If there’s a consistent wedding trend of the past decade or so, it’s that ceremonies are becoming far less traditional and couples are using this special occasion as a means of infusing their personalities and their loved ones into the festivities. This applies to every facet of designing a wedding, including who will make up the wedding party. Including a friend of the opposite sex in the bride/groom party has become increasingly acceptable, but if you’ll be including a “bridesman” or “bridal attendant,” you should make a few extra preparations to ensure that he will be comfortable with your group of bridesmaids. Here are a few key points to keep in mind.
- Plan with him in mind
Being in a nontraditional role can be a difficult position to put someone in, but if you can plan with an open mind and open lines of communication with your bridesman, it is far easier to ensure that he will be comfortable during your festivities. Go over your planning from the bachelorette party to the processional on your big day to find out what your friend may be having some anxiety about, and then plan around these concerns. This will ensure that you won’t have to put your friend into an awkward place and he can feel fully involved in the proceedings.
- Take advantage of his skills
If your bridesman or man of honor wants to get involved in your wedding, he may not be the best person to perform some of the regular duties of a bridesmaid, but you can still use his skill set to help out! For instance, if he is handy with tools, have him put together some DIY decor for your ceremony or reception. This is a good way of allowing your bridesman to help out with the festivities without having to subject him to some of the more female-centric bridesmaid activities.
- Be playful with attire
You Man of Honor or bridesman will obviously have a different set of attire than the rest of your bridal party, but there are ways that you can create a uniform look with the rest of the bridesmaids’ attire. Go with ties or pocket squares that match the bridesmaids dresses, as well as a boutonniere that matches the bridesmaids’ bouquets to pull the entire look together.
- Throw out the rulebook
Last but not least, it’s important to remember that you’ve decided to include a male friend into your bridal party because he is such an important part of your life, so don’t lose too much sleep over adhering to traditions or traditional bridal party roles. Go into the process with an open mind, and do your best to make him feel accommodated. After all, the most important job for any bridesman is to be there to say, “How can I help?” If you make an effort to get him involved and help him feel at home during your festivities, everything should go off without a hitch!
