The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your Bridal Party
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Choosing your bridal party is one of the most exciting and meaningful parts of planning your wedding. Not only do you get to share your special day with your closest friends and family, but you also get to honor them with the role of standing by your side as you marry the love of your life. However, with so many people to consider, selecting your bridal party can also be a bit overwhelming.
What is a Bridal Party?
A bridal party is a group of people chosen by the couple to participate in their wedding ceremony and celebrations. The bridal party typically includes the bride and groom's closest friends and family members, and may consist of bridesmaids, groomsmen, a maid or matron of honor, a best man, flower girls, ring bearers, and sometimes ushers or junior bridesmaids.
Being part of a bridal party is considered an honor and a sign of close friendship or family ties with the bride and groom. It is also a way for the bride and groom to involve their loved ones in their special day and to show appreciation for their support and friendship.
What Role does the Bridal Party Play?
The members of the bridal party often have specific roles to play in the wedding, such as standing at the altar with the bride and groom during the ceremony, holding the rings, carrying the bride's bouquet, and participating in other traditional wedding rituals.
Leading up to the wedding day the bridal party plays an essential role in supporting the couple and helping to make the wedding planning process smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. They offer emotional support when the planning gets stressful helping the bride and groom to navigate challenges. Your bridal party will even provide physical support throughout the wedding day, helping the bride and groom to stay calm, hydrated, and nourished. They’ll help you get dressed and ready. And if you experience any wardrobe malfunctions or other emergencies your bridal party will be there for you.
The bridal party may offer wedding planning assistance, such as making DIY decor, addressing invitations, or assembling wedding favors. This can help alleviate some of the workload for the bride and groom. The Maid of Honor and Best Man typically coordinate the bachelor and bachelorette parties (come back next week for tips on how to plan the perfect Bachelorette party), leading the rest of the bridal party with the plans for those events. On the wedding day, they help make sure everyone is on time and in the right place, as well as assist with any last-minute tasks or emergencies.
Tips for Choosing your Bridal Party
Set a limit for the number of people in your bridal party. This will help you narrow down your options and make it easier to choose the people who are truly important to you. But don’t get stuck on making sure the sides are even, unless that symmetry is important to you.
Consider the dynamics of your relationships. You want to choose people who will get along well and support each other on your special day.
Think about who you want to have standing by your side during the ceremony. This is a special moment and you want to have people there who will be able to support you emotionally.
Be mindful of your budget. Having a large bridal party can be costly, so make sure you consider the expenses before making your final decision.
Don’t feel pressured to include anyone you don’t want to, but be respectful of people’s feelings. There are also other ways to involve people who are important to you, like asking them to do a reading, greeting people at the door, passing out programs, etc.
Consider the role of your partner in the decision. If you are getting married, it’s important to involve your partner in the decision-making process and make sure they are comfortable with your choices.
Remember that this is your special day and you should choose the people who are most important to you. Whether it’s a large bridal party or a small one, the most important thing is that you have the support of the people you love.
The Bridal Party Proposal
Now that you’ve narrowed down who you want to include in your bridal party, it’s time to “propose” to them. Remember these are some of the most important people to you and you’re asking them to commit to being by your side through planning one of the most important days of your life. This is a chance to do something fun and meaningful to show them how much they mean to you and how honored you would be to have them by your side. Here are a few ideas on how to create a special surprise for them.
Create a "will you be my bridesmaid/groomsmen" scavenger hunt, where you leave clues around your friend or family member's house or neighborhood, leading them to a final gift box containing a personalized invitation to be in your bridal party.
Send a personalized gift box with items related to your wedding theme, including a letter asking your friend or family member to be in your bridal party.
Create a fun video or slideshow asking your friends or family members to be in your bridal party, complete with inside jokes and sentimental moments.
Host a special dinner or brunch with your potential bridal party members, where you surprise them with personalized invitations and ask them to be a part of your special day.
Use a personalized message on a photo or item, such as a customized wine label or a special photo album, to ask your friends or family members to be in your bridal party.
Create a personalized puzzle with a photo of you and your friend or family member, with the message "will you be my bridesmaid/groomsmen" as the final puzzle piece.
Choosing your bridal party can be a bit overwhelming, but remember that asking the right people to stand by your side on your special day will make the process easier and more fun. If you’re still a little unsure if you’re making the right decision, Eastman Events can help!
Eastman Events loves giving our couples a memory that they will never forget, a wedding that will be so uniquely designed for them. Connect with us to learn more about how we can help with your wedding planning plans in New Jersey and throughout the Northeast.