We hear it from time to time…”Should I Have A Wedding Party or Not?” The answer is for you to choose what is best for your wedding. There are some pros and cons to having a wedding party, and we want to make sure you understand all of the aspects before making your decision. We are seeing the trend of smaller wedding parties nowadays, or none at all. If the couple is older or having an intimate wedding, we tend to see smaller groups of attendants, or just one attendant on each side.
The biggest thing to consider is cost-for you and for them. Yes, it’s fun to have every single person you’re close with in your life stand by your side, but having 10 attendants can mean additional costs for flowers (bouquets, boutonnières, corsages) or beauty (if you are covering the hair and makeup costs for your party members). These are things to think about when creating your budget, as a bridesmaid bouquet can cost $50-$150 each, and beauty services average $200 each person!
On the flip side, you’ll want to be mindful of the costs they will have to spend on travel, attire, accommodations, bachelor/bachelorette parties. If they are in multiple weddings that year, that’s a pretty penny they are spending. In the past, we have had brides have a large amount of close friends, but didn’t want them to have to be tied to the typical wedding party duties or costs, so opted to have a close family member be their one attendant and still take pictures with the other friends as if they were bridesmaids.
The “Should I Have A Wedding Party” debate continues if you and your partner have equal numbers on your sides, or not. I know that some couples care about the aesthetic of even numbers, while some couples have had a large party on one side and not on the other before. It’s honestly not as common to have perfectly even numbers anymore, but you definitely do not want to have to “fill in” just because your partner has 6 and you only have 4 you want to be a part of your party but also want even numbers. Remember that your wedding party members are the ones you’re closest to, who truly support you & your partner throughout your entire relationship and beyond!
Lastly, when considering if you’re having a wedding party, also think about the toast aspect. Just because you have 4 best friends does not mean that they all have to speak at your wedding. Be considerate if they are not good public speakers or shy. We also highly discourage more than 2-3 toasts at a wedding (more so for your guests’ sake listening to all these speeches!) for multiple reasons.
As you can see, there are many things to think about when you ask yourself (or us) “Should I Have A Wedding Party?”. After considering all of the factors, you and your partner will make the best choice for your special day!
