Your wedding party will play a vital role in not just helping you with your wedding preparations but also keeping you sane.
The process of planning the biggest day of your life is after all a difficult one, and even the most organised brides and grooms can quickly become flustered and frustrated by the experience. Who you pick to support you in the run up to and on your big day is therefore important.
Picking your wedding party is one of the most personal and essential aspects of wedding planning, but how soon is too soon to choose your supporting acts?
Why you shouldn’t rush your decision
If you’ve just got engaged, the last thing you should commit to right now is who to pick for your wedding party.
On average, it takes between 13 and 18 months to plan a wedding, and that’s without taking time to actually enjoy and celebrate your engagement. A lot can change during this time, including who you are close to.
Take your time and avoid making this all-important decision as soon as you become engaged. Give yourself weeks, if not months, to consider all the options.
If you’re on the fence with someone, delay asking, especially if you’re not sure how they’ll fit in with the rest of people on your wedding party shortlist.
Only prioritise choosing your wedding party when you’re actively planning your wedding too. The size of your wedding is one of the many factors that will influence who the right people for the job are.
What to do before picking your wedding party
Yes, you’re engaged and excited to start wedding planning, and your friends will be too. But there are other wedding-related to-dos that you should tick off your list before choosing your wedding party.
You should get basic wedding planning tasks out the way first. Your budget and the size of your wedding will dictate the size of your wedding party for example.
Those opting for an intimate celebration of 50 to 60 guests won’t need a huge entourage, and may find that having a larger wedding party blows their budget.
When it comes to your wedding party, more certainly isn’t the merrier. While a bigger wedding party provides more hands on deck, you’ll be giving yourself a larger to-do list when picking dresses and suits, organising hen and stag parties, and buying gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen.
We also recommend picking your wedding date and wedding venue before choosing your wedding party.
The size of your wedding venue’s ceremony space will help you determine how many people can be comfortably accommodated next to you.
Kick-start your search for the perfect wedding venue right here, contact us today to discuss your big day dreams.
How to choose the perfect entourage
Whether you are both responsible for choosing your own parties or you’re working together to build the dream team, choosing the perfect entourage isn’t easy.
We’ve established that just after engagement isn’t the right time to pick your wedding party, but you may want to take a few notes on the people who are actively supporting you even during this early stage.
We’ll let Brides explain:
“Start to notice which one of your friends is there for you around the time of your engagement. If you hear radio silence from some people you thought you were super close to after you announce the engagement, it may be an indication of how they will act during your wedding planning process.
Acknowledge the people in your life that seem to be there for you, excited for you, and offer their help right from the start.”
Having a mix of family and friends in your wedding party is another great way to go. Brothers and sisters who you have good relationships with are ideal choices, and are likely to be there for the long haul, no matter how much time you take to plan your wedding.
Remember that being a bridesmaid or groomsman isn’t all fun, games and party planning. Your chosen wedding party will need to be able to support you and fulfil their own responsibilities.
Make sure you’re familiar with what to expect from each wedding party member – you can start with our guide to the best man’s duties.
