There are some pieces of a wedding day that are rooted in tradition, but what if you want to stray away from the usual? One place where modern couples are choosing to switch things up is in regards to a bridal party. More and more often, brides and grooms are shying away from having the classic bridesmaids and groomsmen in favor of something different, or not having a bridal party at all! Here are a few reasons why it’s ok not to have a bridal party, and ways to still include those who are extra-special to you on your big day.

  1. You Have a More Shy or Quiet Personality – For a lot of people (not just brides and grooms!), being the center of attention is more of a curse than a blessing. If you (or your soon to be spouse) have a more reserved personality, a traditional bridal party might not be up your alley. If you’d prefer to do some things solo, that’s ok! For example, many brides feel that the pressure of having friends or family close by when picking out a wedding gown would not only be stressful, but it would make the experience uncomfortable. If that sounds like you, skip the bridal party and do things your own way.
  2. You Feel Like You Have to Choose Between Friends – If you’re lucky enough to have too many candidates to choose from for your bridal party, it can be a tough task to narrow them down. You risk making someone feel left out or excluded, which is the last thing you want to do to one of your closest friends. If you find yourself stressing out over having to compare and select one friend over another for your bridal party, avoid the situation completely by passing on a bridal party.
  3. You Want to Keep Your Costs Down – It’s no secret that the more guests you have at a wedding, the higher your total cost will be. This goes along with your bridal party as well. The larger your party gets, the more you’ll have to fork out for bouquets, gifts, etc. Remember, just because the people most important to you aren’t a part of your bridal party doesn’t mean they won’t be there celebrating you and your new spouse! You can enjoy the day whether they are true “bridesmaids” or not.
  4. Your Close Friends Might Not Be Able to Attend – Hopefully, this doesn’t happen to you, but it could be the case that your close friends can’t actually attend your wedding. Whether that is because of a pregnancy, family crisis, a faraway destination, etc., if you can’t have those people by your side on your big day maybe you don’t want anyone! They’ll be celebrating you and your new spouse in spirit, even if they aren’t actually there.
  5. You Have Too Many Potential Members in Your Bridal Party – For couples that have big families or large friend groups, it can feel like an all-or-nothing situation when it comes to your bridal party. If your venue or budget can’t accommodate your twenty bridesmaids, don’t have any! You can still make these people part of your big day without having them stand next to you during the reception. Pro tip: Ask these important people to wear a certain color or accessory as part of their wedding day outfit. This could be in the form of a dress, a shirt, a tie, or even a statement necklace. Include a nod to these special supporters during your reception so they and the rest of your guests can acknowledge those closest to you just by looking around the room.

If you or your fiancé aren’t into the idea of a bridal party for any reason, don’t feel compelled to have one! There are plenty of other ways to give a shoutout to these special people on your wedding day without having them on the altar by your side. Your wedding should be about what makes you and your soon-to-be-spouse feel the love, so don’t be afraid to not have a bridal party if that is what’s best for you.