this is the code for the render ad
Wedding Party

having our parents stand up at the alter with us?

I'm just starting to plan the wedding and I'd love some feedback. We're not planning to have bridesmaids or groomsmen because my fiance doesn't have any siblings, cousins, or extremely close male (or female) friends that he would want up there with him. We're both very close to our parents (both sides still happily married), and I had the idea of perhaps having our parents stand up at the altar with us, as though my parents were my "bridesmaids" and his parents were his "groomsmen." We're thinking of asking my sister to be the officiant (she can get ordained to do it), so this way up there at the alter will be the people who are closest to us at the wedding. 

This seems like a better alternative than having my sister and cousins be my bridesmaids and having my fiance pick several friends who he's not sure if he'll still be that close to twenty years from now, and it also seems better than the two of us standing up there alone (I know some people do this though). I tried googling this to see if anyone does this (having parents stand up at the altar with you instead of a traditional wedding party) but I couldn't seem to find anything. 

Do you think this would be a good idea? Would people think it looks strange, or would it seem really sweet? Any feedback would be appreciated, especially since we can't really ask people we know, since we don't yet want to tell anyone we're not having a wedding party until we're sure exactly what we're doing.

Re: having our parents stand up at the alter with us?

  • When my daughter got married,  we and the grooms parents were up on the altar along with the bridal party.  Bridal party was along side B&G, and we were on either side of priest.

  • I'd ask them if they'd be interested before you commit.  Keep in mind that you also don't have to have anyone standing up there at all with you.  I've been to weddings with no WP, and they were lovely.

    Also, heads up, be sure to thorougly check the officiant requirements with your county before asking his sister.  Some of them can be quite... picky.  Learned that one the hard way.
    This is a neglected planning bio.
    This is a belated married bio, with no reviews yet because I'm lazy.

    image
    Sometimes I feel like people think that brides are delicate little flower princesses who get all dressed up and pretty for one special moment of their dreams, when really they're just normal people who just happen to be getting married. Things shouldn't have to be sugar-coated for grown-ass women. -mstar284
  • I think it's a wonderful idea!  Do be mindful of your county's officiant requirements though.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_having-our-parents-stand-up-at-the-alter-with-us?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:012586d8-1a20-4f71-b273-7bbd5a49b9ddPost:49ee587e-ec4b-4073-811e-57430e595bf6">Re: having our parents stand up at the alter with us?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I'd ask them if they'd be interested before you commit.  Keep in mind that you also don't have to have anyone standing up there at all with you.  I've been to weddings with no WP, and they were lovely. Also, heads up, be sure to thorougly check the officiant requirements with your county before asking his sister.  Some of them can be quite... picky.  Learned that one the hard way.
    Posted by aerinpegadrak[/QUOTE]

    Luckily when my sister got married, her best friend was the officiant, so my sister knows all the rules and how to make sure it's official. :) I'm glad you all are into the idea!
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards