How to Choose Your Wedding Party

Oh the big decision - who will be in your bridal party. This dreaded decision is definitely a difficult one. Here are my own tips as to how to pick the women who will stand beside you as you say "I do."

Pick Your Number
How many bridesmaids and groomsmen you are going to have. It is common to have the same number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. Whether you want to have a large wedding party or a small one (or not one at all) this is the first decision you need to make. Personally, I think the magic number is 5 of each, but choose the number that suits you and your fiancé.

Family 
Do you have sisters or brothers? Are you close to them? This is something that you will definitely need to consider. I have one brother, and I will be making sure that my future fiancé includes him as one of his groomsmen. And hopefully if he has sisters, I will be close to them and want them to stand beside me as well.

The most important thing is that you don't include family only because they are related to you. Your wedding party needs to be made up of those who are most important. If you haven't talked to your sister in 10 years, you might not want to ask her to be a bridesmaid.

However, you may want to remember that if you have a lot of siblings, prepare for a large wedding party. It is easier to have a larger wedding party than to tell your sister she won't be a bridesmaid along with your other three sisters.


Friends
If you are like me (and most other girls) you have about 10 "best friends." Unfortunately, you can't really have all 10 of those lovely girls in your wedding party.

Who have you been friends with the longest? Who has been there through all of the fights and breakups? Choose those who are closest to you and who you see being in your future for the long haul. Some friends are with us for a while, others for a lifetime. You want to look back at your wedding day and not say "Why was she a bridesmaid again?"

You don't have to include your childhood best friend that you haven't kept in touch with. And you don't have to include a friend that had you in her wedding. This isn't a time for returning the favour.



The Bottom Line
Here it is: include those who are closest to your heart and who you can't imagine not standing beside you on your special day.

Thanks to Grinvilla for providing the stunning photos!