Page 25 - Real Weddings

SKYTOUCH_E_PHOTOS
TBride’s Squad CONSIDER THESE TIPS WHEN
CHOOSING THE WEDDING PARTY
he wedding day is special, not only to the bride and groom but also to their family and friends. To ensure a meaningful celebration, couples ask their closest family members and friends to be part of the wedding party.
Being asked to serve as a bridesmaid or groomsman is an honor. Some couples may be tempted to ask every friend, sibling or cousin they have to be in their wedding parties — and some do. However, the larger the wedding party, the more dif cult it is for couples to coordinate the details.
While large wedding parties are in style, there isn’t any magic for- mula to help couples decide what size party is right for a particular situation, and trends vary based on geography and culture.
The following tips can help couples decide on the size of their wedding parties.
MATCH THE SIZE OF THE GROUP TO THE WEDDING
Wedding planners may use a standard ratio for a proportion of guests to wedding-party members (that ratio is one pair of wedding attendants for every 50 guests). This creates a balanced feel, with the more people in attendance, the larger the wedding party and vice versa.
Bridal-party roles
USHERS
FLOWER GIRL
RING BEARER
GUEST BOOK ATTENDANT MAID/MATRON OF HONOR
Regardless of the size of the wedding party, it’s wise to shop for bridesmaids’ attire at least six months ahead of time, said Alex DeJohn, owner of Bella Bridesmaids in Little Rock. “This will ensure plenty of time for the dresses to come in and to avoid any ‘rush’ fees associated with production and/or alterations,” she said.
CONSIDER YOUR EXPENSES
Wedding-party members may be asked to spend considerable amounts of money to be part of the wedding, but the couple will also have certain expenses tied to the wedding party. These expenses can include hiring limousines to ferry people between the ceremony and reception; the photography costs to arrange and photograph large wedding parties; and the cost of boutonnieres and bouquets.
For couples with large wedding parties, DeJohn suggests asking retailers about upcoming trunk shows, which often offer exclusive discounts. In addition, she said, some boutiques offer discounts for larger bridal parties.
SELECT RELIABLE, EASYGOING PEOPLE
Wedding-party members should be people whom couples can rely on, and it helps if wedding-party members are not prone to overre- acting. Choose a wedding party who can be trusted and people with whom you get along.
courtesy of metro creative contributions by linda garner-bunch
BEST MAN
OFFICIANT BRIDESMAIDS/GROOMSMEN
THE LOOK
PAGE 25