Having a lot of friends can be both a blessing and a curse while you’re planning your wedding. The more people you want to have a role in the festivities, the more complicated it becomes to have a wedding party of a sensible size. One way around this is by ditching the idea of bridesmaids and groomsmen altogether. Instead, there are plenty of other ways to include your loved ones during the ceremony and reception. Consider these alternatives and discover useful ideas for giving everyone a part to play.
Ask for Assistance With Preliminary Events
Typically, members of the wedding party are responsible for planning preliminary gatherings like the engagement party and the bachelor or bachelorette parties. Even though you’re opting to forego the traditional wedding party, you can still ask your close friends and family members to help you with certain precursory affairs. You should remain mindful of the costs of planning, however. Offer to pay for the parties, and be sure to purchase small gifts as a way of showing your gratitude to those who dedicated time and effort to putting together these events.
Give Them Something To Read
Another great way to include your loved ones on your big day is by asking some of them to do readings during the ceremony. Whether you follow a traditional religious format or select texts that hold a special significance to your heart, this is a perfect way to show people you care about that you want them involved in your event. Be mindful of whether the people you ask are comfortable with public speaking. If certain people have a fear of talking in front of groups, it is best to find another task for them.
Have Friends Give Speeches
You can also ask friends and family to give speeches during the reception. Traditionally, the best man and maid of honor deliver toasts over the course of the festivities. If you aren’t having anyone fill these roles, then you can feel free to ask anyone you’d like to say a few words. The more people you ask to speak, the shorter you need to make the speeches. Guests tend to become restless when people talk for too long, so be sure to ask only people who you know will be able to deliver succinct and sentimental toasts.
Delegate Important Tasks
Throughout the course of your wedding, there are some tasks that need to be handled by individuals who are competent and trustworthy. If you want to make the people you care about feel included, consider asking them to take on these responsibilities. For example, you may need people to usher guests to their seats before the ceremony begins. You may also need a person or two to coordinate with the caterers and other vendors to ensure your big day follows a tight schedule. Asking responsible friends to fill these roles can offer you peace of mind.
Include Your Friends in Photos
Finally, consider including specific loved ones in your wedding photos as a way of making them feel involved. However, don’t wait until the last minute to make this decision. Inform all of the people you want in your photos of your plan before the big day arrives. This is important because you don’t want people to wander off or get too drunk before you have the opportunity to get them in a picture. It can also be helpful to give a list of names to the photographer so that he or she can ensure everyone is present.
Though it might be traditional, there is no rule stating you must have a wedding party. If you still want your loved ones to feel included, there are plenty of alternatives that will make them feel special on your big day.
Marriage ceremonies are special occasions for family and friends to gather to celebrate a couple’s union. Even though a couple could go to the courthouse to formalize their union, a wedding ceremony provides an opportunity for friends to join with you and participate in related events such as the rehearsal dinner, reception and more. For a bride or groom, a sibling or bestie is often an easy choice for a maid of honor or best man. But for someone with many close friends, having all of them in your wedding party might not be feasible. Here are some other ways to formally involve your dearest friends.
Friends As Formal Witnesses
In Canada, two formal witnesses are required to make things official. Consider asking friends to serve as the official witnesses to your marriage. They can be acknowledged in the program. You can also include them in document signing as a part of the ceremony. It’s impossible to get married without completing this step, so think about this idea for two of your most special loved ones.
Ushers
Traditionally, once all groomsmen roles are filled, additional male loved ones may be asked to serve as ushers for the ceremony. Ushers do more than just pass out programs and show celebrants to their seats. They can be made a formal part of the program by assigning them the responsibility of seating VIPs such as the mothers of the bride and groom. There’s no rule that says the ushers have to be men or that they have to be affiliated with the groom.
Ceremony Readers
Perhaps you know someone who is really good at public speaking. Maybe one of your friends has a beautiful voice and would be honored to sing. Adding these loved ones to the wedding program to read scripture, offer a speech, or perform a selection is a great way to include them in the ceremony, especially when your wedding party is full.
