Once you’re engaged, this next season is filled with so many fun decisions, but you will also have to make some difficult choices – including who will stand next to you on your big day. Don’t let this overwhelm you! Taking the time to craft a solid support team will make your wedding that much sweeter. Here are some things to consider when determining your bridesmaids and groomsmen:
Wedding Size
When deciding your wedding party, it’s important to consider the size and budget of your wedding. If you are planning on having a small ceremony with your closest friends and family, your bridal and groomal party should fit that mold. It is perfectly okay to only have a couple of your best friends in the wedding. With a small ceremony, having a huge bridal party might not serve you well. Instead, if you choose to have a larger ceremony, including more people in your wedding party may fit that situation better. This isn’t to say you have to pick a ton of people if you have a big ceremony, but keeping budget and size in mind can help structure who is included.
Trustworthy Friends
When preparing for your wedding day, it’s important to have friends that have seen you through thick and thin. These people can bring you peace, help accomplish tasks, and put you at ease rather than stress you out further. You deserve to have friends and family that are going to help more than hinder on your big day. Although there are friends that see you through different seasons of life, choosing bridesmaids or groomsmen that have been with you from the beginning can create a more trusting and supportive atmosphere. Typically, the people in your wedding help with events like the engagement party, bridal shower, and rehearsal dinner leading up to the celebration. Ensuring you have dependable people within your party can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed or unsupported. Pick people that know you well. They will be able to host these events without bombarding you with questions. You’re going to want people that are self-sufficient and have your back.
The Pressure To Include
Let me start by saying this: your wedding day is YOURS and you shouldn’t feel pressure to include anyone. The most important advice I could give you is to fill your day with people that bring you joy, and let the rest fall into place. Yes, it can be a battle to find that sweet spot between who you want included versus other people’s expectations. It is often the case that the bride and groom look to avoid conflict and therefore choose their siblings or future spouse’s siblings automatically. It might be wise to consider what is most beneficial for the relationships around you, and picking family members can be a safe choice. At the end of the day, you get the final decision, and you shouldn’t feel obligated to include anyone in particular.
How About A Little Refresher?
Correlating the budget and size of your wedding to your wedding party can act as a helpful starting point. From here, choose people that know you well so they can take care of you through the planning process. Last and most importantly, you may feel pressure to balance desires, but including people that you think are the best fit will make you that much more comfortable on your big day.