Let’s start by stating that you don’t NEED a wedding party. We are finding that about 15% of our recent weddings don’t have one, or they are keeping it super small- one person for each side. Whether you choose to have 10 of your best friends standing up with you or keep it to just you two and your officiant, we’ve got a few tips to help you through the decision making process!
Something to think about- your wedding party can play a significant role in your energy throughout the day. It isn’t just about who is up there with you, but how are they going to make you feel as you are getting ready with them? Are they usually positive, fun, and low-stress or can they be high-maintenance and drag the mood down sometimes?
Maybe you’ve had your ride or dies picked out from Day 1 of your engagement, or maybe you’re a bit unsure of who to include. We have a few tips to help your decision-making when choosing your wedding party:
1 — Pick the people who wholeheartedly support your happiness and your relationship.
They encourage you, make you laugh, keep you grounded, hype you up, and adore your spouse-to-be as much as you do. Debby Downers and Nancy Naysayers need not apply!
2 — Just because you were in someone’s wedding party (or you’ve been BFFs since high school), you are not obligated to include them in your wedding. Friendships and circumstances change.
You can (and SHOULD) still include extended friends in the pre-wedding festivities! Most people extend invites for additional friends to join their engagement parties, wedding showers, etc.
3 — There’s no “best” number of attendants to have (and no, you don’t need to have the same number on each side).
In our experience, wedding mornings tend to be a bit calmer with fewer people in your wedding party. On the flip side, a larger wedding party tends to naturally create a more loud and energetic vibe.
Need some more help? We’ve come up with a few questions you can ask yourself to guide you:
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Making wedding party decisions can be tough, but choosing the right people can really set the vibe of your wedding day from getting ready to breaking is down on the dance floor!
Need some guidance on wedding party dynamics, or planning your best day ever? Click here to set up a time to chat!
Photos by Mel K Photography and Jared Lidia Photography.
