit in everyone’s price range.

Still, they are not obligated to say yes. If they do not feel comfortable with the situation it is best to find out why. You can always brainstorm up alternative choices that are more budget friendly and inclusive to everyone.

do you feel this is a difficult decision, help is one comment away

We hope our advice is useful & you have a better idea of how to choose the best wedding party. Remember that planning a wedding is already challenging and stressful. It is best to surround yourself with positive & helpful individuals.

If you need any help with uplighting rentals or wedding draping, then ask your wedding party to visit our website. They will find all you need to decorate your wedding venue.

For a complete overview of how our DIY wedding decor works please watch our video below. Congratulations!