Mixed-Gender Wedding Parties
I want to talk about the wedding party today. Traditionally, a bride has a line of beautiful bridesmaids, and a groom has men supporting him. We can see that this tradition gives no room for nontraditional couples and is pretty exclusive to heterosexual norms. In recent years, mixed-gender wedding parties have gained popularity, and for a good reason! It is a great option for those couples who want to introduce nontraditional elements into their wedding.
When you opt to have mixed-gender wedding parties, you have more fluidity and inclusivity to choose the people you love most, regardless of identity. It is especially great for queer couples since their loved ones are usually a community that involves people of all identities. Disregarding the gender traditions of a wedding party allows anyone who is important to the couple to be included without worrying about how to follow traditional wedding “rules.”
The Daydreamer Diaries | Kaitlyn Brown
In traditional weddings, there is a great emphasis on the aesthetics of every aspect of the wedding. Sometimes, intimate relationships with friends and family are overlooked. Many couples avoid having mixed-gender wedding parties because they don’t know how to style their attendants. There are a few options to make everything fun and still cohesive. Simply choose a color palette and have everyone stick to it. It’s perfectly okay if people on both sides wear dresses or pants.
One important thing to remember when choosing a wedding party is to select people who support you as a couple. Your partner’s chosen wedding party members should love you as much as them. Try to let go of the idea of choosing people who make your wedding the most Pinterest-worthy wedding and choose people who genuinely love and support you.
If you decide to have a mixed-gender wedding party, you might be worried about your getting-ready plans. Depending on the relationship of your chosen wedding party members, you might consider getting ready with your partner. Your wedding party members can get ready together based on what they’re comfortable with. Have conversations early on with your partner about what kind of accommodations you will make to make sure everyone has a wonderful getting-ready experience. Break the rules and have some of your partner’s attendants get ready with yours and vice versa! Do whatever you need to do to ensure everyone is included and comfortable.
Remember that your wedding party should be chosen to reflect the support they have for you. Wedding party members have a big responsibility to show up for you through the process of planning your day. It’s your responsibility to make them comfortable as a way to say thank you.
Until Next Time,