Image by Muse Photography via Courtney & James’ Lovely Wonganella Winery Wedding

First off, I am not pooh-poohing our amazing couples that opt to have a bridal party – there are lots of benefits to having your besties by your side when you say your I do’s.

But lately we are finding that a lot of our couples are asking if they need to; they feel society is pushing them to have a bridal party as it’s the norm. Literally, anything goes for a wedding now, so there is no right or wrong when it comes to deciding if you will have a bridal party and ultimately the choice is yours at the end of the day.

Here are 5 reasons why you may decide not to have an official bridal party:

The cost

Generally speaking, there are quite a few traditional costs for both the couple and their bridal party when going down this route. Things like the outfits (think dress, suits, shoes, accessories), makeup and hair costs plus additional accommodation. Thank you gifts from the couple are often given to bridal parties and can commonly cost anywhere from $20 to $150.

Image by Lovable Photography via Gernetha Anne & Rajeev’s Elegant & Traditional Winter Wedding

You can’t decide on one

Sometimes brides have 20 close friends so picking and choosing a select few to be singled out can be stressful and awkward.

Unevenness

So you have four close friends and your partner only has two. If you do decide to have a bridal party, uneven is in and it’s totally fine to have an uneven bridal party. But for those who prefer balance, this could be a strike against having a bridal party altogether!

Image by Aimee Claire Photography via Gemma & Tom’s Chic Country Orchard Wedding

You want to get ready with your fiancé/fiancée

Some couples are now opting to get ready and enjoy the morning as a couple. It’s becoming more popular to walk down the aisle together or see each other the morning of the wedding.

You want your friends to relax

Being in a bridal party often means arriving early to the venue, helping to do things like setting up, getting ready on the day and then following the bridal couple around for the day for photos etc. Often the bridal party sit on a traditional table and don’t get to sit with their own partner, friends or family.

Some couples prefer to let their friends off the hook when it comes to these duties so that they are simply a wedding guest who can join in the festivities alongside others.

 

So, some people choose to go solo and have no bridal party, other people choose to have their children as their bridal party and some people have 10 of their best friends that they couldn’t imagine not sharing their special day with. Honestly, anything goes and it’s what you are comfortable with at the end of the day.

Ms Zebra Says: It can be a tricky road to navigate when choosing friends or family members to be a part of your bridal party – however, it’s great that the trend is shifting to be more about the couple and doing what suits their style best!

The blog is written by Wedding Planner Vanessa from The Wedding and Event Creators.