We know there’s a lot to think about when it comes to your bridesmaids. You have to decide how many to have, who to choose, and who will be your chief bridesmaid. But after Whitney Port announced that she would be having no bridesmaids at her wedding, it got us thinking about why anyone else might decide to skip the bridal party tradition and what the benefits might be.
Too difficult to choose
For girls who don’t have a definitive idea about who they might choose, the decision for bridesmaids can be difficult. Multiple bridesmaids can clock up expense and possible drama (you know what they say, too many cooks…) so it could be in your interest to keep the numbers down. However, are you then running into issues about who to choose out of your close-knit group of ten best friends? Why have no bridesmaids at all so none of them feel left out?
Too much of a commitment
Asking someone to be a bridesmaid is a huge honour, it can also be a huge burden. Being a bridesmaid comes with a lot of responsibility and pressure and not everyone is up for the job. If you ask someone who lives away, you may be putting pressure on them to sort everything thousands of miles away or spend money to fly over for fittings and other things. You might not want your best girls to feel under any obligation to say yes.
Very expensive
Whether it’s for you or your bridesmaids, having bridesmaids can make things very expensive. It’s Irish etiquette to pay for their dresses, which is part of the reason we commonly stick to less than five. If you decide to pay for anything else for them such as hotel rooms, accessories or gifts, it can get very pricey for you. Not to mention any extras they’ll have to pay for, such as they’re own shoes, a gift for you, any money going into the hen or bridal shower adds up too. Deciding to have no bridesmaids gets rid of some of the expense.
Pressure on your bridal party
If you decide to have no bridesmaids, then there’s less pressure on your best girls to perform. Even if you have unofficial maids that will give you the help and support you need as well as helping to plan your hen, there are extra pressures once they have the title and have to stand up there with you. They will want to make you proud and there’s a lot of pressure that can come with that. If you have a group of girls that are happy to help you do all the things that bridesmaids do without the label, there will be less pressure on them.
Let them wear what they want
Brides who have no bridesmaids have no bridesmaid dresses they have to stick their friends in. No matter how well you may pick your bridesmaid outfits, every girl has a different style, taste and shape, and they would all most likely pick very different dresses for themselves given the choice. So give them the choice. Let your unofficial bridesmaids wear whatever they want to your special day.
One less thing to worry about
While we’re on the subject of dresses you don’t need if you have no bridesmaids, this will give you one (or several) less thing to worry about. No bridesmaids means no dresses you have to pick out. If they’re worrying about what they’re wearing it means you don’t have to. You also don’t have to worry about hair, accessories, heels, and a million line up photographs of you and four lavender ladies. When you’re looking for your wedding dress, it might be nice not worrying about what dress you’re going to pick for all your girls that suit them all.
No bridesmaids means no drama
We’re not saying there’s always drama. Bridesmaids can be an absolute God-send to some brides, but as many former brides will tell you, bridesmaids do often come with their own drama. You’ve manufactured a specific group of girls who may or may not swim in the same circle if it wasn’t for you, and that means there can be disagreements, especially when it comes to what’s best for you as the bride. Not to mention, added tension if you have one bridesmaid who wants to take over or another who is doing nothing. No bridesmaids equals no bridesmaid drama.
- Jenny Darmody
Image credits: Lavender bridesmaids: Elite Wedding Looks | Coral dresses: Pinterest | Pink dresses: Angelo Bridal | Teal dresses: Brides of Adelaide | Short dresses: Southbound Bride | Blue bridesmaids: Lauryn Galloway | Peach dresses: Pinterest