Pros and Cons of Having a Large Wedding Party

A LARGE WEDDING PARTY ISN’T FOR EVERYONE

Once you’re engaged and start planning your wedding day, one of the biggest challenges you’ll face is who to choose to stand beside you. Some couples prefer to keep their wedding party small, while others opt for a large wedding party of all their loved ones.

There are advantages and disadvantages to going all out with a large bridal party, just as there are for a smaller wedding party. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of going big with your bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Pro: No one gets their feelings hurt

In many cases, a small wedding party can lead to friends or family members feeling left out. But with a larger group, you can avoid disappointing any of your loved ones.

Con: Personalities may clash

More people in your wedding party means you could have personalities that clash or don’t get along with one another. If you have a wedding party member who tends to start drama, be sure to keep a sharp eye on them. You don’t need to deal with additional stress on your wedding day.

Pro: Mix and match the looks

If you’re dreading trying to find one dress or color that looks good on everyone, a large wedding party is the perfect opportunity to mix and match. Have your bridesmaids choose dresses in a specific color scheme or palette. This will look amazing in photos if you have a large group.

Con: Agreement can be challenging

Many brides like to ask their wedding party for their opinions on attire, flowers, you name it. But with a large wedding party, you’re unlikely to get anything approaching a consensus. Avoid crowd-sourcing the details of your wedding planning process.

Pro: You’ll have more helping hands

Whether you need someone to pick up a relative from the airport or direct your photography around the venue, you will have plenty of bridesmaids and groomsmen on hand to help out. Multiple attendants means you can get help with everything from decorating and setup to tear-down. Just be sure to express your gratitude and avoid treating your wedding party like your personal assistants.

Con: Schedules can be hard to coordinate

Planning bachelor and bachelorette parties, as well as engagement parties and other pre-wedding get-togethers is a huge challenge with a large wedding party. Everyone has their own jobs and responsibilities. And if your wedding party members are scattered across the map, it will be even harder to arrange a time when everyone can get together.

Pro: Getting ready will be extra fun

A large wedding party can make getting ready for the big day feel like more of a celebration—and it should! If you’re prone to anxiety or nervousness, having all your friends gathered together and laughing can be just what you need to get in the wedding mood.

Con: Keeping everyone on time can be hard

Your wedding party members will have multiple responsibilities on your wedding day, most of which require them to be in a specific place at a specific time. If you have a large wedding party, it can be even more of a challenge to track everyone down and get them all where they need to. This is why it’s a good idea to have a wedding planner or assign someone you can trust, like your Maid of Honor or Best Man, to corral everyone.

Pro: Capture amazing photos

With so many personalities, your wedding party photos will be some of your favorite from your day. Even your posed portraits can be opportunities for creativity and fun, so let everyone show off their wild sides!

Con: Pictures will take longer

Larger bridal parties inherently take more time to photograph. There are more people to pose, coordinate, and cooperate during photos, so it can be more challenging. Make sure you plan for this, allot for the time in your timeline and communicate to your photographer what you want most out of wedding party photos.

The best part about planning your wedding is that you can make all the choices that are just right for YOU! It’s your day, no one else’s, so choose the wedding party that makes you the most happy! It’s that simple. We’re just here to help.

For more information on planning your Cleveland Wedding, go here!