After getting engaged, you have plenty of decision to make. Part of the fun of being engaged is planning a wedding. One of the most important parts of the wedding-planning process is selecting a bridal party.
In some cases, this is easier said than done. Before you decide whom you are going to ask, there are a few important things that you should take into consideration.
Can They Afford the Cost?
Each person that you choose to be in your bridal party is going to need to pay for the dress and shoes that you choose. They will also need to pay for their accessories.
If you have friends or family who are on a tight budget, you may want to leave them out. If they cannot afford to pay for the things that they will need for the wedding, they likely won’t be angry that they weren’t asked.
Include Your Siblings
It is obvious that you should include your siblings in your bridal party. If you have several, you should choose the siblings whom you have a closer relationship with or whom you are close to in age. If you have brothers, you should see if there is room for them in the groom’s party. If possible, you should include the entire family in the wedding party.
Avoid Including Troublemakers
If you have friends who tend to cause drama, you should think about leaving them out of the bridal party. This also includes anyone who tends to get sloppy after having a few drinks. The last thing that you want is for someone in the bridal party to cause problems on the most important day of your life.
Consider too that members of the bridal party have major responsibilities. For example, the groomsman helps the groom choose the perfect yet affordable wedding bands. That is no easy feat, and it takes a serious, responsible groomsman to carry out his duties effectively.
Will Everyone Get Along?
When you get your potential bridal party list made, you should go through the names to determine if there are two people on the list who don’t get along. The last thing that you need at your shower, your bachelorette party, and at your wedding is two members of the bridal party constantly bickering. This can put a huge damper on all the special events leading up to the wedding and also on your big day.
You should also cross-reference the names on your bridal party list with those on the groom’s list. If there are two people on those lists who don’t get along, it can also result in major problems when the two groups get together. It is best to ask people whom you are sure will get along or who can at least be civil with one another.
How Close Are You?
It is best to choose people whom you are close to and whom you are sure you will still be friends with even after ten years. If you have an old college friend whom you haven’t seen in years, you may want to choose someone you are closer to.
You want to share your wedding day with the people whom you are very close to. If you don’t include your college roommate or friends whom you haven’t seen in years, they likely won’t be insulted.
What Happens Next?
Once you have chosen your bridal party and the groom has chosen his groomsmen, you are going to need to buy gifts. Each member of the bridal party deserves a thank-you gift for being there for you on your big day. Buying gifts for your bridal party should be simple since they are your closest friends and family members.
Since you know everything about these women, you should have no problem buying gifts. Unfortunately, it can be a bit more difficult when you are trying to choose the ideal groomsmen gifts. Many men don’t know much about buying gifts for other men, even if they are their closest friends and family members. If the groom-to-be needs a few ideas, he should consider the following: budget, the recipient’s personality, the wedding theme, and the usefulness of the gift.
Equally Important to Note
Choosing the wedding party is one of the most important wedding decisions that need to be made. After the wedding party has been chosen, it is tradition to give each person a gift. It is up to you to give your wedding party something special to say “Thank you for being part of such an important time of my life.”