Asymmetrical Bridal Parties
Sometimes choosing the bridal party is easy: the bride and groom each have an equal number of friends or relatives that they would like to invite to be their attendants. But what if the bride wants a different number of attendants than the groom? The good news is that it is perfectly acceptable to have an asymmetrical bridal party. Here is how to handle it graciously.
There is no need to scramble around to find another body to even out the numbers. You should only invite those who you truly wish to have with you. If the bride has three attendants and the groom has five, no one is going to assume that it means she is less popular than he is! Better to have three attendants you really love than five that you barely know.
During the processional, the groomsmen will be standing up at the altar with the groom, so there is no question of how to manage unequal numbers. The music plays, the bridesmaids come gliding down the aisle in their beautiful dresses and bridesmaid jewelry, the bride makes her grand entrance, and everyone heads up to the altar. At this point, the first question of unbalanced sides may arise. If there is only a difference of one or two people, simply have the bridesmaids stand by the bride and the groomsmen by the groom in the usual fashion. If, however, the sides are more disparate in size, you could ask your officiant about having only the maid of honor and best man stand by the bride and groom for the ceremony; the rest of the attendants can be seated in nearby chairs.
Okay, so the ceremony is finished, the groom has kissed the bride, and it is time for the recessional, now what? When there is one more female attendant in the wedding party, the best man can have the honor of escorting two lovely ladies in their fabulous bridesmaid dresses and jewelry back up the aisle. He simply extends an arm to each one. If the gentlemen outnumber the ladies, a nice idea is to let the maid of honor walk up the aisle unescorted, which will simply help to single her out as the bride’s chief honor attendant. Having different numbers of attendants on the bride’s side and the groom’s side is one of those things that can drive a bride crazy, but in truth it is no problem at all.
Chinese Lanterns at Weddings
Are you looking for a way to add color and illumination to your wedding? Are you also hoping to make your reception very festive without spending a fortune? If so, you are in luck, because you can get all of that and more when you decorate your reception with Chinese lanterns.
Outdoor weddings are a great place to use Chinese lanterns. The festive globes will look fantastic suspended from the trees, especially for a reception that will be going into the evening hours. You can hang them individually from branches of trees, or drape a long string of mini lanterns from tree to tree. Another idea is to create a grid of clear wire over the tables at the reception, and to hang the lanterns over the seating area for an intimate glow.
The lanterns are also a great addition to an indoor wedding. Naturally if you are having an Asian inspired wedding, you must have Chinese lanterns, but they are great for other themes as well. The lanterns can be used as accents over the reception tables in lieu of renting costly chandeliers. They will also give you a bright pop of color over each table, which means that you will not need to do as much with flowers and centerpieces.
Because the Chinese lanterns will make such a strong impact on your reception venue, you want to make sure that the rest of your wedding ties in with them. In other words, if you are using the lanterns as your main source of color, be sure to carry touches of those colors into the rest of your design. Your bridal party can wear your signature colors in the bridesmaid jewelry and the groomsmens’ pocket squares. You want to have a good balance.
You can’t beat Chinese lanterns for an inexpensive way to brighten up your wedding. Brides are finding that they are as versatile as they are festive. They are a classic fun party idea that is sure to add a great look to your reception space.
