How to incorporate my cousin in the wedding?

peaches85

This is kind of long so I apologize in advance...

My sister, my three cousins, and I have always been really close (we pretty much grew up in the same house together) and I've always known I wanted them in my wedding in some way.  My sister is my MOH and my female cousin is one of my two BMs, so we're good on that front.  On FI's side, he is using two friends as his BM and GM, one of my male cousins as another GM, and FI's younger brother as a Jr. GM/ringbearer.  That still leaves my other male cousin (who is the youngest at 16) with no part in the wedding.  We have him as an usher, but aside from showing people their seats, there's really nothing for him to do.

We were thinking of having him walk my mom down the aisle, but my mom said she really wants one of her brothers to walk her down.  So, again, we're left with nothing for my cousin to do.  I know we could have really lopsided wedding parties, but as it is right now FI already has one extra guy on his side, so that's a no-go for us.

Can anyone think of anything else we can have my cousin do as an usher or any other roles he can fill?  BTW, we already have readers, so that's a no-go as well.

TIA for any suggestions or advice!

smw42

If it's a catholic wedding- he could bring up the gifts and/or say grace at the reception.

Danes983

Maybe add a reader into your ceremony and include him that way?  i am sure at 16 if you didnt find too much for him he wouldnt be all that upset.

mbcdefg

Would you have had him as a groomsman (or a bridesman/bride's attendant) aside from the number issues? If so, it'd be wrong to leave him out just because of numbers.

Otherwise, just having him as an usher is fine. You don't need to find more busywork to make him feel included. List him in the program, include him in some formal bridal party photos, and make sure to hug him and thank him for being there. That's plenty to help him feel like a part of everything. Giving him more "work" won't make a difference except to give him more to have to do.

The suggestion of having him bring up Communion was also a good one.

peaches85

Thanks for the ideas ladies...

We're not doing a Catholic ceremony and we already have our readers.  We probably wouldn't have used him as a GM anyway because out of all of my cousins he's the least close to FI (due in large part to the age difference between them). 

He likes to do splits and juggle, maybe I can have him be the pre-ceremony entertainment!  HAHAHAHA   TOTALLY KIDDING!!!

TuffysMommie

Is there anything else he can hand out? For instance, I have seen all guests associated with the bride's sorority are handed a daisy (my sorority's flower) Cheesy, but kinda neat at the same time...so is there anything like that you can incorporate and have him be "in charge of?"

On top of showing people seats, can he give them rice/bubbles/programs?

Is he outgoing? Does he like photography? Can you give him a camera and see if he can/will take candid shots of the cousins? (Not a real "task" but it might make him feel good?) I dunno. I don't know much about the 16 year old male brain....lol

peaches85

Ohhhh!!  The camera idea is PERFECT!!!  I think I'm going to give him my videocamera... his commentary alone while he's taking shots will be enough to have me rolling on the floor... the kid's hilarious!