Bridal Party Etiquette
- Question:
- Do I have to have my fiancé's close female friend as one of my bridesmaids?
- Answer:
That choice, ultimately, is yours. Generally, bridesmaids are family members or close pals. If your fiancé's friend is neither, and you don't feel comfortable including her in your party, why not have her stand up on his side instead? It's not necessary to arrange your wedding party like a 7th grade dance, with girls on one side and boys on the other. This can also open up more options for you. Wouldn't your favorite cousin Kevin be surprised if you asked him to be one of your 'bridesmen'? If it makes sense, go for the coed line up—more and more couples are doing just that. However, if you and your hubby-to-be want to keep things more traditional, you can always find another special role for her: Invite her to read at the ceremony or to give a toast at the reception. Also, make sure she gets a corsage so everyone knows she's a VIF (Very Important Friend).
- This content originally appeared in Modern Bride magazine.
- How do I deal with flower-girl pressure?
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- How can I pick just four bridesmaids?
- Should I ditch my faraway maid?
- How can I handle a pregnant bridesmaid?
- Must my fiancé’s sisters be bridesmaids?
- To whom must we give thank-you gifts?
- 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?
- Can I stop my stepdaughter from stealing my spotlight?
- Where should the wedding party sit?
- Can I ask my bridesmaids to match makeup?
- Do I include the tip in my bridesmaids' spa gifts?
- How can I work an extra friend into my wedding?
- How can I include my three-year-old niece in our wedding?
- Must I get a hotel for out-of-town attendants?
- What does the wedding party actually do?
- Can I not have any bridesmaids?
- Can I have a flower girl at an adults-only wedding?
Submit Your Own Etiquette Question
Have an etiquette question you'd like our editors to answer?
- Can my wedding party be lopsided?
- Can I nix an overweight bridesmaid?
- Is seven bridesmaids too many?
- How can I convince my bridesmaids to budget for their expenses?
- Can I ask a bridesmaid to quit the party?
- Are there age limitations for ring bearers and flower girls?
- How can we ensure that the ring bearer behaves during the ceremony?
- How should my fiancé select a best man?
- Can I ask a groomsman to remove his facial piercings during the ceremony?
- Do we have to buy gifts for the groomsmen?
- Should the best man hold a boys' outing on the day of the wedding?
- 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?
- 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?
- Who's supposed to keep the groomsmen informed about appointments?
- Is the maid-of-honor expected to give a toast?
- Can a bride ask her bridesmaids to alter their appearance?
