It's not uncommon for couples to have an uneven number of bridesmaids and groomsmen in their wedding party. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as having more siblings or a larger circle of friends. While tradition used to dictate symmetry between the two sides, modern weddings are subverting these rules, and couples are choosing to prioritise the people they feel closest to instead. There are also several ways to manage the logistics of an uneven wedding party, from the walk down the aisle to the ceremony and photographs.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Acceptability | It is absolutely fine to have an uneven wedding party. |
Reasons for unevenness | More siblings or relatives on one side, different expectations from friends and family, or one side simply having a larger circle of friends. |
Walking down the aisle | Each person can walk in on their own, in pairs, or in groups of three. |
Standing at the altar | The wedding party can stand on the side of the person they are closest to, or they can be mixed together. |
Photographs | The photographer can arrange the wedding party to create a balanced aesthetic, for example, by interspersing everyone around the couple or forming a semi-circle. |
Head table | Couples can opt for a sweetheart table or include their wedding party and their plus-ones at the head table. |
What You'll Learn
- It's common and accepted to have uneven wedding parties
- There are many ways to arrange an uneven wedding party for the processional
- There are many ways to arrange an uneven wedding party for the ceremony
- There are many ways to arrange an uneven wedding party for photographs
- You can get creative with spacing to make an uneven wedding party look even
It's common and accepted to have uneven wedding parties
There are a multitude of reasons why couples might have uneven wedding parties: one partner might have more siblings or relatives, different expectations from friends and family, or simply a larger circle of friends. Modern weddings are subverting traditional expectations, and with that comes a departure from rigid rules, such as choosing wedding party members just for symmetry's sake. Couples are increasingly incorporating wedding party members of different genders or choosing to forgo a wedding party altogether.
If you're worried about how an uneven wedding party will look during the ceremony, don't be. Chances are, guests will be too busy focusing on you and your future spouse to notice the number of attendants. If you're determined to make things look entirely even, you can mix bridesmaids and groomsmen on both sides of the aisle, arranging them so that the unbalanced number isn't noticeable. You can also choose to have a select group of people (like the best man and maid of honour) stand during your vows while everyone else takes a seat.
There are also ways to get creative with the wedding ceremony processional and recessional, photographs, and other aspects of the celebration where bridal party members are front and centre. For example, you can instruct your attendants to walk to the altar one by one, either alternating between bridesmaids and groomsmen or in a solid block of each gender. If you want to uphold the tradition of splitting bridesmaids and groomsmen in photos, have them stand in a V-shape, spaced so that each group appears even.
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There are many ways to arrange an uneven wedding party for the processional
Having an uneven wedding party is becoming more and more common, and there are many ways to arrange an uneven bridal party for the processional. Here are some tips to help you plan:
Walking Down the Aisle
There are a few options for handling the walk down the aisle with an uneven wedding party. You can have each member of the bridal party walk alone in a single file, or you can group them into smaller groups, usually in groups of three. If you prefer to have your bridal party walk in pairs, you can pair one bridesmaid with two groomsmen or vice versa. If there is only a difference of one, you can alternate between bridesmaids and groomsmen. You can also have the groomsmen walk down the aisle with the groom, and then have the bridesmaids walk down the aisle solo.
Standing at the Altar
Once at the altar, you can choose to have the bridal party stand on their traditional sides, even if the numbers are uneven. With spacing, it may not be very noticeable. Alternatively, you can mix the bridal party so that there is an even number on each side, especially if you and your partner share a lot of mutual friends. You can also have the wedding party sit in the front row during the ceremony, which is typical for Catholic weddings.
Formal Pictures
For formal pictures, you can intersperse the bridal party around the couple instead of dividing them by gender. You can also use the "windows" strategy, creating two lines and spacing each person so that they are visible in their own "window" by the camera. Another option is to have the larger group stand in the back and the smaller group sit on chairs in the front, with the couple in the middle, creating a staggered and organic-looking photo.
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There are many ways to arrange an uneven wedding party for the ceremony
If you are concerned about the optics of an uneven wedding party, there are several options for how they can walk down the aisle. One option is to have each groomsman walk with two bridesmaids, or vice versa, depending on the numbers. Alternatively, you can have each member of the bridal party walk alone, or have all groomsmen start the ceremony at the altar, with the bridesmaids walking down the aisle.
