East Gippsland Wedding Planner

www.eastgippslandweddingexpo.com.au | EAST GIPPSLAND WEDDING PLANNER 2017 9 Choosing your bridal attendants can be a tricky process and can test friendships and family bonds, but do it right and you’ll keep the disappointments to a minimum. Before you begin to choose who, you will need to decide how many. Traditionally there should be one bridesmaid and one groomsman for every 50 guests, but there’s no hard and fast rule. A large wedding party indicates a formal wedding – if you’re looking for a small, intimate gathering, then 10 bridesmaids will be too many. Consider where you will be getting married. If you’re saying your vows in a sweet little chapel there may simply not be enough room for your wedding party and your guests. The more attendants you have, the greater the potential for complications. Difficulties in coordinating other dates such as the bridal shower and hens party and agreeing on the bridesmaid dresses are just some of the issues that may arise the more attendants your have. Who you choose can really affect the dynamics of the party and the smooth running of the planning and eventually on the wedding day. Choosing your sister or sister-in-law to be a bridesmaid generally works well if you get along well, but can cause misery if you are doing it simply because it is expected. Don’t feel you have to ask someone to be your bridesmaid just because they asked you. You may not even be as close as you once were, and there may very well be others you now feel closer to. WHO AND HOW MANY BRIDESMAIDS? Consider your expectations of how much involvement your bridesmaids will have in the lead up to the wedding. Don’t expect a bridesmaid from interstate to be able to assist with addressing invitations or preparing wedding favours. It’s important not to make assumptions. Asking someone you don’t particularly want in the bridal party because you presume they won’t be able to afford it and will say no can back fire. She might say yes and move heaven and earth to be a part of it. And don’t not ask someone you really want for the same reason. They might also make an extra special effort to pay for it or you may offer to pay if absolutely necessary. Ask only who you want, regardless of their situation. If you do ask someone and they say no, or if you don’t have enough bridal party positions for your closest friends, there are always other roles that they can play and still be a part of your special day. They might hand out programs, perform a song or do a reading. And don’t feel as a bride that you have to have female attendants. It is becoming more popular for brides who have a best male friend to have them as a bridesman or simply attendant, and likewise female friends being groomswomen. Whoever you choose to be in your bridal party, you must both be comfortable in the knowledge that you have made the right decision and can all work together to make your day as beautiful and enjoyable as possible.