Should You Have a Small Wedding Party?
You want to include everyone in your wedding party, but you know you can’t. If you’re having a hard time deciding who and how many, there’s no need to stress. There are a lot of benefits to having a small wedding party. Personally, we love a smaller wedding party (and not just because it’s easier to herd 6 people, as opposed to 20). A small wedding party can save you time, spare you drama and keep your budget intact.
Saves Time
Wedding days can be LONG and in the case of the getting hair & make-up done, the day can start very very early for the ladies. We’re talking hair & makeup starting as early as 6am accommodate to 7 bridesmaids, 2 moms, and grandma before the First Look at 2 PM. If your reception ends at midnight, that’s an 18 hour day!
With a smaller wedding party, you can sleep in longer – get that beauty sleep! Things also tend to be a bit more relaxed when there are fewer people getting ready.
Saves Money
SURPRISE! Weddings are expensive and there are certain costs that you need to cover for your wedding party that add up quick:
- Gifts for asking people to be in your party
- Hair & makeup, nail appointments, jewelry
- Bouquets & boutonnière’s
- Wedding day gifts
- Transportation
The more people in your wedding party, the more expensive it can be. So, before you decide on the right wedding party size for your wedding, make sure to look at your budget and get a clear idea of how many people you can actually afford.
Saving money by having a small wedding party may allow you to put your budget towards these popular items instead:
- Wedding videographer
- Wedding album
- Inviting additional guests
- Upgrading your bar or food menu
- Adding uplighting to your venue
Your budget will love our Team Approach Package.
Bundle Photography + DJ + Videography + over $1,500 in extras = $6,197
Save Time
Imagine booking your photographer, videographer, and DJ with one phone call.
Save Headaches
When you bundle services with Mike Staff Productions, our team coordinates with one another, so you don’t have to.
Save Money
With The Perfect Package, you’ll enjoy substantial discounts and bonuses. Can you imagine coming in under budget?
Saves Drama
- Wedding Photography: Once you’re out taking photos with your bridal party, situating 20 people in a shot, can take some time. In the end, those with a smaller wedding party will spend less time taking photos, and will probably still get *more*photos out of that time.
- Fewer Opinions: Just like you wouldn’t invite everyone you know to a wedding dress try-on sesh, do you want to include everyone in your bridal party? Smaller party, less opinions. And you can still invite gal pals for a bachelorette weekend.
Your Bridal Party Should Reflect YOU!
- Don’t want to have a wedding party at all? No problem! There is no right or wrong way to do this. You can choose just to have a maid of honor stand next to you during your wedding ceremony—or you can choose to have no one at all.
- Don’t worry about balance. If you have three people you want to stand by your side at your wedding and your partner has five, that’s totally fine. Plus, like we discussed above, the more people you have stand up, the bigger the expense. There’s no need to add people to your bridal party (and blow your budget) just to make things look “even” or “balanced.”
- Consider having ‘grooms ladies’ or ‘brides men’, too! Who says only ladies have to stand up with the bride or only guys have to stand up with a groom? Mix it up with the people most important to you.
Ultimately, it’s your wedding and you should do whatever you want to do! As long as you choose a group of people you want
Mike Staff is the founder and CEO of Mike Staff Productions, Metro Detroit’s most awarded wedding entertainment and media company. Since founding Mike Staff Productions in 1996, Mike has led a team that has served over 25,000 couples across Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, and Washtenaw counties — providing wedding DJ, photography, and videography services at hundreds of Metro Detroit venues. Under his leadership, Mike Staff Productions has earned recognition as one of the top wedding companies in the country, with consistent five-star ratings on The Knot, WeddingWire, and Google. Mike pioneered the Team Approach model — coordinating DJ, photo, and video under one contract — to eliminate the stress and coordination gaps couples face when booking vendors separately.
