Bridal Party Etiquette
- Question:
- I wanted to ask five of my good friends to be bridesmaids, but my fiancé says that's way too many. Now, so as to avoid hurting anyone's feelings, I'm thinking about not having any attendants at all. Does that make sense to you?
- Answer:
Not really. Besides pitching in with wedding details and errands, attendants perform some can't-do-without wedding functions. Your best man and honor attendant, for example, often act as witnesses when it comes time to sign your wedding license; ushers prevent seating bottlenecks at your ceremony (that's why you should have one per 50 guests); and attendants on both sides give your reception fizz by starting the dancing, making introductions and offering toasts.
- This content originally appeared in Brides magazine.
- Can I ask my bridesmaids to match makeup?
- How can I include my three-year-old niece in our wedding?
- Do I include the tip in my bridesmaids' spa gifts?
- How can I work an extra friend into my wedding?
- Can I stop my stepdaughter from stealing my spotlight?
- Where should the wedding party sit?
- Must my guy's pal be a bridesmaid?
- Can a guy be a bridesmaid?
- How should I tell my friend she's not a bridesmaid?
- Can I have two maids of honor?
- Must my sis be my honor attendant?
- How can I convince my bridesmaids to budget for their expenses?
- Should the best man hold a boys' outing on the day of the wedding?
- Must I get a hotel for out-of-town attendants?
- Can my wedding party be lopsided?
- What does the wedding party actually do?
- How do I deal with flower-girl pressure?
- How can I pick just four bridesmaids?
- How old should a flower girl be?
- Should I ditch my faraway maid?
- Can I not have any bridesmaids?
- Can I nix an overweight bridesmaid?
- Is seven bridesmaids too many?
- To whom must we give thank-you gifts?
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?
- Can I ask my bridesmaids to cover their tattoos?
- 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?