Reception Emcee
Do you know someone who has the gift of gab? Suppose you or your partner has a close friend who is completely comfortable with a microphone and knows how to connect with audiences. This loved one could be a great emcee for your reception. They can keep the event moving while knowing how and when to inject humor with quick wit and clever anecdotal asides about you and your partner. Emceeing a reception ceremony is no small task, so this person would be fulfilling an important role.
Miscellaneous Roles
Wedding events contain many moving parts, and there are other roles that special people can be asked or invited to fulfill on your big day:
Wedding Planner: If one of your dear friends is an event planner or offers vendor services such as catering, patronizing their business is a great way to include them in the festivities.
DJ Services: Do you want the reception to have a party vibe? Hiring a friend to be the reception deejay is a good way to have that person contribute.
Photographer: There’s a good chance that you have a friend who does photography. Consider hiring them to document the day with official photos as well as candid shots during the ceremony and reception.
If you’re contracting with friends to provide services for your nuptials, it’s important that you formally acknowledge them in some way. This not only shows appreciation for their contributions, but it also advertises their services.
Celebrating with family and friends is one of the things that a couple-to-be can anticipate about a wedding. Inviting loved ones to be an official part of the ceremony and other events is one way to express your love and appreciation. Everyone can’t be in the wedding party, so consider these tips for involving your nearest and dearest.
Effective self-care requires a healthy balance of taking care of your mind as well as your body.
Life gets hectic sometimes, and if you’re like most people, you just keep going along with the flow. You probably forgot to take care of yourself amid the holiday parties or following after-school activities, work, and family obligations. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of winter or end of summer. These self-care tips will help you keep a positive outlook when life gets to be too much.
Bodily Self-Care Tips
Take long, deep breaths from the diaphragm to slow your heart rate.
Eat healthy. There’s more than one reason to eat more vegetables, fruits and grains. It’s not just about staying healthy, it’s about having more energy and feeling better. But don’t forget to splurge on your favorites. Moderation is the name of the game.
Cherish your rituals. Create special moments for the holidays, but also make daily rituals that add meaning to your life. Make the bed with your spouse every morning to remember to start the day together. Have time together with your family every night at a regular time to focus on each other. Ground your day with the ones who matter to you.
Cherish your friends and make time for them. Have a night out when life gets tough and you need someone to chat with. Better yet, order in and have a night at home talking to your BFF.
Make time for regular exercise. Sitting around on your couch isn’t only bad for your mental game, it’s not healthy physically. Find some kind of physical activity that you enjoy. Try out different sports until you find one that fits into your lifestyle.
Watch less TV. Television robs you of your time, your goals and your motivation. Rein in the binge watching to get off the couch and do something else.
Mental Self-Care Tips
Put the electronics down every day. Recharge your phone and your mind by giving yourself a break from being readily available and on call. Research shows that people sleep better when they don’t look at the backlit screens before bed.
Allow yourself to feel your emotions. Don’t fight your anger or sadness. It’s said that “what you resist, persists.” Get it out of your system and move on to more positive feelings.
Read more. Non-fiction expands your mind, while fiction expands your imagination. Take some time to enjoy a good book.
Take time off social media. If you’re on Facebook and Twitter all day for work and then come home and spend time looking at the best aspects of your friends’ lives, you’ll probably start comparing yourself to others, which doesn’t help with self-care.
Stay away from negative people. Surround yourself with people who will help you stay positive and motivated.
Don’t be that negative person in others’ lives. Everyone has bad days, but don’t be the one who talks badly about everyone else.
Forgive yourself. You have to give up the anger you have toward yourself for the mistakes you make. If guilt doesn’t encourage you to change, then it isn’t good guilt.
Forgive others, or at the very least make a choice to stop carrying the anger around. Deal with what’s bothering you and keeping you from moving forward. It’s not easy to let those things go, but the negative feelings you hold inside are not hurting anyone but you.
Learn to say no. Don’t feel as if you always have to say yes. Set boundaries and limits for yourself.
Self-care isn’t always easy, but it’s vital to your well-being. You aren’t going to have all the answers, nor do you need to. You just need to enjoy the journey of life, wherever it takes you.
