Good Stuff Happens in 1:1 Meetings: Why you need them and how to do them well
Selecting your bridal party
1. Selecting your bridal party
Selecting your bridal party—bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring
bearers, etc.—can be a stressful, but rewarding, task. So what do you do
when a loved one suddenly can't stand next to you as you say "I do?"
What do we do if one of the attendants backs out right before the wedding?
2. Traditionally, once an attendant accepted the role, only illness or a death in
the family was a reason to back out. Today, a critical business trip or work-
related issue can force a groomsman or bridesmaid to have to step down. If
this happens early in your planning, before all of the attendants have
confirmed, you may ask someone else to fill the role—a close friend or
relative whom you think would be honored by the invitation. It's a kind gesture
to absorb any costs of his or her participation, as the substitute wouldn't have
been expecting such a potential blow to the budget.
3. If an attendant cancels right before the event, then carry on without replacing
them. Usually, issues involving the processional or table seating can be easily
rearranged. Avoid asking someone else to stand in at the last minute—they
will feel very second best. Know, too, that it's okay to have an uneven ratio of
bridesmaids to groomsmen; one lucky guy or girl will just get to walk the
recessional with two people on their arm.
4. Pre-wedding celebrations stack up quickly: You have an engagement party, a
bridal shower, a bachelorette party, and the list goes on. So how does a bridal
luncheon fit into the mix?
Traditionally, the bridal luncheon is a party that's hosted by the bride for her
attendants. It usually takes place a day or two before the wedding, but it
doesn't have to be an actual lunch—you could invite your bridesmaids to an
at-home brunch or a champagne gathering at your favorite restaurant. The
mother of the bride, as well as other close female relatives, often is attending.
