Planning a wedding is full of decisions, from choosing the perfect venue to selecting your dream dress. Among these choices, one common situation couples may face is having an uneven number of bridesmaids and groomsmen - and it’s something that quite a few couples find themselves a wee bit stressed out about!
Whether you have more bridesmaids than groomsmen, or vice versa - or you’re doing something a bit different for your bridal party - it’s important to remember that this is not only okay but can also add a unique and personal touch to your big day! Some of my favourite weddings have had uneven bridal parties.
So, to ease your mind - here’s why having an uneven wedding party is no problem at all, along with tips on making it work in photos, at the top of the aisle, and throughout your special day.
Why an Uneven Wedding Party is Perfectly Fine
I mean, your bridal party is all about surrounding yourself with support from the people you love - and if that means an uneven number on each side, who really cares! Maybe you have three besties you can’t choose between, and your partner just has their one closest mate that they want standing by their side. At the end of the day, as long as you are focused on choosing people who love and support you as a couple - don’t stress. Celebrate these important relationships rather than achieving perfect symmetry!
And on that note - weddings today are all about personalisation. Yep, there are still plenty of wedding traditions, and the tradition of having an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen is just that—a tradition. What matters most is that your wedding party reflects your unique connections and the people who have been by your side. Basically - do whatever you want - it’s your wedding!
Making It Work in Photos and at the Top of the Aisle
If you’re wanting to balance things out in photos, we can absolutely achieve that - it’s all about getting a bit creative, and arranging things just so!
When it comes to wedding photos, there are many creative ways to balance an uneven wedding party. We can stagger the group in photos, place the couple at the centre, or even position some members at different heights (like on steps) to create a visually balanced look. I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to beautiful balanced photos - so leave it with me!
We can also play around with breaking the bridal party up into smaller groups or pairs for photos - this can be a fun way to get some lovely photos with your nearest and dearest! I always get photos of all the bridesmaids and all the groomsmen together - so we can have some fun and get creative.
Some couples worry that uneven wedding parties might look particularly unbalanced at the top of the aisle during their ceremony. You can play with ideas like mixing up who stands where, moving groups back or forward in their placement to balance things out, or even add in kids or pets to make it more balanced (plus - how cute?!)
But really - the focus is going to be on you, the beautiful, radiant couple! So don’t worry too much about making things look super-balanced - everyone will have their eyes on you, anyway.
Tips for Choosing Outfits
Choosing slightly different outfits for each member of your bridal party can help to mix things up and make things feel more intentional and natural when it comes to unbalanced bridal parties.
Allowing your bridesmaids to choose their own dresses—whether in different styles, fabrics, or even shades of the same colour—can take the focus off the numbers and place it on their individual personalities. This approach creates a more relaxed, cohesive, and less uniform look.
Same goes for groomsmen’s suits - you could opt for suits or outfits that compliment each other without being identical. For example, they could wear different shades of grey or navy, or mix and match ties and pocket squares within the same colour family. This creates a cohesive and personalised look that feels balanced despite any numerical differences in the bridal party.
I totally get it - wedding planning can be super stressful, and you might be concerned about how having an uneven bridal party might look in your photos. I’m here to tell you that it’s no biggie - at the end of the day, we’ll get a tonne of gorgeous photos with you and your mates and whānau, we’ll celebrate you, and we’ll have a lot of laughs throughout the day!
If you need even more convincing - I’ve got you. Here are a few photos of uneven bridal parties that absolutely rocked it.
