Women who have male friends may want to ask one to be their bridesmaid. Though tradition usually splits men to the groom's side and women to the bride's side, in today's modern society there is no reason a woman cannot have a male attendant.
Modern Bridal Party Roles
Groomsmen and bridesmaids are typically the people the couple feels closest to amongst family and friends. If a close pal is of the other gender, a bride may wonder what to do when it comes to choosing bridesmaids.
Considerations Before You Ask Him
Before asking a man to stand up with you, you may want to do two things. One is to double check with your husband-to-be that it is okay with him to break with tradition. Secondly, if you are part of a conservative religious group, you should ask if there are any restrictions regarding having a man stand up with the women. If there is a problem, you can always ask your male friend to do a reading or be an usher, explaining the religious restrictions that prevented you from bestowing the honor.
Title for Men Who Are Bridesmaids
Because bridal party roles have traditionally been split by gender, it is necessary to find a proper title for your male attendant. Couples, especially those who have both males and females on both the groom and bride sides, often choose to use the labels "groom's attendants" and "bride's attendants" when referring to the wedding party. Other acceptable titles include:
- Bridesman
- Honor Attendant
- Friend of Honor
- Bride's Witness
- Man of Honor
Male Bridesmaid Attire
Men who fill the role of a bridesman usually do not want to wear a bridesmaid dress.
What to Wear
Instead, have him wear the same style of tuxedo rental as the other male bridal party members. Signify his place by choosing a different color of vest, shirt, or tie than the other groomsmen, or have his colors match those of the bridal party dresses.
Skip the Bouquet
A male bride's attendant will not carry a wedding flower bouquet, although if he wants to, he could. Instead, have a different boutonniere created, mimicking the bridesmaids flowers; something a little different than the groomsmen. Use a pocket square in a different color than the other men for another subtle difference between the attendants.
Bridesman Duties
A man who serves as a bridesmaid can participate in many of the same activities as the rest of the female bridal party members.
Pre-Wedding Activities
Planning or attending a wedding engagement party is something that a male bridesmaid can do to show his support for the couple. It is certainly not necessary for him to plan the party, but if he is invited, he should consider attending as part of his attendant duties.
A bridesman can and should assist the bride in wedding-related errands, such as meeting with vendors, addressing invitations or listening to her vent about wedding stress. If he has some fashion sense, he may give an opinion on bridal gown styles or bridesmaid dress styles, though he might not attend the fittings.
Showers
Men supporting the bride can be invited to an all-female bridal shower, but they may feel uncomfortable attending. Instead of hosting a traditional bachelorette or bridal shower, consider throwing a wedding shower that is co-ed, inviting men and women. This way, your male bridesmaid can participate in the shower planning process, like coming up with bride and groom shower games.
Wedding Day Duties
On the actual wedding day, male bridesmaids share similar responsibilities with the women bridesmaids.
- He will need to attend to the bride, helping her finish her list of last minute "to-dos" that need accomplishing before the ceremony and reception.
- The professional photographer will photograph him with the bride and bridesmaids. If the couple has a receiving line, a bridesman will participate.
- He will also take part in the bridal party dance, dancing with another female guest of honor if a female groomsman is not included in the bridal party.
How to Handle the Wedding Processional
Walking down the aisle in the wedding processional on the day of the wedding can give couples pause who are used to seeing the groomsmen escort the bridesmaids down the aisle. If a female groom's attendant is included in the bridal party, couples can walk down the aisle in traditional fashion, except with the female on the groom's side and male on the bride's side. Otherwise, a simple solution is to have the groom's attendants stand at the front of the ceremony site and the bride's attendants walk down the aisle solo.
An Honored Role
Traditional bridal party gender roles don't need to be a worry when men and women are close friends. The male bridesmaid is not taboo; in fact, a good male friend or relative will be honored to stand with the bride on her wedding day.
