Once you are engaged, it is time to start making plans for your special wedding day. One of the first decisions you will need to make deals with choosing the size of your wedding party. Here are some things to consider before you decide.
What the experts say
According to the experts, the ideal wedding party will be made up of one pair of attendants for every 40 to 50 guests. Other experts such as Martha Stewart say that a typical wedding is now made up of four to six pairs of attendants. In today's society, these numbers are not as important unless you are having a very formal wedding.
Type of wedding
As a rule of thumb, if you plan a casual wedding you may just have a maid of honor and a best man to stand up with you. In this setting, there is usually not a flower girl or a ring bearer. Depending on the number of guests that you have invited, you may choose to have one or two extra ushers to help get everyone seated.
A semi-formal wedding might have one to six attendants, a flower girl and/or a ring bearer. Weddings with over 200 guests often have six to 10 attendants, a flower girl and a ring bearer. If the wedding is very formal and held in a huge cathedral, there could be as many as 12 attendants.
It's your wedding
Unless you are planning a very formal wedding where everything must adhere to the accepted protocol, it is really up to you and your fiance how many attendants you want to have. You may want to decide based on how many sisters you have or the number of close friends you want to share your special day. You will also need to see how many groomsmen your fiance will have, and plan accordingly.
Your budget
Your wedding budget will play a big part in how many attendants you have. The more attendants you choose, the more your wedding will cost. You will need to purchase a bouquet for each bridesmaid and a boutonniere for each groomsman. It is also your responsibility to give each person in the wedding party a special gift.
Even if you have a large wedding, it is not necessary to have a large number of attendants if your budget won't allow it. Besides the above expenses, you will also need to feed and entertain your wedding party before and during the actual wedding. In reality, your budget overrules everything else when choosing the size of your wedding party.
You don't have to have bridesmaids or groomsmen. In fact, there are some good reasons to keep things small. |
The sight of a flower girl walking down the aisle is a beloved part of a perfect wedding day. |
A wedding party, or bridal party, generally consist of a bride, groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and often a ring bearer and flower girl. |
If you choose the members of the bridal party wisely and explain their duties clearly, you will have much less to worry about on the wedding day. |
Including a ring bearer in your bridal party can bring smiles to the faces of your guest, as well as the lucky little man. |
With the help of the wedding party and careful planning, the duties of the bride and groom can be mimimized. |
