How to Plan & Throw a Wedding Without a Bridal Party
A bride and groom exchange vows as their loved ones look on from the crowd. Photo Credit: Inside Weddings.
The bridal party is a quintessential part of any wedding ceremony. But more and more couples are opting to simplify their special days by skipping the bridal party.
Here’s why they’re doing it and what you need to do to pull off a wedding day with no bridal party in tow.
Why Have a Wedding Without a Bridal Party?
There are many reasons why couples skip the bridal party altogether. Some crave simplicity, wanting to focus solely on celebrating their love story. Others want to be more inclusive and avoid the drama of who is and isn’t in the bridal party.
If you choose this approach, there are plenty of advantages. You won’t need to assign roles that may hurt others’ feelings or cause some to feel left out.
This could occur if you have a large family or friend group where many expect to have a place of honor at your event. You can also avoid managing large groups, which could lead to conflicts that will distract from your special day.
By foregoing a bridal party, you open the doors for increased flexibility for your wedding timeline and planning. Because you’re not worrying about outfits, accommodations, and other things a bridal party requires, you can channel your time and efforts toward other aspects of your wedding day.
How to Incorporate Loved Ones Without a Bridal Party
No bridal party means more time for this bride and groom to focus on each other! Photo Credit: Bridal Musings
A bridal party-less wedding doesn’t mean that your loved ones won’t play a key role in the festivities. You can assign alternative roles to special family members, like officiants, readers, ushers, or even emcees during the reception.
Get creative and include friends and family by asking them to help with decor, speeches, or musical performances. This is a great way to highlight important people by leveraging their talents.
For example, if you have a talented baker in your family, ask them to bake their best recipe for your dessert table or ask someone who has a way with words to write a custom poem to be read during your ceremony.
Finally, give a nod to those who play a big role in your life by mentioning them in speeches, toasts, and other key moments in the event. This will make them feel included and amplify just how grateful you are for their presence.
Planning the Ceremony Without a Bridal Party
Without a bridal party, you can simplify your processional and use that time in other areas of the ceremony. You can walk down the aisle solo, as a couple, or the bride and groom can be escorted by their parents.
Offer balance on the altar by using simple decor items or a wedding ceremony arch to anchor the space and draw everyone’s eyes towards the happy couple, such as a decorated wedding gazebo. You can also place chairs in a semi-circle shape to fill in the space.
You can also include symbolic or cultural rituals to make the ceremony unique, so ask the older generations in your family if they know of a custom you could incorporate to make your ceremony pop.
This will fill any perceived empty space and potentially give family members a role that will make them feel included in your special day.
Adjusting the Wedding Timeline
A bride shares a quiet moment with her closest family members. Photo Credit: Boho Weddings
Without a wedding party, you will have a more simplified, streamlined wedding timeline. For one, it will take a lot less time to get ready if you’re not trying to prepare a huge bridal party.
So you can expect the getting-ready schedule to only cover the needs of the bride and groom.
You can also expect a streamlined ceremony flow without the worry of coordinating a large group. This will allow you to focus on speeches, readings, and other more personalized factors that will make your wedding unique. At the
Skipping a bridal party will help you transition seamlessly into the reception without having to worry about bridal party announcements. This will also save shy friends and family members from having to walk in the spotlight during key moments.
Plus, you won’t have to worry about curating a head table where bridesmaids and groomsmen will have to sit apart from their plus ones.
Instead, allow free seating and create a sweetheart table where you and your new spouse can enjoy your first meal together as husband and wife!
Managing Expectations and Traditions
For some, breaking from tradition will bring a lot of questions, concerns, and even some complaints. If your friends and family expect traditional roles, calmly explain that you and your partner have discussed this decision at length and decided that it was the right choice to fit your unique wedding vision.
Then let them know the other ways that you plan on including friends and family in to your event. This will show that you’ve put a lot of thought into the decision and are still planning on acknowledging the special people in your lives.
However, there are some key moments where a lack of a bridal party will require some creativity on your part. Typically, the maid of honor and best man will plan the bachelor and bachelorette parties.
You can entrust a special friend with this task or simply host a joint party/dinner yourself! At the altar, the maid of honor will usually hold the bride’s bouquet. You can remedy this by asking a family member sitting in the front row to hold it, choosing an alternative bouquet with a bracelet attachment, or skipping a traditional bouquet.
At the end of the day, just reassure your guests that your day will be just as meaningful and special without a bridal party as it would be with one. After all, this day is about you and your spouse, so it should reflect your desires and preferences.
Creative Photo Ideas Without a Bridal Party
A bride and groom take a photo with their entire guest list. Photo Credit: Photography Awesomesauce
Just because you won’t capture unique bridal party photos doesn’t mean your photos will be any less beautiful. You’ll still have lots of couple shots and can also pose for solo shots, family group photos, and candid moments with your guests.
Just tell your photographer exactly what vibe you’re going for, like editorial or classic poses. You can still achieve the bridal party look by posing for group photos with different friend groups or even a giant group photo with all guests!
If you have a venue with unique features, have everyone gather around it to commemorate the event. Don’t forget to take a silly photo as well as a formal one!
You can keep photos intimate yet inclusive by providing your photographer with a list of shots or guests that you want photos with. That way, everyone is included, but you’re guaranteed to get pictures with those closest to you.
Pre-Wedding Celebrations Without a Bridal Party
Typically, the bridal party plays a large role in pre-wedding festivities. You can plan alternative events that will take the place of these celebrations while still maintaining the excitement that comes during the planning process.
Host casual gatherings like group dinners, game nights, or day trips. Make them potluck style so that everyone contributes and it cuts costs for you.
You can also organize these events at your own home or a public space to take the pressure off of finding the right location for these laid-back affairs.
You can also organize bachelor and bachelorette parties that are inclusive and laid back. Think a girls’ night-style sleepover or a guy trip to a football game. This will allow you to celebrate with close friends and family without the pressure and responsibility that comes with formal roles!
Budget and Stress Benefits of No Bridal Party
Skipping the bridal party means a lot of room to breathe for your budget. You and your guests will save big on wedding day attire, gifts, and extra services needed for your bridal party, like make-up and hair styling.
There’s also a lot less stress when it comes to coordinating schedules, outfits, and logistics. Guests can wear what makes them most comfortable and attend the pre-wedding events they can rather than feeling obligated to be at every single one.
You can redirect your saved time and money towards other aspects of your wedding, like the venue of your dreams, high-quality entertainment, or even honeymoon upgrades.
Hosting Your Wedding Without a Bridal Party
A wedding without a bridal party can be just as personal as one with many attendants. Remember that the purpose of groomsmen and bridesmaids is to bolster support for the bride and groom. You can still achieve this without designated roles, especially since your family and friends are already so excited to celebrate your upcoming vows!
So make the call you feel is right for you and your spouse. Don’t let traditional family members and friends guilt you into falling back into formation. Modern weddings are just as meaningful and unforgettable without the traditions, especially if you follow your heart!