Colorado Wedding Planning Advice | Selecting YOur Bridal Party

While the two of you are the most important people at the altar, who you choose to stand with you on your wedding day is a big decision. So, how do you pick your bridal party?
 
Here is some advice for every bride and groom when selecting their wedding party.

• Start with siblings: This is the best symbol of bringing two families together - make it a family affair. Your wedding day is the ultimate celebration of your upbringing and your two families coming together. Asking your brother and sister to stand up with you as you become husband and wife is a beautiful gesture for your wedding ceremony.

• Throw out the rules: Who stands up with you on your wedding day is not dictated by gender. Have your best male friend stand on your side of the wedding ceremony as a bridesman. Does the groom have a best friend from childhood that is a female? Ask her to stand on his side as a groom’s attendant.  The people that make the biggest impact in our lives are who you should have by your side on your wedding day and that doesn’t mean they are all the same gender as you! Mix up what your wedding party looks like and it will be a more truthful reflection of who you are and what you represent.

• Be clear on what is involved: Make it clear the time and money responsibilities that come with agreeing to be in your wedding party. You know that your friends and family want to be a part of your wedding ceremony, but also know that the responsibilities may be too much for them with what they have going on in their own lives.  By outlining clear time and cost responsibilities up front you can be sure to reduce disappointment when your expectations are not met.  The men and women that you have stand up with you on your wedding day need to know that there are time requirements outside of the actual wedding ceremony that will apply to them.  They will also need to attend pre-wedding celebration, the wedding ceremony rehearsal and other things based on your specific wedding needs.  Additionally, the true costs of saying yes to being a member of your bridal party should be discussed up front so that there are few surprises leading up to the day.  Will you women need to purchase specific shoes to go with the dress that they wear during your wedding day? Will there be hair and makeup expenses they are expected to cover on their own? Are the gentlemen renting or purchasing their groomsmen attire for the wedding day? What about the bachelor and bachelorette parties or other pre-wedding celebrations? Make sure that your friends and family have a clear understanding of what is expected when they accept the invitation to be an important part of your wedding day.

• Think twice before you ask: There is no room for drama in this crew. Before you ask your friends and family to stand up with you on your wedding day, make sure they are truly who will be best serve you on your big day! This is something that we feel like people often skip when putting together their bridal party. Yes you want your nearest and dearest to be a part of your wedding day, but sometimes that doesn’t mean they are best suited to be a bridesmaid or groomsman. If you have someone that often turns the focus of every situation negative or shines the spotlight on themselves at all times, perhaps this is one time you need to not include them.  Your wedding day will naturally already be stressful, that’s a fact.  You do not need added stress and drama because of the men and women you have asked to stand up with you during your wedding ceremony.  Some people you will need to just have an upfront conversation with about the importance of leaving the drama at the door when being involved with your wedding day.  These conversations can be difficult, but we promise that it will be worth it when you have a low stress group of people surrounding you and supporting you on your wedding day.

 
Did this advice help you with your Colorado wedding planning? Are there tips that you feel we should add when speaking to our wedding clients about selecting their bridal party? Tell us - who will be standing with you on your wedding? Why did you pick them to be your bridesmaid or groomsmen?

Happy wedding planning!
 
photo J La Plante Photography