How to Choose Your Wedding Party | Wedding Tips & Advice | Youngstown, Ohio Wedding Photography

We’ve seen so many amazing bridesmaids & groomsmen over the past few years while photographing weddings! We’ve seen helpful bridesmaids willing to sacrifice their own hair & makeup in order to make sure the bride has everything she needs, caring bridesmaids who give brides calming pep talks & cheer them up before they walk down the aisle if they’re feeling a little nervous about being in front of everyone, awesome groomsmen who are pros at tying bow ties, helpful groomsmen who run and get the bride and groom water while they’re enjoying their bride & groom portrait session, and all around fun & kind bridal party members who want to have fun with the bride & groom, but also realize that the day is ALL about the bride & groom & act accordingly. On the other hand, we have seen bridal party members be much less than helpful, cause the bride or groom stress, or act inappropriately. No, we’re not here to bad mouth individuals or name names (we don’t feel that is helpful to anyone!), but we DO want you to have the BEST wedding day possible & choosing a bridal party that will help in that aspect is a great start! So here are a few tips we have for you on how to choose your bridal party:

You know that friend who was always THEE life of the party at every party, every day, in every way? The one who always had to push the boundaries, hang from chandeliers, do whatever anyone dared her/him to do, pass out from indulging too much on many occasions in recent memory, hit on people inappropriately, and generally act like sort of a . . . buffoon, for lack of a better term? Unless that person is a VERY good friend or a CLOSE relative that you cannot imagine not having in your wedding party, he or she is probably not going to be the best choice for a groomsmen or bridesmaid. Think about it. You want your wedding party members to be fun, helpful, resourceful, supportive, calming, friendly, happy, and in control of their basic bodily functions. 🙂 We’re only slightly kidding on that last one. Okay, we’re not really kidding at all. By all means, invite that “life of the party” friend of yours to your wedding; just don’t count on him or her to be a reliable member of the wedding party.
Another tip that we have for choosing your wedding party is this: there is no rule that says you HAVE to ask someone to be in YOUR wedding just because you were in HER/HIS wedding. All weddings are different. Wedding budgets are different. Wedding sizes are different. Wedding parties are different. A true friend will not be angry with you for not having her/him in the wedding party just because you were in hers/his. Don’t feel obligated.

Furthermore, simply because your fiancé is going to have four groomsmen doesn’t mean that you HAVE to have four bridesmaids! Don’t just choose someone you’re not that close with to “even it out.” Your wedding party members should be close to you. You should be able to count on them for help, advice, and friendship and have them be there for you at the drop of a hat. Just having someone there as a place filler isn’t doing anyone any favors. Unbalanced wedding parties are completely fine!

Along those lines, you don’t even have to have a wedding party if you do not want a wedding party. It’s as simple as that. It’s your wedding day & your prerogative & it’s completely up to you if you want a wedding party or not. 🙂

One last tip we have in this (non-exhaustive) list for choosing your bridal party is to choose friends and family members whom you’re confident will be there for you and your future spouse long after your wedding day. . . someone who will be there to support your marriage. People who will support you after posing for all of the photos, being the first in line for food at the buffet, and feeling fabulous in his tux or her dress is over are invaluable in your life. Acquaintances who will come to your wedding for the open bar are abundant. Friends who will be your friends for the long haul and who will stick with you throughout hardships, have fun with you during the good times, and support your marriage are rare. Treasure them. Thank them profusely for standing by your side on your wedding day, for spending the money to wear an outfit they’ll probably never wear again, and for posing for photos in 95 degree heat in a tuxedo or trudging through grass in uncomfortable heels. They’re making a sacrifice to be there for you on your wedding day. And that’s pretty darn cool.

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