No, you don’t need a huge bridal party.

If you are in your early twenties, chances are you have lots of friends that you hang out with very often. If you are in your early thirties, then what you have is a lot of friends that already got married and that already included you in their bridal parties. Either way, in every wedding, there is a question that every couple needs to answer before the planning starts: how many people are we going to have in our wedding party? As a wedding photographer in the Midwest, I am a personal fan of small bridal parties; and my reasons for them are listed below:

Less people = less money.

Everyone has a budget, and a bigger bridal party means automatically, more dresses, more suits, more gifts and more food. A smaller bridal party will help with your wedding budget.

A smaller group = more time for photos.

Photographers are hired based on hours. And even when they are not, light time is always limited on a wedding day. If you decide to include 8 bridesmaids, 8 groomsmen and 8 ushers to your wedding, then chances are that you will need more time for pictures, which will result in less time for photos of something else, like you and your partner. Think about this and talk about it with your photographer before deciding how many hours you are going to book.

Smaller groups are easier to manage.

Imagine trying to get the attention of a group of people all at once. Is it easier with 18 or with 8? As a wedding photographer, smaller groups are easier to photograph and to pose. Transportation of the entire group from one spot to another is easier too. Smaller groups win the bet here.

You don’t owe anything to anyone.

Just because all your friends included you on their bridal party you are not obligated to include them. This is your wedding and you can do anything you want. Talk to your friends and be honest about why they can’t be in your bridal party. Everyone has been in a wedding at some point. They will understand if you talk to them directly.

It is hard to pay attention to 19 people on your wedding day.

My biggest wedding ever had 8 bridesmaids, 8 groomsmen, 8 ushers and 4 personal attendants, and I can honestly say that they bride didn’t have time to enjoy the day with all of them. Having so many people around for the entire day can get overwhelming fast and can take the attention away from the rest of your guests. A smaller group will give you an opportunity to actually bond and enjoy your day with the people that really need to be there.

At last, remember that no matter how many people are in your bridal party, an even number of people looks better in pictures, so keep your team in even numbers if you want to see your photographer do the happy pants dance!

Happy planning!

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Solis Photography is a fine art wedding photographer who specializes in capturing love. Solis Photography is based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but is available worldwide. Want more information on booking? Contact Patty or send her an email at hello@solisphoto.com .