How do I honor certain guests at my wedding without making them my bridesmaid?
I have a couple male cousins and a really close male friend that I’d really like to honor/have participate in our wedding ceremony. I don’t want to make them bridesmen and my groom isn’t really close enough to them to ask them to be groomsmen. Other than asking them to usher, what are other ways I could honor them in our ceremony/reception?
March 30th, 2011 at 10:39 am
Maybe when making a speech talk about them and say how much they mean to you
March 30th, 2011 at 10:47 am
If you have more than just them as ushers, let them be the ones that gets to escort a Mother of the Groom & Mother of the Bride down the aisle. If you have a part in your reception where the bridal party is being announced to your guests, make sure they are also announced. Also make sure they are included in a couple of special photos with you & your groom.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:38 am
Ask them to read a poem or something during the ceremony.. give them a special mention in the order of service.. ask them to make a speech/raise a toast at the reception. If any of them are musical ask them to play a piece at the ceremony or dance, party piece etc. at the reception. Escort your mother to her seat if your father is giving you away. The possibilities are endless!
Congratulations on your marriage! I wish you both a long, happy life together!
March 30th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
My daughter had so many “best friends” it created a real crisis in her wedding…they all considered her their “best friend”. We created new things in the ceremony…they were women mainly so we had them carry candles down the aisles ahead of the bridesmaids. You can create a need for them. Have each of them be the “special escort” for the mothers down the aisle….they can also light candles…especially if y ou have them also down the aisles…..they can be in charge of your gifts….seeing they are completely handled and put away safely before the ceremony starts….they can drive the getaway car….be an extra photographer during the ceremony for candid shots of everything….etc.
Have them get a tux…be part of the wedding party, but have separate jobs.
March 30th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
It is great that you want to honor your friends. It’s very thoughtful that you are thinking about the people who are important in your life on your big day, and not just it being “YOUR” day. There were several ideas for honors such as doing a reading or making a toast that are good, just make sure that what every you come up with is a honor and not a “job”. You wouldn’t want your friends to feel like “the help”.
So…a reading, a toast, singing or otherwise performing are all good ideas. Serving anything, driving, being a photographer, or cleaning anything is NOT an honor.
March 30th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
You can ask them to do a reading which is a great way to involve people. Ask your officiant for ideas, Im sure he/she will offer some great suggestions. Some of the couples I marry allow their friends to choose a reading, other brides choose the reading for them. Another potential way to include them is to ask them to hand out programs or, if they have musical talent, play an instrument or sing. I have seen it all.. and the best part about the weddings I officiate is seeing the love and friendship come through the ceremony.
March 30th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
They could read a poem or quotation about love or marriage during the ceremony, play an instrument, or take pictures. You might ask them if they have any ideas. Seat them near you at the reception – maybe they can give toasts.
March 30th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
http://www.ubrides.com/home.php?cat=1036&catexp=1036
March 30th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
http://www.ubrides.com/home.php?cat=1037&catexp=1037
March 30th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
http://www.ubrides.com/home.php?cat=1036&sort=title&sort_direction=0&page=1
March 30th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Ask them to do a reading.
Other than that, just let them enjoy themselves as guests.
I don’t get why bridesmen would be a bad thing. If you don’t like the name “bridesmen,” call them Attendants.
March 30th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Ask them to read a poem or something during the ceremony.. give them a special mention in the order of service.. ask them to make a speech/raise a toast at the reception. If any of them are musical ask them to play a piece at the ceremony or dance, party piece etc. at the reception. Escort your mother to her seat if your father is giving you away. The possibilities are endless!