Having a lot of friends can be both a blessing and a curse while you’re planning your wedding. The more people you want to have a role in the festivities, the more complicated it becomes to have a wedding party of a sensible size. One way around this is by ditching the idea of bridesmaids and groomsmen altogether. Instead, there are plenty of other ways to include your loved ones during the ceremony and reception. Consider these alternatives and discover useful ideas for giving everyone a part to play.
Ask for Assistance With Preliminary Events
Typically, members of the wedding party are responsible for planning preliminary gatherings like the engagement party and the bachelor or bachelorette parties. Even though you’re opting to forego the traditional wedding party, you can still ask your close friends and family members to help you with certain precursory affairs. You should remain mindful of the costs of planning, however. Offer to pay for the parties, and be sure to purchase small gifts as a way of showing your gratitude to those who dedicated time and effort to putting together these events.
Give Them Something To Read
Another great way to include your loved ones on your big day is by asking some of them to do readings during the ceremony. Whether you follow a traditional religious format or select texts that hold a special significance to your heart, this is a perfect way to show people you care about that you want them involved in your event. Be mindful of whether the people you ask are comfortable with public speaking. If certain people have a fear of talking in front of groups, it is best to find another task for them.
Have Friends Give Speeches
You can also ask friends and family to give speeches during the reception. Traditionally, the best man and maid of honor deliver toasts over the course of the festivities. If you aren’t having anyone fill these roles, then you can feel free to ask anyone you’d like to say a few words. The more people you ask to speak, the shorter you need to make the speeches. Guests tend to become restless when people talk for too long, so be sure to ask only people who you know will be able to deliver succinct and sentimental toasts.
Delegate Important Tasks
Throughout the course of your wedding, there are some tasks that need to be handled by individuals who are competent and trustworthy. If you want to make the people you care about feel included, consider asking them to take on these responsibilities. For example, you may need people to usher guests to their seats before the ceremony begins. You may also need a person or two to coordinate with the caterers and other vendors to ensure your big day follows a tight schedule. Asking responsible friends to fill these roles can offer you peace of mind.
Include Your Friends in Photos
Finally, consider including specific loved ones in your wedding photos as a way of making them feel involved. However, don’t wait until the last minute to make this decision. Inform all of the people you want in your photos of your plan before the big day arrives. This is important because you don’t want people to wander off or get too drunk before you have the opportunity to get them in a picture. It can also be helpful to give a list of names to the photographer so that he or she can ensure everyone is present.
Though it might be traditional, there is no rule stating you must have a wedding party. If you still want your loved ones to feel included, there are plenty of alternatives that will make them feel special on your big day.
Marriage ceremonies are special occasions for family and friends to gather to celebrate a couple’s union. Even though a couple could go to the courthouse to formalize their union, a wedding ceremony provides an opportunity for friends to join with you and participate in related events such as the rehearsal dinner, reception and more. For a bride or groom, a sibling or bestie is often an easy choice for a maid of honor or best man. But for someone with many close friends, having all of them in your wedding party might not be feasible. Here are some other ways to formally involve your dearest friends.
Friends As Formal Witnesses
In Canada, two formal witnesses are required to make things official. Consider asking friends to serve as the official witnesses to your marriage. They can be acknowledged in the program. You can also include them in document signing as a part of the ceremony. It’s impossible to get married without completing this step, so think about this idea for two of your most special loved ones.
Ushers
Traditionally, once all groomsmen roles are filled, additional male loved ones may be asked to serve as ushers for the ceremony. Ushers do more than just pass out programs and show celebrants to their seats. They can be made a formal part of the program by assigning them the responsibility of seating VIPs such as the mothers of the bride and groom. There’s no rule that says the ushers have to be men or that they have to be affiliated with the groom.
Ceremony Readers
Perhaps you know someone who is really good at public speaking. Maybe one of your friends has a beautiful voice and would be honored to sing. Adding these loved ones to the wedding program to read scripture, offer a speech, or perform a selection is a great way to include them in the ceremony, especially when your wedding party is full.
