a wedding planning guide
how many bridesmaids do you actually need?
by sophia + colby, chasing robins media · provo, utah
- how many: as many as fit the day you want. there is no right number.
- bigger party: more energy, more time. plan a longer morning and group photo block.
- smaller party: a calmer, quicker morning and simpler photos.
- the easy fix: give every person one job so nothing falls on you.
there is no right number of people to have in your wedding party, but there is a right number for the day you want. a bigger party brings energy and fun. a smaller one usually means a calmer, quicker morning. the only wrong answer is the one that adds stress you did not want, so it helps to choose on purpose.
what each extra person adds
- one more person to get ready, dressed, and out the door on time
- one more person at the formals and the group photos
- one more person to coordinate, text, and keep track of
- one more person who loves you, makes noise on the dance floor, and has your back
bigger party or smaller party?
a bigger party
more energy, more fun, and more built-in hype all day. one of the last weddings we shot had fourteen groomsmen, and the dance floor turned into the best party of the year. plan for a longer getting-ready window, a longer block for the group photos, and one person in charge of keeping everyone moving.
a smaller party
a calmer morning and simpler photos. it is easier to give each person a real role and a real moment with you.
no wedding party at all
totally valid. you can still ask a few people to help with the day without a title, matching outfits, or a lineup.
give every person one job
a role makes people feel included and takes things off your plate. pick what fits your day:
- point person: answers vendor and guest questions so it is not you
- bag holder: carries the emergency kit and snacks all day
- family wrangler: gathers the right relatives for the group photos
- timeline keeper: knows when things start and quietly nudges everyone along
- hype person: keeps the morning fun
photo and morning logistics
a bigger party takes more time, so give your photographer a realistic window. tell us who needs to be at the getting-ready photos, who is in the group photo, and who is only needed for the formals. add a little buffer for a bigger group, and let one person herd the family photos so you are not tracking people down.
the free guide has all of this in one place, with a spot to list your wedding party and their roles and a short checklist so nothing gets missed.
questions we get a lot
how many bridesmaids and groomsmen should i have?
as many as fit the day you want. there is no required number, and the sides do not have to match.
do the sides have to be even?
no. uneven sides look great in photos and nobody notices once the day gets going.
what if i do not want a wedding party?
that works too. ask a few people to help with specific jobs and skip the lineup.
if this sounds like the kind of wedding photos you have been looking for…
hi, we think we would get along. we do photo + video together, and we would love to hear about your day.
tell us about your day