My fiance just got engaged! YAY!
Before we even got engaged, we had discussed in detail of not having a wedding party for our wedding. Reasons being:
1) I have been a bridesmaid/personal attendant,etc in a few weddings and while I feel honored and appreciate the gesture, it is a lot of work. We really just want our friends to come to our wedding, enjoy themselves, and not feel like they have a "to do" list. And most importantly, not spend a lot of money!
2) My fiance does not have a lot of friends. Not in a bad way, but we have a ton of mutual friends, and due to his social awkwardness (which i adore), he just doesnt even know who to pick for groomsmen
3) I have a lot of friends from various different parts of my life that just dont mesh that well together.
There are a couple of other reasons, but those are the most important.
The opinions or questions that I have are as follows:
1) If you had a bridal party free wedding, what did your ceremony look like? Who held your rings/bouquet during the ceremony? Is the processional "weird" without a bridal party preceding you down the aisle?
2) How did you honor the friends and family members that helped you out during the planning process?
3) What was some of the feedback or opinions from people when you told them you had no wedding party? I am concerned on how to politely explain that we arent having a wedding party without insulting those who did have a wedding party. I am one of the last of my friends and family to get married, so I dont want them to feel bad for choosing to have a wedding party.
4) I would still love to have a bridal shower and bachelorette party. I know that I cannot plan these things for myself, and I feel it is rude to ask someone to host one for me that is not a bridesmaid/groomsmen. I understand if it cant happen because of my choice to not have a bridal party, but I would still be a bit disappointed that I wont have one. Is there a way to have one without a bridal party?
Any other advice you bridal party free brides have would be greatly appreciated!