What to call members of wedding party who aren't bridesmaids/groomsmen?

cameronwh

Hello! I'm currently working on my wedding website and having a ton of fun with the wedding party page. I created headings for "Bridesmaids" and "Groomsmen" to go under, but I have a few members of my wedding party who I don't know what to do with...

We wanted to include our dogs in our wedding, so they will be our flower girl and ring bearer. Meanwhile, I decided to ask one of my best friends to be our "Honorary Canine Companion" and walk them down the aisle (I thought this was a better fit for him rather than being a "Brides-Man" since he is such an animal lover). Now I'm struggling with how to group them on the wedding party page because I obviously don't want their section heading to just say "Other." Any suggestions?

MyNameIsNot

cameronwh said:

Hello! I'm currently working on my wedding website and having a ton of fun with the wedding party page. I created headings for "Bridesmaids" and "Groomsmen" to go under, but I have a few members of my wedding party who I don't know what to do with...

We wanted to include our dogs in our wedding, so they will be our flower girl and ring bearer. Meanwhile, I decided to ask one of my best friends to be our "Honorary Canine Companion" and walk them down the aisle (I thought this was a better fit for him rather than being a "Brides-Man" since he is such an animal lover). Now I'm struggling with how to group them on the wedding party page because I obviously don't want their section heading to just say "Other." Any suggestions?

I would call that person an animal handler and pay them. 

You don't have to include everyone in your wedding party, but making up demeaning jobs and pointing out people who aren't good enough to be BM/GM is hurtful. 

short+sassy

If you want him to be in your WP, you should ask him to be a bridesman.  He can both be a bridesman, ie stand up with you at the altar, and also walk the dogs down the aisle with him (if he doesn't mind doing that).

The roles in a wedding, other than the couple and the officiant, are flower girls/ring bearers, readers, and the people standing up with the bride or groom.  When people try to make up roles that don't exist, it implies "I like this person enough (or feel obligated enough) I'm trying to include them in some way, but not so much I want them to actually be in my WP".

maine7mob

How about just "wedding party members" and list everyone? "Other" sounds second rate.

banana468

I'm going to agree that you need a generic name. 

And with the animals in the wedding I hope you also have someone who is trained and that will literally handle them so they can be removed in the case of any issue.  

arzoolander

We are also having our pup in our wedding! He is technically a "groomsman", and we wanted to include my friend's son (practically my nephew) who is 14 as our ring bearer so we asked if he would also escort the pup (which he loves) so he was very excited about this. Don't let people be snarky about the "animal handling" role - if your friend loves you/your dog there is absolutely nothing demeaning about this. My fiancé's best man (another dog lover) would have also happily taken on the role of escorting our pup if needed. Similarly, I have a couple of friends who are not appropriate to be bridesmaids, but I want to honor by including a nod to them in the WP, and they will be with me while getting ready. I've simply referred to them as "Bridal Party Member" and will also include them in receiving bridesmaids gifts. I think "canine companion" is sweet, or "bridesman" would also work, or just "wedding party member" is fine and let the role play out as you've assigned it without feeling the need to be specific.