Do You Have to Have Bridesmaids or a Maid Of Honour?
In this article, we cover the reasons why a couple may choose to lose some roles within the wedding party or opt for no wedding party at all…and why that’s completely OK! There are pros and cons when it comes to having no bridal which we also discuss below.
Why It’s OK To Have No Bridesmaids, Maid Of honour or Groomsmen
For some brides and grooms, there’s no question when it comes to deciding who will make up their wedding party. For others, however, deciding who will take up these important roles can be an added unnecessary stress.
You might find as a bride that you have a lot of friends that you simply cannot choose between, or you might be considering an intimate wedding where you may not even need a wedding party. Maybe some people have opinions on who should be a part of your wedding party and you want to avoid any conflict – whatever the reason, it’s personal to you and it’s completely valid. It is perfectly OK to go against the typical tradition and make your wedding unique to you and your situation, and that might mean having no bridesmaids, maid of honour or groomsmen.
The Pros And Cons Of Having No Bridesmaids or Maid Of Honour
Couples choose to have a bridal party or groomsmen so that they can share the intimate moments of the wedding with friends or family. Aside from this, the bridal party and groomsmen also come in useful throughout the planning of the wedding and on the big day – so although it is completely fine to go without, there are some things to consider if you decide to go solo.
Here are the pros and cons of having no bridal party/bridesmaids:
Pros
- You’ll save money!
Having a bridal party can be expensive. By not having a maid of honour or bridesmaids, you can cross a lot of costs off the wedding list including bridesmaid dresses, hair, makeup, thank you gifts and more… - You Can Control How Much Involvement People Have!
By having no bridal party, it gives you the freedom to cherry pick what involvement you want your friends and family to have in the lead up to or on the day of the wedding. You can make loved ones feel special by asking them to play a part in the wedding – like having a sister come wedding dress shopping, or having your Mum plan the bridal shower! - Less Decision Making
Having bridesmaids means you have a lot more to think about like bridesmaid dresses, hair & makeup and bridal party gifts. Bridesmaid dresses in particular are not straight forward – opinions on styles, differences in height and shape, tailoring and more… it can be a headache if the bridesmaids have different ideas.
Cons
- You Might Feel Less Supported
Having bridesmaids and/or a maid of honour can be a great support circle for you if things feel overwhelming or you struggle to make decisions. Not having that instant circle to lean on might make the process more challenging. - Less Help / No-One To Plan Your Hen Party
The bridesmaids or maid of honour typically plan and arrange the hen party for the bride. This gives you one less thing to worry about when you have a wedding to plan. Without a bridal party you might have to take on this task yourself, or ask someone to step in to help. - Less Wedding Photos Of Your Special Moments With Your Close Ones
By this, we simply mean that by having a bridal party, there are more opportunities for the photographer to take pictures of you and your girls. As it’s typical for the bridal party to be there on the morning of the wedding and they’re prominent during the ceremony (as they stand out with their dresses!), you’ll naturally get lots of photos of your close girls compared to having no bridal party.
Planning With No Bridesmaids
If you decide to go ahead without bridesmaids, you can still get help where needed to plan your wedding. Maybe consider a wedding planner if the task feels too big on your own and you don’t have a support network to help.
If you’re fortunate to have close family and friends who are kind enough to help you, take advantage of their offer to help! Allocate small tasks to different people who would like to be a part of your wedding.
Other Ways To Involve Close Family & Friends…
Having bridesmaids for your wedding is a great way to make friends or family feel special, as they are involved in such an important chapter in your life. However, you can still include people in your wedding without the need for a bridal party!
You could ask a close friend to do a wedding reading or give them a special thanks in the speech.
Why not leave a handwritten note on their table setting to express your thanks to them, or have them join special occasions like the wedding dress shopping or the morning of the wedding? There are so many ways to make people in your life feel special, without the need to have a bridal party.
It is important to remember that this is your day and you need to do what makes you and your future husband happy! Try to make decisions with the thought of having no regrets once the wedding is over.
I hope this article has helped in some way. Why not check out our other articles below for more advice and inspiration for planning your big day?