For the ceremony itself, the wedding party can stand in a semi-circle around the couple, or be mixed together, with mutual friends on both sides, so that there is an even number on each side. If you would like to stick with a more traditional arrangement, with bridesmaids on the bride's side and groomsmen on the groom's side, the difference in numbers may not be noticeable, especially if the wedding party is spaced out.
For photographs, the wedding party can be interspersed around the couple, rather than divided by gender. They can also be posed in a V-shape, spaced so that each side appears even, or in rows, with the larger group standing at the back.
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There are many ways to arrange an uneven wedding party for photographs
It is becoming increasingly common for couples to have uneven wedding parties, and there are many ways to arrange an uneven bridal party for photographs. Here are some tips to help you capture the perfect shots:
During the Processional
For the ceremony processional, you can send your wedding party members single file or in smaller groups, usually in threes. If you have more bridesmaids, you can pair each groomsman with two bridesmaids, or vice versa. This can also be adjusted based on your specific numbers. If there is only a difference of one, you can alternate between bridesmaids and groomsmen. If the groomsmen are already waiting at the altar, you can send the bridesmaids down the aisle one by one.
At the Altar
At the altar, you can stick to the traditional lineup of "girls-on-bride's-side, boys-on-groom's-side". Depending on how uneven the sides are, it may not be noticeable to your guests or in pictures. Alternatively, you can have the wedding party members stand in a semi-circle around you and your partner, filling the space with alternating bridesmaids and groomsmen. If you want to disguise the unevenness, you can have the side with fewer attendants spread out and the side with more attendants stand closer together to create an illusion of balance.
Formal Pictures
For formal pictures, instead of dividing the wedding party by gender, you can intersperse everyone around the couple. You can form two lines and space each person so that they are visible in their own "window" by the camera. You can also get creative and work with your photographer to mix up the group, capturing fun and innovative pictures of the wedding party interacting with each other and with you. Another option is to separate the wedding party by having them pose in rows instead of sides, with the larger party standing in the back and the smaller party sitting in the front with the couple in the middle.
Remember, don't feel pressured to add or subtract people just to make the numbers match. Embrace the uniqueness of your wedding party and focus on having the people you love by your side on your special day!
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You can get creative with spacing to make an uneven wedding party look even
It is perfectly fine to have an uneven number of bridesmaids and groomsmen. In fact, it is becoming more common for couples to have uneven wedding parties. While tradition used to dictate that the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen should match, it is not always feasible for couples to have an equal number of close friends or siblings.
If you are concerned about how an uneven wedding party will look, there are a few tricks you can use to create the illusion of balance. Here are some tips for getting creative with spacing to make an uneven wedding party look even:
- During the ceremony, have the side with fewer attendants spread out and create extra space between each person. Meanwhile, the side with more attendants can stand closer together. This will make each side appear to be a similar length.
- Mix and match the bridesmaids and groomsmen on both sides. This approach works well for photos, especially if the total number of attendants is even, such as seven bridesmaids and three groomsmen.
- Have all the attendants stand on one side of the altar. You can either alternate them (one spouse's attendant, then the other spouse's attendant) or keep each group together.
- For photos, instead of posing each wedding party on their respective sides, blend the two parties together and alternate individuals. You can also use chairs and stools, with the larger group standing and the smaller group sitting in front.
- The wedding party can form a semi-circle around the couple instead of the traditional "sides".
- If you want to stick with the traditional "bridesmaids on the left and groomsmen on the right" photo, have them stand in a V-shape and space them out so that each group appears even.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is absolutely fine to have an uneven wedding party. Couples may have uneven wedding parties for a multitude of reasons: more siblings or relatives on one side, different expectations from friends and family, or one side simply having a larger circle of friends.
There are a few options. You could have each groomsman walk with two bridesmaids, or vice versa if there are more groomsmen. You could also have each member of the bridal party walk down the aisle alone, or have all the groomsmen start out the ceremony at the altar, in which case the bridesmaids will be the only ones to walk down the aisle.
If you're worried about an asymmetrical group, don't be. Chances are, guests will be too busy focusing on the couple to notice the number of attendants. If you want to make things look entirely even, you could mix bridesmaids and groomsmen on both sides of the aisle, or choose a select group of people (like the best man and maid of honor) to stand during the vows while everyone else takes a seat.