A Quick Guide To Bridal Party Etiquette

Once you’ve had the magic moment of becoming engaged, it’ll be time to dive headfirst into the wedding planning process. This process generally begins with choosing a wedding party, finding attire, and then working with vendors to book the wedding.

Planning a wedding is something you’ll usually only do once, so it’s unlikely you’ll know all the tips to etiquette upfront, which is where we come in. We’ve compiled a list of wedding etiquette tips around the bridal party to help you get through your planning phase.

How do we decide who to include in our bridal party?

The most important aspect of this decision will always be to seek out people that you have a close, deep, meaningful connection to. It’s critical to choose people who have had an unforgettable impact on your life to be at your side on this special day. Always select those that you genuinely love and will cherish the presence of.

One tip I would add is not to include people out of obligation. I’ve seen far too many brides do this and regret it later on.

Do we need to have a wedding party?

Absolutely not. There are no rules around this other than the ones you place upon yourself. In fact, in a post-COVID world, elopement weddings with no bridesmaids or groomsmen are becoming increasingly common among modern couples.

There are upsides to having people spend all of your wedding moments with a bridal party, but if you do not have friends you want at your wedding or your budget cannot handle it, feel free to skip a bridal party altogether!

Do we need a maid of honour or best man?

As mentioned previously, wedding parties are optional, and the same applies to the maid of honour/groomsmen. If you want to have a minor wedding party or forego having one person in your bridal party elevated above the others, you can totally skip the maid of honour/best man duties.

Can you have a mixed-gender bridal party?

Absolutely yes! Gender is irrelevant to your bridal party, as are titles like ‘maid of honour’ or ‘groomsmen’; they are just age-old terms people generally use.

How many people should we include in our wedding party?

As many as you want! The choice is yours, and it comes down to your preference for numbers and who you would like around you on your big day. Surrounding yourself with those you love most is the critical element of a wedding party.