A Bridal Party Without Bridesmaids: Creative Ways To Celebrate

Planning a wedding without bridesmaids is becoming an increasingly popular choice for brides. While it may seem like a nontraditional move, it has several benefits, such as avoiding the costs associated with a bridal party, simplifying the planning process, and creating a more intimate ceremony. However, it's important to consider the potential drawbacks, like missing out on a time-honored tradition, having limited emotional support on your big day, and taking on additional tasks and stress. Ultimately, the decision to forgo bridesmaids depends on the couple's preferences, values, and their vision for the celebration.

Delegate traditional duties to friends and family

There are several traditional duties that are usually performed by bridesmaids and groomsmen, which you can delegate to your friends and family members. Here are some suggestions:

Holding the Bouquet and Rings

Traditionally, the bride hands off her bouquet to the maid of honour during the vows, and the best man holds onto the rings. You can ask a close friend or family member, like your mother or sister, to hold your bouquet and give the officiant the rings.

Planning the Bachelorette and Bachelor Parties

Usually, the bridesmaids and groomsmen plan the bachelorette and bachelor parties. You can ask a close friend or family member to step in and plan these events for you.

Getting Ready Together

You can invite your closest friends to join you in the bridal suite as you get your hair and makeup done and help you get dressed. You could even offer to pay for them to get their hair and makeup done as well, so you can all enjoy being pampered together.

Taking Photos

You can still arrange with your photographer to have some special set photographs beyond family groupings. Be sure to send them a copy of the picture after the wedding with a personal note!

Rehearsal Dinner

Traditionally, the bridal party would be included in the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding. However, you can still invite your nearest and dearest friends and family to join you for dinner and speeches.

Include loved ones in the ceremony

There are many ways to include loved ones in your wedding ceremony without having a bridal party. Here are some ideas to make your friends and family feel special and involved:

Involve them in the ceremony

Ask your loved ones to perform a reading or poem, help with a unity candle, or act as witnesses. You could even ask a special friend or family member to be your officiant. This will add a personal touch to your ceremony, and your loved ones won't have to wear matching outfits!

Get ready together

Invite your closest friends to join you in the bridal suite while you get your hair and makeup done and help you get dressed. You could even offer to pay for their hair and makeup so you can all enjoy being pampered together. Don't forget the champagne!

Take a special photo

Arrange with your photographer to capture some special set photographs beyond family groupings. Be sure to send your loved ones a copy of the picture after the wedding with a personal note.

Invite them to a special dinner or day out

Traditionally, your bridal party would attend the rehearsal dinner. Even if you don't have a bridal party, you can still invite your nearest and dearest to join you for dinner and speeches. Alternatively, organise something more informal, like a wedding morning brunch or a day out before the wedding.

Get ready with your friends

If you want to involve your friends in your wedding day but don't want to have a bridal party, there are plenty of ways to make your nearest and dearest feel special and included. Here are some ideas for getting ready with your friends on your wedding day:

Invite them to get ready with you

Even if you don't have a bridal party, you can still invite your closest friends and family to get ready with you on the morning of your wedding. This is a great way to include your friends without the pressure of them having to perform any official duties. You can enjoy some mimosas and tunes, and even offer to pay for your friends to have their hair and makeup done too. This way, you can all enjoy being pampered together. Don't forget to capture some "getting ready" photos with your photographer!

Invite them dress shopping

Just because you don't have a bridal party doesn't mean you can't include your best friends in the wedding dress shopping process. Invite a few close friends or family members to come with you and help you choose the perfect gown. They can give you advice and opinions on different styles and silhouettes, and it will be a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved.

Host a girls' night or spa day

If you don't have a maid of honor or bridesmaids, you may not have a traditional bachelorette party. However, that doesn't mean you can't still have a fun get-together with your closest friends before the wedding. Consider hosting a girls' night out, a spa weekend, or a joint bachelor-bachelorette party with your partner and their friends. This is a great way to include your friends in the wedding celebrations without the formalities of a bridal party.

Take special photos

Although you may not have the classic bridal party photos, you can still arrange to have some special photos taken with your friends on your wedding day. Ask your photographer to capture some candid moments while you're getting ready, or organise a fun photo shoot with your entourage. These photos will be a wonderful keepsake and will make your friends feel valued and included.

Ask them to do a reading or perform a song

Another way to include your friends in the wedding ceremony itself is to ask them to do a reading, perform a poem or song, or even act as witnesses. This is a great way to involve your friends without them having to wear matching outfits or follow traditional bridal party duties.

Take special photos

Photographs are a key part of a wedding, capturing the moments of the day and preserving them forever. If you're choosing not to have a bridal party, you can still take special photos with your closest friends and family. Here are some ideas for how to do this:

Getting Ready

Get some photos of you and your closest friends or family as you get ready for the wedding. You can capture the fun and excitement of the morning—popping a bottle of bubbly, getting your hair and makeup done, and putting on your dress. These photos will be full of natural emotion and joy. You can also get some photos of you and your friends in your pyjamas or robes, or even having a pre-wedding dance party!

Special Photo Ops

You can also organise some special photo opportunities with your friends. Get a classic group shot, and some close-ups of you with each individual friend. You could also get photos of you and your friends with any custom details, like matching jackets or other gifts. If you have a unique venue, be sure to make use of it and get some photos around the property.

Candid Moments

Throughout the day, there will be plenty of candid moments you can capture with your friends. Get photos of everyone raising a glass, or reacting to an inside joke. You can also capture the bridal party's grand entrance to the reception, and their reactions to your dress.

During the Ceremony

During the ceremony, you can get photos of your friends listening to the vows, or capture any tears during the ceremony. If there are any special moments in your culture's wedding traditions that involve the bridal party, make sure to get photos of these too.

After the Ceremony

Once the ceremony is over, you can get some group photos at the place you said "I do". You can also get some photos of the bridal party walking together, or create a dynamic image by having them walk towards the camera. For a fun photo, prepare some confetti for the bridal party to toss as you and your partner share a kiss.

Invite friends to a special dinner or day out

There are many ways to involve your friends in your wedding without having a bridal party. One idea is to invite your nearest and dearest friends to a special dinner or a day out. Here are some suggestions for how to do this:

Rehearsal Dinner

Traditionally, your bridal party would be included in the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding. However, you can still invite your closest friends to join you for dinner and speeches, even if they are not officially part of the bridal party. This is a great opportunity for your friends to feel involved and special, and for you to thank them for their support.

Brunch or Lunch

If a dinner doesn't work for you, you could make it something less formal, like a wedding morning brunch or lunch. This is a great way to catch up with your friends and make them feel included before the wedding festivities begin. You could even make it a pampering session, with hair and makeup treatments, so that you can all enjoy being spoilt together.

Day Out

Alternatively, you could plan a day out with your friends ahead of the wedding. This could be a fun activity like a spa day, or even a private celebration like a bridal luncheon with a champagne toast. This gives you a chance to celebrate with your friends in a more intimate setting and express how special they are to you.

Bachelorette Party

Even without a bridal party, you can still have a bachelorette party or a girls' night. Nowadays, bachelorette parties often include friends who are not official bridesmaids. You could ask a close friend or family member to plan it for you, or you could plan it yourself and invite your favourite ladies to join you for a fun night out or a relaxing spa weekend.

Combined Celebration

If you want to involve both your male and female friends, you could have a co-ed celebration, combining the bachelor and bachelorette parties. This is a great way to include everyone and celebrate together in a non-traditional way.

Frequently asked questions