How Do You Plan A Wedding Ceremony Without Attendants? – Ask The Expert Answer

Question from  Lindsay:

My fiance and I have decided, after both being attendants in many weddings, not to have any bridesmaids or groomsmen. How would you organize/coordinate the ceremony without having them walk down the isle first?

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Lindsay, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  You do not say whether you will have a Maid of Honour and Best Man.

If you have a Maid of Honour and Best Man, they could walk up the aisle together, and then you could walk up the aisle.  The groom will already be at the front of the church.

If you are not having a Maid of Honour and Best Man, then, you just walk up the aisle (with or without your father/mother) to meet your groom.  The mothers of the bride and groom would stand when the music starts, signalling the rest of the guests to stand also.  The music and the family standing is the signal to the guests. 

The only thing you need to consider is who will be the witnesses of the marriage licence?  Usually this the Maid of Honour and the Best Man—-although parent’s can witness the licence signatures.  This happens during the "signing of the register" in the ceremony. 

The tradition is that there is one set of Attendants for every 50 guests invited to the wedding.  Along with assisting the bride and groom in the various wedding planning tasks, they are responsible for encouraging guests to dance (usually by asking them to dance), and to resolve issues on the wedding day so the bride and groom are not bothered with things.  These tasks can be assigned to anyone really, and there is no need to have a bridal party if you don’t want one.

Good luck, and if you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert