Bridal Party Etiquette
- Question:
- My best friend's a guy. Can I have him stand up on my side of the wedding party?
- Answer:
Why not? More and more brides and grooms are choosing to have their opposite-sex friends at their sides when they tie the knot. If he's up to it, your lad of honor can do anything a female honor attendant would do. But if he'd rather skip the dress-shopping session and help you come up with a music list instead, by all means play to his strengths. Your honor attendant walks in the processional alone, right before you make your entrance. In the recessional, he walks next to the best man. Your friend may cause a few raised eyebrows come wedding day—the older folk may not have seen a male attendant on the bride's side before. But hey, this is a day when you want your closest friends at your side, no matter what gender they are.
- This content originally appeared in Modern Bride magazine.
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Submit Your Own Etiquette Question
Have an etiquette question you'd like our editors to answer?
- Must my fiancé’s sisters be bridesmaids?
- How can I handle a pregnant bridesmaid?
- How should my fiancé select a best man?
- Can I ask a groomsman to remove his facial piercings during the ceremony?
- Can I ask a bridesmaid to quit the party?
- Can I have a flower girl at an adults-only wedding?
- Are there age limitations for ring bearers and flower girls?
- How can we ensure that the ring bearer behaves during the ceremony?
- Do we have to buy gifts for the groomsmen?
- Must I include my old friend in the bridal party?
- Does the best man have to give a toast?
- Is alcohol a good gift for the groomsmen?
- How do I handle a critical bridesmaid?
- Can my mom be my maid of honor?
- How can I convince my niece to be a junior bridesmaid?
- Can my son be the ring bearer?
- Who's supposed to keep the groomsmen informed about appointments?
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- How can I include my 12-year-old brother in the wedding party?
- Should I tell my fiancé about my past relationship with his groomsman?
- Can a bride ask her bridesmaids to alter their appearance?
- Is the maid-of-honor expected to give a toast?
- What are the duties of a man-of-honor?
- Do I have to accept an invitation to be a bridesmaid?
- Should I bend my no dates rule for my single bridesmaid?
- When are you supposed to ask people to be attendants?
- What should I do about a disinterested bridesmaid?
