Odd number

balasj

I have four friends I really wanted to include in my wedding party.  I'm an only child so no siblings.  My fiance has 4 guys including his brother but he also has a sister that we decided to ask.  Now we're 5 girls and 4 guys and he doesn't have another close friend he really wants to invite.  If he asked a 5th person it would just be to even out the numbers, not asking someone he's particularly close to to share in our day (not that he doesn't have friends, but we both want to keep the weding party to people who are really special to us and not have a parade of people walking down the aisle).  If anything, I have a 5th friend that I'd have asked if I could have, but then we'd be 6 and 4. 

Is it OK to have an odd number and pair a guy with 2 girls to exit the church?  Or, would we be better off with 2 girls walking out together and then 4 guy/girl partners?  OR, should my fiance just ask a random friend...?  I lean towards the 2 girls with one guy option, keeping the party small with our original group of closest friends/family, but my future MIL already mentioned that she thinks that's awkward...  My mom didn't think twice about it and said do whatever.  Does MIL just want her son to get more people??  We are already including the sister!

Thoughts?

bablingbrooke

Read the top of the message board: Uneven sides are totally okay.

We had 4 BM and 3 GM.  Here's how we did it:

Processional: GM stood up at the altar with DH, BMs walked in solo.

Recessional: GM paired up with BMs until the end when one GM (who specifically volunteered to do this) escorted 2 BMs down the aisle.

My usually-anal-about-symmetry DH and MIL had no problem with this in the end.  If they can get over the asymmetry, trust me, you can too

gottahavashorti

Don't ask someone for the sake of even numbers.  Go ahead and ask your 6th friend if you asked the others recently.

Options include:
- two BMs walk alone
- two BMs walk side by side or link arms
- do a weave with everyone walking alone - MOH, Best Man, BM, GM, BM, GM, BM
- two lucky GM each get to walk with two bridesmaids

bablingbrooke

This is also a situation where you have to ask yourself "What is the worst thing that will happen if the sides are uneven?"  

Will you notice in a couple pictures?  Sure.  Will you kick yourself for not having an extra warm body or two to even out the sides?  Absolutely not.  

emilyinchile

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_odd-number?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:2ac7aed6-5194-488d-a49a-3e2156fa2f7dPost:2965ab6c-5dec-4696-a3a6-81d7dbfb2c8e">Odd number</a>:
[QUOTE]Is it OK to have an odd number and pair a guy with 2 girls to exit the church?
<strong>Yes</strong>
Or, would we be better off with 2 girls walking out together and then 4 guy/girl partners?
<strong>That would be fine too, it's your call.</strong>
OR, should my fiance just ask a random friend...?
<strong>NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!</strong>
I lean towards the 2 girls with one guy option, keeping the party small with our original group of closest friends/family, but my future MIL already mentioned that she thinks that's awkward...
<strong>Your MIL gets no say in who your closest friends are/who you ask.</strong>
Posted by balasj[/QUOTE]

Problem solved!

trix1223

WPs are not, nor should they ever be about symmetry.  You ask who YOU want in your WP, your FI asks who HE wants in HIS WP, and those are the only two people who should be deciding who is in.

As for walking....one lucky guy gets to escort two beautiful women.  Done.

balasj

Thanks ladies!  Appreciate the support against forcing it to be symetrical.

mrs.mims

Had the same problem. Got the same answers. Thanks Knotties