Reassurance Needed

redlavausf

Am I the only bride choosing NOT to have a wedding party?

Lots of reasons for this decision but we have been together a long time and are finally getting to have our wedding. All of our family will have to travel out of state to attend. We plan to have a very small budget minded ceremony and reception. Maybe 30 people tops.

I just need to know if others have chosen not to have a bridal party.

Summer2011Bride

Although we had one, I've attended weddings without a WP. It's totally fine to not have one, and it honestly took me awhile to even notice they didn't have one!

aerinpegadrak

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_reassurance-needed?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:37Discussion:e8082ccc-05f8-4a8c-82ac-b652908ed3d1Post:872bc956-59bb-44a1-a7f2-9ef2169c22d0">Reassurance Needed</a>:
[QUOTE]Am I the only bride choosing NOT to have a wedding party? Lots of reasons for this decision but we have been together a long time and are finally getting to have our wedding. All of our family will have to travel out of state to attend. We plan to have a very small budget minded ceremony and reception. Maybe 30 people tops. I just need to know if others have chosen not to have a bridal party.
Posted by redlavausf[/QUOTE]

SSIL didn't have a WP, and it was lovely.  Anyway, you're a little late in the game to be asking people...  Why does it matter what other people have done?

Girlie1030

We only had a MOH and Best Man.  A WP of any size is not a requirement. 

PJSPJS

We have 2 Maids of Honor, no Best Man, and no bridesmaids. Also 30 guests tops.

StephBeanWed61502

I'm having one, but my close friend didn't for her wedding, and it was completely fine.  (We even still managed to pull together an impromptu bachelorette party for her!)  Since your wedding is so small, I actually think a bridal party would look a little weird anyway, unless it was just a MOH and BM, you know?

redlavausf

Thanks for the replies. Yes my time is crunching and I don't know a lot about wedding standards. Just a pre-wedding worry I suppose. Didn't want people to show up and think my ceremony seemed weird. Of course I care what people think when they are spending money to travel to come. I envision a nice wedding day but since I'm doing it myself just a little self conscious I guess.

aerinpegadrak

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_reassurance-needed?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:e8082ccc-05f8-4a8c-82ac-b652908ed3d1Post:13ade906-917f-4352-930b-098e449ff671">Re: Reassurance Needed</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for the replies. Yes my time is crunching and I don't know a lot about wedding standards. Just a pre-wedding worry I suppose. Didn't want people to show up and think my ceremony seemed weird. Of course I care what people think when they are spending money to travel to come. I envision a nice wedding day but since I'm doing it myself just a little self conscious I guess.
Posted by redlavausf[/QUOTE]
Seriously, don't worry about that.  These people are traveling to be there because they love you and want to celebrate with you.  Anyone who's going to judge your wedding for being "weird" or not up to some standards (as long as you're covering the hosting basics--enough food for the time of day, beverages, place to sit, seated with good people) doesn't deserve to be there.<div>
</div><div>Trust me, our wedding was about as weird as it got (including a WP of 11 total out of 45 guests, so it can go the other way, too), but our guests still had a blast because our focus was showing them a good time even as we methodically shredded just about every tradition we encountered.  It's just a party.  Breathe.  :)</div>

Girlie1030

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_reassurance-needed?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:37Discussion:e8082ccc-05f8-4a8c-82ac-b652908ed3d1Post:13ade906-917f-4352-930b-098e449ff671">Re: Reassurance Needed</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for the replies. Yes my time is crunching and I don't know a lot about wedding standards. Just a pre-wedding worry I suppose. Didn't want people to show up and think my ceremony seemed weird. Of course I care what people think when they are spending money to travel to come. I envision a nice wedding day but since I'm doing it myself just a little self conscious I guess.
Posted by redlavausf[/QUOTE]

It will be a lovely day.  Ours wasn't the "norm" either but it was completely us and I wouldn't change a thing about it (except my dress, but that's neither here nor there). 

Enjoy your last couple months of planning and preparing!

MeganAngela

DH and I only had our MOH and BM.  We also had two ceremony readers who we asked to walk down the aisle with the families in the procession!  We didn't want the pressure, drama and coordination of a large wedding party.  I don't think it looked weird and no one said anything at all about it.  I really wouldn't worry about it.  The size of your wedding party is the last thing people will be thinking about!

Congrats and good luck!