Key Takeaways
- If you have more bridesmaids than groomsmen or vice versa, consider having one groomsman walk with two bridesmaids.
- Use creative spacing in your wedding photos to make any uneven numbers look balanced and natural.
- Let members of your wedding party sit during the ceremony to resolve any unevenness in numbers.
When you start planning your upcoming nuptials, one of the first tasks is selecting the members of your wedding party. Whether you and your partner decide to keep it intimate and only include your siblings, or you prefer to have a large conglomerate of close friends and family members stand beside you two as you say "I do," selecting your attendants can be a difficult task, particularly when it comes to numbers. Let's face it: It's rare that you and your partner have the same number of people that you'd like to include in your wedding party. However, if you do end up with an uneven number of attendants, it's okay. Rather than stressing out about finding an additional person (or three!) to include, focus on just asking the people you'd prefer to be next to you on your big day.
"The old rules for weddings are out, and weddings should be the way the couples want them to be," says Jackie Chaban, the owner of About Joy Events in San Francisco. That ethos applies to your bridesmaids and groomsmen. However, if you do have an uneven wedding party, there are ways to ensure that your two groups don't look completely lopsided when taking photos or disjointed when walking down the aisle. Ultimately, all it takes is some strategic planning.
Below, we break down what to do if you have an uneven wedding party, including how to pose for photos and how to approach the ceremony.
What to Do When You Have an Uneven Wedding Party
Remember: You don't need to add or subtract people simply to make your numbers match. However, an odd-numbered wedding party can sometimes create a bit more work when it comes to your ceremony and photo sessions. Below, we break down how to plan accordingly.
How Should the Wedding Party Walk Down the Aisle?
If organizing your processional and recessional has you stressed out, know that you have a few options. When you have more bridesmaids than groomsmen, opt to have a groomsman walk with two bridesmaids. If the reverse is true, have a bridesmaid enter with two groomsmen. Based on your particular numbers, you can always adjust how many people in your wedding party need to double up. For dog lovers searching for a way to integrate their pet into the ceremony, if you only have one extra attendant, consider asking them to accompany your beloved animal down the aisle.
Know that you may have to get more creative if the groups are more unevenly matched. "If the party is something like 10 bridesmaids and two groomsmen, then my suggestion would be to have them enter separately—groomsmen from the side and the bridesmaids down the aisle," Chaban says. And you can always choose to have each wedding-party member walk down the aisle individually. "It is perfectly fine to have people enter by themselves, but at a quicker pace," she says.
How Should the Wedding Party Stand at the Altar?
As always, the wedding-party members should stand in order of importance, with the best man and maid of honor closest to the couple. For an uneven party, if it looks too lopsided, Chaban suggests just having the best man and the maid of honor stand beside the couple while the rest of the wedding party takes a seat in the front row.
How Should We Pose for Photographs?
While you may be worried about how an uneven bridal party will look in photos, there are simple solutions. "There are so many ways to pose, and a good photographer can make any photo shine," says Chaban. Instead of having traditional "sides," she suggests forming a semi-circle around the couple. Similarly, you could blend them together in couples or groups of three and have them stand on both sides of the couple, instead of having bridesmaids on the left and groomsmen on the right.
If you want to uphold the tradition of splitting up the bridesmaids and groomsmen in photos, have them stand in a V-shape so that each group appears even. For a unique approach, ask your photographer to take more candid photos in motion, such as the group walking together. With this type of shot, everyone will be mixed up, putting less of a focus on positioning.
Separate your uneven bridal party by having them pose in rows instead of sides. Have the larger group stand in the back while the smaller group sits on chairs in the front, with the couple in the middle, making for a more staggered and organic-looking photo.
Uneven Wedding Party: 4 Key Tips
Even though having an uneven number of bridesmaids and groomsmen may not be an ideal situation, the good news is you'll be able to plan for such a scenario far in advance. Below, we break down some key tips to keep in mind on the big day.
Get Creative With Spacing
Trick the camera and your guests into thinking your numbers are actually even by using space to your advantage. During the ceremony, make sure the side with fewer attendants has extra space between each person, while the side with more attendants stands closer together.
Mix It Up
Make things symmetrical by mixing the bridesmaids and groomsmen up on both sides. However, know that this method ultimately works best if the total number of attendants comes out even, such as seven bridesmaids to three groomsmen.
Have Them All Stand on One Side
If there's a noticeable difference between the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen, have them all stand on one side. Mix up the groups for less of a contrast, or, for some distinction, have them stand on the same side of the altar, but place the bridesmaids and the groomsmen together.
Take a Seat
If you're getting married in a church, it's possible that your bridal party will be asked to sit in pews off to the side of the altar, which solves any potential unevenness during the ceremony. You can also have them sit in one of the first two rows, which is normally reserved for family, if your party is smaller, so they're not as secluded off to the side.