Reception Emcee
Do you know someone who has the gift of gab? Suppose you or your partner has a close friend who is completely comfortable with a microphone and knows how to connect with audiences. This loved one could be a great emcee for your reception. They can keep the event moving while knowing how and when to inject humor with quick wit and clever anecdotal asides about you and your partner. Emceeing a reception ceremony is no small task, so this person would be fulfilling an important role.
Miscellaneous Roles
Wedding events contain many moving parts, and there are other roles that special people can be asked or invited to fulfill on your big day:
Wedding Planner: If one of your dear friends is an event planner or offers vendor services such as catering, patronizing their business is a great way to include them in the festivities.
DJ Services: Do you want the reception to have a party vibe? Hiring a friend to be the reception deejay is a good way to have that person contribute.
Photographer: There’s a good chance that you have a friend who does photography. Consider hiring them to document the day with official photos as well as candid shots during the ceremony and reception.
If you’re contracting with friends to provide services for your nuptials, it’s important that you formally acknowledge them in some way. This not only shows appreciation for their contributions, but it also advertises their services.
Celebrating with family and friends is one of the things that a couple-to-be can anticipate about a wedding. Inviting loved ones to be an official part of the ceremony and other events is one way to express your love and appreciation. Everyone can’t be in the wedding party, so consider these tips for involving your nearest and dearest.
Effective self-care requires a healthy balance of taking care of your mind as well as your body.
Life gets hectic sometimes, and if you’re like most people, you just keep going along with the flow. You probably forgot to take care of yourself amid the holiday parties or following after-school activities, work, and family obligations. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of winter or end of summer. These self-care tips will help you keep a positive outlook when life gets to be too much.
Bodily Self-Care Tips
Take long, deep breaths from the diaphragm to slow your heart rate.
Eat healthy. There’s more than one reason to eat more vegetables, fruits and grains. It’s not just about staying healthy, it’s about having more energy and feeling better. But don’t forget to splurge on your favorites. Moderation is the name of the game.
Cherish your rituals. Create special moments for the holidays, but also make daily rituals that add meaning to your life. Make the bed with your spouse every morning to remember to start the day together. Have time together with your family every night at a regular time to focus on each other. Ground your day with the ones who matter to you.
Cherish your friends and make time for them. Have a night out when life gets tough and you need someone to chat with. Better yet, order in and have a night at home talking to your BFF.
Make time for regular exercise. Sitting around on your couch isn’t only bad for your mental game, it’s not healthy physically. Find some kind of physical activity that you enjoy. Try out different sports until you find one that fits into your lifestyle.
Watch less TV. Television robs you of your time, your goals and your motivation. Rein in the binge watching to get off the couch and do something else.
Mental Self-Care Tips
Put the electronics down every day. Recharge your phone and your mind by giving yourself a break from being readily available and on call. Research shows that people sleep better when they don’t look at the backlit screens before bed.
Allow yourself to feel your emotions. Don’t fight your anger or sadness. It’s said that “what you resist, persists.” Get it out of your system and move on to more positive feelings.
Read more. Non-fiction expands your mind, while fiction expands your imagination. Take some time to enjoy a good book.
Take time off social media. If you’re on Facebook and Twitter all day for work and then come home and spend time looking at the best aspects of your friends’ lives, you’ll probably start comparing yourself to others, which doesn’t help with self-care.
Stay away from negative people. Surround yourself with people who will help you stay positive and motivated.
Don’t be that negative person in others’ lives. Everyone has bad days, but don’t be the one who talks badly about everyone else.
Forgive yourself. You have to give up the anger you have toward yourself for the mistakes you make. If guilt doesn’t encourage you to change, then it isn’t good guilt.
Forgive others, or at the very least make a choice to stop carrying the anger around. Deal with what’s bothering you and keeping you from moving forward. It’s not easy to let those things go, but the negative feelings you hold inside are not hurting anyone but you.
Learn to say no. Don’t feel as if you always have to say yes. Set boundaries and limits for yourself.
Self-care isn’t always easy, but it’s vital to your well-being. You aren’t going to have all the answers, nor do you need to. You just need to enjoy the journey of life, wherever it takes you.
