Grooms And Their Bridesmaids: Unconventional But Possible

While it is not a requirement, it is common for grooms to have groomsmen and brides to have bridesmaids in their wedding party. These roles are intended to provide support to the couple as they prepare for their wedding day. In recent times, it has become more common for brides and grooms to have mixed-gender wedding parties, with brides having bridesmen and grooms having groomsmaids. Ultimately, it is up to the couple to decide who they want in their wedding party and how they want to structure it.

Groomsmen don't have to match bridesmaids

While it is not necessary for groomsmen to match the bridesmaids, coordinating their outfits can lead to fantastic results and stunning photos. It is worth noting that it can be challenging to match the outfits of the entire wedding party, and it may be a lot of extra work.

If you decide to match the groomsmen and bridesmaids, you can do so by using a primary colour for the bridesmaid dresses and the groomsmen's accessories, such as ties, pocket squares, or socks. Alternatively, you can choose a common element, such as a colour, colour pattern, or print, that remains the same between the two groups. For example, the bridesmaids' dress colour could match the groomsmen's ties.

If you want to avoid strict matching, you can opt for complementary colours or unusual suit colours to tie in with the colour theme. You can also colour-match specific accessories, such as ties, pocket squares, or socks, to the bridesmaids' dresses or other elements of your wedding, such as flowers.

Ultimately, the decision to match the groomsmen and bridesmaids is up to you. You can choose to focus on other aspects, such as ensuring that your wedding party feels their best on the big day.

It's common for groomsmen to wear neutral colours

While it is not uncommon for the groom to have a bridal party that includes women, it is more common for the bridal party to be gender-segregated. In any case, the bridal party is there to support the couple on their big day.

Now, onto the groomsmen's attire. It is common for groomsmen to wear neutral colours such as black, navy blue, and grey. These colours are easy to coordinate with the bridesmaids' dresses. Groomsmen's suits are usually made in somewhat neutral tones, and these colours are the most popular. Black suits are a classic choice, especially in autumn and winter, and they go well with almost any bridesmaid dress colour, especially darker and deeper tones. Grey is a nice, lighter alternative to black suits, and it goes well with lighter-coloured dresses. Navy blue is a good option if you want your groomsmen to wear a colour that is still neutral enough to match other tones. You can pair blue suits with a warm-coloured bridesmaid dress, or with other cool-toned colours like blue or green.

Bridesmaids and groomsmen can be of any gender

The people who stand with you at your wedding should be those who are important to you, and gender doesn't matter. You can have bridesmen or groomsladies, and they can wear whatever you and they are comfortable with. Whether that be a suit, a dress, or something else entirely, it is up to you and them.

If you want to have a female best friend on your side at the wedding, you can. You could call her a groomslady or grooms-woman, or something else entirely. You could have a best 'ma'am' or a groomswoman. It is becoming more and more common to have mixed-gender bridal parties, and it is a great way to celebrate the people you love and who are important to you.

If you are worried about how this will look in photos, there are many ways to pose that will make the groups look even. You could have a semi-circle formation, or couples or groups of three, and have them stand on both sides of the couple. You could also have a V-shape, or choose candid pictures where everyone is mixed up, and there is less focus on the position.

The bridal party can enter separately

If the bridal party is uneven, with significantly more bridesmaids than groomsmen, it is a good idea to have them enter separately. The groomsmen can enter from the side while the bridesmaids walk down the aisle. This is a creative way to manage an uneven bridal party.

There are many ways to get creative with the wedding ceremony processional and recessional, photographs, and other aspects of the celebration where the bridal party is front and centre. The bridal party can walk down the aisle in pairs, with each groomsman walking with two bridesmaids, or vice versa. If the bride and groom have a dog, the dog lover in the bigger group can walk with the pup.

If the groups are more evenly matched, each member of the bridal party can walk down the aisle individually. This is perfectly fine, but they should walk at a quicker pace.

The wedding party should stand in order of importance, with the best man and maid/matron of honour closest to the couple. If the numbers are uneven, the best man and maid/matron of honour can stand beside the couple, while the rest of the wedding party takes a seat in the front row.

There are also many ways to pose for photographs. The wedding party can form a semi-circle around the couple instead of the traditional "sides". They can also be blended together in couples or groups of three and stand on both sides of the couple. If the couple wants to uphold the tradition of splitting the bridesmaids and groomsmen in photos, they can stand in a V-shape, spaced so that each group appears even.

The wedding party can stand in a semi-circle

If the bridal party is uneven, there are a few options to consider. The wedding party can walk down the aisle in pairs, with each groomsman walking with two bridesmaids, or vice versa. If the numbers are more uneven, the groomsmen and bridesmaids can enter separately, with the groomsmen entering from the side and the bridesmaids walking down the aisle. Alternatively, each member of the wedding party can walk down the aisle individually, which is perfectly acceptable.

For those who want to stick to tradition, the wedding party should stand in order of importance, with the best man and maid/matron of honour closest to the couple. However, if the numbers are uneven, the couple can choose to only have the best man and maid/matron of honour stand beside them, while the rest of the wedding party takes a seat in the front row.

The most important thing is that it is your wedding, and you can do whatever you want. The people who stand with you should be those who are important to you, and gender does not matter.

Frequently asked questions