The Bridal Party – Do they still have a place?

The role of a bridal party differs for every wedding but differs most from their very beginnings. In the past, their roles included preventing the bride from being kidnapped, disguising as the couple to confuse evil spirits (hence the matching outfits!) and masking body smells by carrying flowers and herbs.

This is definitely interesting. But in today’s day and age, Rexona covers the smell thing just fine and general human rights makes marriage ceremonies quite safe. So, the place of a bridal party may be questioned, with some couples choosing to stand at the alter without one.

To others, the bridal party is an undisputable inclusion.

Their role and experience is drastically effected by shoulds — who they should be, what they should do, what they should pay. But the only true shoulds are that those people should want to be a part of the wedding. They should want to defend their bride and groom (but let’s face it, mostly bride) from the pressures attached to that beautiful day. Opinions will be expected. Help will be needed. Support – when others say they are overreacting when the flowers arrive purple instead of pink – is essential. That is where the key role of today’s bridal party lies, in the everything before.

So, though it is less dicey than preventing a kidnapping, it is also far beyond simply looking lovely and turning up on the day.

But, don’t forget that the honour attached also goes beyond that single day.

Those people, standing by the bride and groom, become etched into lifelong memories which mark the very foundations of that marriage. Every couple hopes that those same people will be there to support and witness the milestones ahead, in their everything after.

Panache Bridal Shoes Tip: You want your bridal party to be comfortable on the day, let them choose the heel height they can happily walk in.