Wedding Party Size – Is Bigger Better?

Before you get caught up in fabric swatches and cake tastings, every bride should begin to consider the size of their wedding party.  Many couples never talk about it until shortly before the big day and this can spell definite trouble if not planned in advance.  As there are drawbacks to both large and small wedding parties, it’s a good idea to make this a discussion you have at the very beginning.

Is Symmetry Important?

The question of symmetry will play a major role in the size of your wedding party.  For instance, if you want one of the groomsmen to escort each bridesmaid down the aisle then symmetry is crucial.  This means you’ll have to discuss how many people each of you would like to stand up for you during the ceremony before either of you begins to ask anyone.  One of the most awkward conversations you’ll ever have is the one where you ask a friend with whom you aren’t close or a distant relative to be in your wedding simply because you needed to fill another spot.

Don’t think you can’t maintain a sense of symmetry walking down the aisle just because the groom doesn’t have as long of a list as you have.  One way to get around this is by having each of the groomsmen escort two bridesmaids down the aisle.  You might also have the bridesmaids all walk unescorted down the aisle.

Disadvantages of a Large Wedding Party

While the idea of having all your friends with you in the wedding pictures and helping you with the wedding errands may seem appealing, you should consider the overall tone of your wedding.  How do you picture your special day in your head?  Is it a formal wedding where all the guests are dressed up in their finest?  Or is it a more laid back environment?  Perhaps you’re not planning on inviting hundreds of people.  All of these factors should play into your decision because a very casual atmosphere with a cozier number of guests would make a large wedding party appear out of place.

You’ll also need to keep cost in mind since it’s customary to give the members of your wedding party a gift.  Most people don’t remember to add this into their wedding budgets during the early stages of planning – because they didn’t plan the size of the wedding party – and all those little trinkets and engravings can add up faster than you may realize, adding hundreds of dollars to your bottom line before you know it.

Disadvantages of a Small Wedding Party

The main disadvantage to having a small wedding party is when you agree to a smaller number than you’re comfortable having.  If, for example, you’ve agreed to each limit yourself to two people and you have two close friends, your sister and his sister then it can get tricky.  While there’s no hard and fast rule about asking your fiance’s family to stand up for you, many bride’s will ask their future sister-in-law as a gesture of goodwill, even if they’ve not become best pals.

Regardless whether you decide on a large or small wedding party, the most important thing is that you’re comfortable with the final number.  If you know you’ll regret not having one of your friends or a certain member of your family standing next to you at your wedding ceremony then don’t agree to a smaller wedding party than you need.  There’s always a way to make it work.  The bottom line is that you only get married to your perfect match once and you don’t want to look back thinking you wish you’d gone a different way.