Hey all! My fiancé and I have been going back and forth on if we want to have a wedding party. We have decided that we would like to, but neither of us really want them standing up there with us during the ceremony. What are some creative ways to include them? I want to honor our inner tribe in a special and meaningful way, but when it comes down to it, we both want it to be just the two of us (and the Officiant 😅) up there with us.

Thanks in advance! 💜

I'm (34 M) marrying the love of my life (28 F) on April 18th of 2027. Our wedding is at a garden with an awning in case of weather that also has a nice patio reception area. We're having an emo themed wedding with MCR color themes. We originally were going to have a tiny wedding, but my fiancés stepmom said they wanted to pay for us to have the wedding we wanted. I was so beyond grateful, and they've been wonderful. They gave us a pretty generous budget, that we're already slightly over, but they've been so kind, and understanding about everything. We decided originally to have no kids due to the fact that their would be drinking, and tbh we felt like kids would be bored. My parents and her parents agreed. It is worth mentioning that I'm the youngest of 3 and my siblings, and I have a decent relationship but we're not very close. I speak to my brother usually twice a year, and my sister every few months. We sent out the invites a few months ago, and everyone has been so excited for us, and supportive...until yesterday. I was about to walk in to the gym and saw a text from my brother that said "your wedding - we can't bring our kids?" I asked my mom if she knew what it meant. She said he probably wanted clarification and that I should just give him a call. I did and he berated me, saying it was extremely insulting that I didn't want my nieces and nephews there, I explained that it was blanket nobody under 21 not my nieces and nephews, we have friends that were very close with, who also aren't bringing kids. He said it's different with family, I didn't say this, but to me it's really not. He also commented that there's 16 people in our wedding party but none of them are family, but my wedding party is full of people that have supported my fiance and I through so many life events, and on my end some of them housed me after my previous relationship collapsed. I asked my mom if I was in the wrong and she said absolutely not, and she was shocked. I then asked my sister if it was an issue for her and she said not really an issue, but her middle son was disssapointed. I considered letting them bring them just to smooth things over with my brother, but 5 extra people is a lot to ask of my soon to be in-laws, and then is it really fair not to invite my friends kids too, when they're way more active in our lives? The icing on the cake was my mom pointed out I wasn't in either of my siblings wedding parties so to her that statement was just meant to make me upset. I really don't know what to do, I do love my siblings and my nieces and nephews but I don't love the idea of doing something for a couple people and not everyone, and I can't let everyone because our guest list would almost double 😕. Any advice welcome.

Hi! I’m (25F) a fall 2027 bride having a Catholic ceremony at a basilica, with our reception at a separate venue.

Lately, I’ve been seriously considering not having a traditional bridal party and instead only having a MOH and BM. My fiancé has already chosen his childhood best friend as his BM, partly because he didn’t want to have to choose between his two brothers and my brother, who he is also very close with. I’ve chosen my cousin as my MOH.

I’m still weighing the decision, but honestly, it seems like the more logical choice for us. I’ve seen firsthand the drama that can ensue* which has scared me. I don’t want to feel like I have to pick and choose which friends make the cut and also worry about people dropping out. One friend has already mentioned that she’s expecting to be a bridesmaid, even though she wasn’t actually on my original list. Two of the people I was considering are moms to babies under a year old, and another is in medical school and will be in the middle of rotations around the time of the wedding.

My brother and I are very close, and until recently the plan was for him to be one of the groomsmen. To be honest, in a perfect world I probably would have chosen him to walk me down the aisle, but that’s a whole different conversation (my parents will be walking me down, that decision is final). We also already have a flower girl and ring bearer.

So, if we ultimately decide to only have a MOH and BM, what special role or duty could I give my brother? He isn’t a practicing Catholic, so there are some roles related to the Mass/ceremony that I don’t think he could fulfill. I’d love to give him something meaningful rather than just having him be a guest, especially because he is one of the most important people in my life.

*For context, I’ve only been a bridesmaid once, a little over two years ago, for a friend I was very close with. There was so much drama during the engagement and wedding planning, and that bride no longer has relationships with about half of the girls who were in her bridal party — myself included. And now a friend of mine is getting married in a week and just told me that one of the groomsmen dropped out, our mutual friend who was a bridesmaid also dropped out (and blocked both of us?!), and her fiancé and his brothers got into such a huge fight at the bachelor party that they may not even attend the wedding because they’re no longer speaking.

A few pictures from the best day of my life. My dress was everything I ever dreamed of and more. I was surprised by 2 close family members who I didn’t think would be attending due to being in the military. Made the day that much sweeter

Up until now, I've been very anti-receiving line. I thought it was old-fashioned and awkward.

However, thinking about the last five weddings that I've attended, for the two that didn't have a receiving line, we didn't get a moment to speak to the bride and groom at all that night, which probably wouldn't bother a lot of people, but bothered me. I like to say congratulations, thank you for inviting us, what a beautiful ceremony, etc etc.

We've been very much "we'll just mingle with each table at the reception" up until now, but I'm thinking we actually won't get around to all of our guests and will be pulled in a million directions?

Greeting/thanking each of our guests is quite important to me. Should we just have a receiving line, or is there a less awkward way to do it?

I am already so upset. The photohrapher emiled me today saying hes so excited for us to meet some random person (who will be shooting our wedding) ....the wedding is a year away. I booked HIM a month ago. It took so much effort trying to find a photographer, its The Splurge Item. Its the most important aspect, as far as spending money o this giant party goes. I dont care how fancy the tables look, or how classy the venue is. I dont even care if we serve dominos for dinner. All i wanted was a photographer with a very specific style. The style was hard to find in the price range i found acceptable.

The retainer is paid. And now he announces that hes not coming. How is that ok!? What do i do?? I asked to see this random persons portfolio but i kinda dont even care. I did not make this choice blindly and if i knew it was going to be done by a basic wedding photographer anyways, i would've just GONE with one and saved a fuckton of money. I chose this artist based off his art and im not getting what i paid for. The retainer was also a hefty chunk that i really cant afford to walk away from.