Past & Present Brides: No Bridal Party

Hi fellow Jamaica brides. I am planning a April 2009 wedding at Riu but was not planning on having a bridal party. My mother is throwing a fit and everyone is telling me that I should have atleast a Maid of Honor. Is there anyone else here that is not having a bridal party or Maid of Honor. My FI and I just don't want to do it, we are just going for a simple ceremony. I was thinking of just caving in and having a maid of honor. I mentioned it to my FI last night and he said absolutely not. He has three best friends and just does not want to choose between them.

One thing I'm not sure about is the rings? Who would carry the rings, I won't have any pockets, obviously, lol. Any suggestions from past brides that did not have a maid of honor? Also who would sign the certificate??

I did not have a bridal party and it worked out just fine. Just have someone (your mom, brother, etc) give the rings to the minister right before the ceremony. We had a very close family friend sign the certificate - he was honored to do so.

It's amazing how much simpler things become without a bridal party.

I don't think you should cave if you don't want one! You don't need a bridal party to sign the papers - you can have "witnesses" that aren't your wedding party. FI's best friend got married in mexico in November and there was no wedding party and it was beautiful! FI was a witness as was another girl and they just had someone give the rings to the judge before the ceremony.

We are only having my sis and his bro - I think for us that works bc we each only having one sibling and frankly we didn't want to make things difficult!

My daughter is not having a bridal party either. They are actually doing the legal ceremony in the states the day before they leave, so the ceremony in Mexico will be symbolic. The officiant could hold the rings for you, or you could have someone put them on the table at the front in a basket right before the ceremony.

I'm not having one for several reasons.

I have too many girls I couldn't narrow it down to less than 8 or 9.

I don't have a sister to be able to keep it easy like that. There is no way I could pick just one. I don't have someone who would clearly be that one.

Mike would only have 3-4 guys. I'm fine with mismatched, but I don't want a huge imbalance. We are different about friendships. I keep in touch & continue friendships with all the girls who I've been very close to. He just gets close to a few guys. I say it's because I talk so much I need a lot of friends to spread it out.

We decided it would just be so much easier to not have a bridal party. I'm happy we did this. Some girls who would definitly be my BMs can't make it. Same for 2 of his good friends. We had talked about just waiting to see who books and making them bridal party. But, we finally decided to just make the whole group our wedding party. There should just be about 30 of us.

I'm having honorary BMs. I'm making them a silly photoalbum & giving them a nice thank you. Just a way to recognize my friends without the BM stuff.

I completely agree with what the other girls have said. My mom held the rings and then gave them to my son to hand to the officiant when he asked for them ... it worked out fine. We actually didn't need any witnesses because our officiant is my best friend so he signed and is a minister in the states and the Texas Marriage License doesn't require them ...

BUT --- one thing that I didn't think about - if you want your girlfriends to be in the room with you as you're getting ready - be sure to ASK them! Our wedding was in the afternoon so a lot of guests were out and about doing different things and they began seating 20 minutes before the ceremony. Needless to say, I had a few pictures with my mom & dad and my daughter as I was getting ready - and a couple with my best friend who came up to check on me ...

For me that is what I preferred, I really just wanted things to be quiet and calm --- but it was not like other weddings where I've been a bridesmaid and spent the entire morning / afternoon with the bride. Phil hung out in the big suite with a bunch of people before the ceremony ... but I think that people generally leave the bride alone unless asked ...

Anyways - you might have already planned for this - but it never occurred to me!

I did not have a bridal party either. Our minister had the rings and honestly anyone who witnesses your marriage can sign the certificate. I had a bunch of girlfriends join me ahead of time while I was getting married along with my mom. I wouldn't have had a bridal party even if someone paid me!

We did however have two close friends each do a reading.

i'm not having one either!

I am not having a BD either, and I got the same reaction from my mom.... But the girls need to get ready with you in the morning!! I was like, they will! They don't need to be official BM's to be the friends they always were! You may need 2 witness' though. We are each having someone stand up for us. But that is it, and people will appreciate it in the end... Saves money all around!