SCEchicago: January 2011

Weddings can be chock full of drama… and sometimes, one of the hardest decisions is who will be in your bridal party? Here are some of the questions I hear most often from my brides and grooms:

Do we have to have a bridal party at all?
Absolutely not! Consider it a favor to yourselves if you opt not to have a bridal party at all. Sometimes the decision can be so difficult with so many people pulling you from different sides that it just makes sense to keep things simple. All you need is each other.

Do we have to have the same number on attendants on each side?
Nope, this shouldn’t be a decision based on numbers. It should be based on the most important people in your lives… the ones you couldn’t imagine not having by your side on your wedding day. If you have more groomsmen, then your bridesmaids are lucky enough to be flanked by two dapper guys, and vice versa!

But my best friend is a guy/girl…
No big deal, they deserve to be by your side anyways! No need to stick to old traditions in this case.

What if I have two best friends?
I find this more common for women, so I’ll address it as such. If they are both equally important in different ways, then it’s perfectly fine (even the right thing to do!) to have two Maids of Honor. Or maybe one of them is married and can have the title of Matron of Honor. Better to have them share the duties than to have one of them slightly soured by not being picked for the role of “best supporting actress.”

But let me emphasize one thing… don’t pick/ask your attendants too early! I’ve heard so often the tale of the newly engaged bride-to-be who immediately asked her seven BFFs, only to regret it six months later when things went awry with one or two of them. Take some time to really consider it and think about who are most important to you and will be there for you in the long term (…and not that new coworker of yours who you’ve just recently been hanging out with more!).

Photo by Laurie Peacock Photography

My bride Dana opted to have one of her best guy friends as a “Man of Honor” and he wore a sweet pink bowtie to compliment the ladies! Perfect!

How many are you having in your bridal party, and was it a tough decision?

I am super excited that one of my 2012 couples just booked one of my favorite venues, The Newberry Library as their wedding venue! It was a tough choice, and it came down to the Private Dining Rooms of Spiaggia and Fulton’s on the River. In the end, the uniqueness of the Newberry won out!

I first heard about The Newbery Library when I read The Time Traveler’s Wife (one of my favorite books) a few years ago! It also happens to be an amazing wedding venue… one that is booked solid up to 14+ months in advance! So if you love this place, be prepared to wait (or get lucky).

Why is it so popular? Well, first and foremost, it is a gorgeous library and you get the place all to yourselves for six hours. The $6,000 rental fee is fairly reasonable for downtown Chicago (ok, it’s still a lot…), especially when you consider that it includes all the tables, opera chairs, a parking lot, and you have the freedom to bring in any caterer (with the appropriate licenses and insurance) and can purchase your own liquor. It is also across the street from the lovely Washington Square Park where you can have your ceremony (a separate permit must be obtained through the Chicago Park District).