What You Need To Know Before Choosing Your Wedding Party

The wedding planning process requires you to make a lot of big decisions: the venue, location, attire, and guest list. But another critical part of wedding planning is choosing your wedding party. AKA, the people who stand beside you on your wedding day.

Let’s take a look at what you need to know before choosing your wedding party (if you want to have one at all).

Do you need to have a wedding party?

No. Wedding parties are not required and are 100% optional. It doesn’t matter if you have a 200+ person wedding or an intimate ceremony. It’s your big day, so you get to choose whether or not you want a wedding party.

If you’re on a tight budget or just want to ensure a stress-free wedding experience, walking down the aisle without your besties may be the right choice. If you’re apprehensive about going the ‘no wedding party’ route, just talk with your friends and family about why it’s the right choice for you. 

Bridal party versus wedding party: What’s the difference?

‘Bridal party’ and ‘wedding party’ are terms that both refer to the people you choose to have by your side as you say “I Do”. Whether it’s your family members or closest confidants filling these roles, your wedding party are people who play some part in the wedding ceremony.

But the key difference between these terms is that ‘bridal party’ assumes there’s a bride involved, and that’s not always the case. It’s a traditional term that is quickly becoming outdated because gender no longer determines who is at the altar or who stands beside you.

Wedding party roles to consider for your big day

For decades, wedding parties were split in half. The bride would have a maid or matron of honor and the groom would have a man of honor and groomsman. But today, you don’t have to follow that tradition if you don’t want to. Let’s take a look at the many different wedding party roles you can have on your wedding day.

Man of honor, Maid of honor, or Matron of honor

One of the most traditional roles in a wedding is the Maid of Honor. The bride’s sister or close female friend or family member often holds this prestigious title. But your maid of honor does not have to be female, a close male family member or friend can hold the title of man or person of honor. The Matron of Honor fulfills the same duties as a Maid of Honor, but is already married. 

But what if you’re not a bride or don’t have a sister or female close friend to fill the role? You can opt for a Man or Person of honor. It has the same responsibilities as a maid of honor, but the role is open to the person closest to you, regardless of gender.

Groomswoman, Groomsman, and Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids, groomsmen, groomswoman, and bridesmates are the people who stand beside you on your wedding day. They attend and help plan pre-wedding events, emotionally support the couple, help you or your partner get ready day of, assist in breaking down the decor once the party is over, and more.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you’re surrounded by people who love and cherish you and your partner. Regardless of whether your wedding party members fit into the traditional roles are not.

Can you have a Maid of Honor, Man of Honor, and Matron of Honor?

Absolutely! It’s your wedding day, you get to make the rules. However, it’s perfectly within traditional wedding etiquette protocol to have both a Maid and Matron of honor. It’s double the amount of love!

Here are some tips to seamlessly incorporate these roles into your wedding planning process:

• Assign duties based on strengths: Your maid of honor, man of honor, best man, or best woman should not only be one of your closest persons but also organized and communicative. They will likely be in charge of many pre-wedding activities and ensuring that the day of festivities goes smoothly, so you want someone who understands the role clearly.
• Treat all persons equally: No matter the assigned roles of your wedding party, it’s important to treat everyone equally. Some roles may have more responsibilities than others, but they are all equally important in your life.
• Ask for their input and opinions: It’s important that everyone in your wedding party feels included in your big day. Why have a wedding party if all they’re going to do is show up and look nice? Whether it’s helping plan the bachelor or bachelorette party or making centerpiece arrangements, the people of your wedding party are there to support and celebrate you.
• Choose attire that makes each person shine: Whether it’s a dress or a suit, you want your wedding party to be comfortable on your wedding day. Consider budget, comfort, and style as you decide on official attire.

Breaking down the day of traditions

Who walks down the aisle first? Who gives the speech first? When you deviate from traditional roles, deciding who does what and when can be confusing. The best way to go about it, so that no one feels left out or unimportant, is to openly communicate with your wedding party.

Get their input. Your maid of honor or man of honor can walk down the aisle together or do a joint speech, or perhaps flip a coin for who goes first.

Your wedding, your way.

Whether you want to have 15 wedding party members or none at all, the decision is ultimately up to you. Your wedding will be an extraordinary and unforgettable day, whichever route you choose.