A small wedding party can make your wedding day feel calmer, more personal, and easier to enjoy. While big groups of bridesmaids and groomsmen can be fun, you don’t need a long line of people standing beside you to have a wedding that feels full of love.

Over the years, we’ve photographed weddings with large wedding parties, small groups, and no wedding party at all. Each choice can work well. Still, we’ve seen more couples choose to keep their group small, and there are some great reasons why.

Your wedding party should fit your relationships and the kind of day you want to have. It shouldn’t be based on a number you think you need to reach. So, if you’re trying to decide who should stand beside you, here’s what we’ve learned from behind the camera.

But first, hi, we’re Maggie and Amber, the best friends behind Kindred Light Studios. After years of photographing weddings, we’ve learned that bigger doesn’t always mean better, especially when it comes to your wedding party. A small wedding party can give you more time with the people you love and help your day feel relaxed from the start. If you’re planning your wedding, we’d love to hear what you have in mind and help you capture it along the way.

Do You Need a Wedding Party at All?

Nope! A wedding party isn’t something you have to include. Some couples love having their closest friends beside them, while others would rather let everyone enjoy the day as guests. Both can be great choices.

If choosing bridesmaids or groomsmen feels stressful, think about what you actually want. Do you love the tradition, or does it feel like something you’re supposed to do? You can still include your favorite people without giving them a title. Friends can get ready with you, siblings can give a toast, and the people you love can still be a meaningful part of your day.

Not sure what you should actually ask your wedding photographer? Read our guide, Wedding Planning Tips: Questions You’re Asking Wedding Photographers That Don’t Really Matter, to learn which questions are worth asking before you book.

The Benefits of Having a Small Wedding Party

One of the biggest perks of a small wedding party is having fewer moving parts. Getting ready can feel more relaxed, transportation is easier, and wedding party photos often take less time. Plus, you’ll have more time to enjoy the people you’ve chosen to be by your side.

A small wedding party can also mean:

• Lower costs for flowers, gifts, and other wedding party items
• Easier planning before the wedding
• Less time spent on group photos
• Fewer schedules to manage
• A slower, more relaxed wedding morning

A smaller group doesn’t mean less fun, either. We’ve photographed small wedding parties filled with laughter, energy, and plenty of happy tears. The people you choose matter much more than the number.

The Challenges of a Large Wedding Party

We love a big, fun wedding party when it fits the couple. Still, larger groups can come with a few extra challenges.

First, getting everyone in the same place at the same time takes work. Someone may still be getting dressed while another person has stepped away. Then, once everyone is ready, moving a large group from one location to another can take longer than expected.

Photos can take more time too. As wedding photographers in Cincinnati, we know how quickly a wedding day can move. Even simple group photos take longer when we’re working with twenty people instead of six.

A large group can also mean more opinions. You may have more people asking questions, sharing ideas, or needing help throughout the day. Sometimes that’s fun. Other times, it can make a calm morning feel a little busy.

None of this means a large wedding party is a bad choice. If you have ten best friends and can’t picture the day without them beside you, invite them! The key is knowing what comes with that choice so you can plan enough time.

Dreaming of an outdoor wedding surrounded by beautiful gardens and greenery? Read our guide to Garden Wedding Venues in Cincinnati to find some of our favorite outdoor locations for your wedding day.

Why More Couples Are Choosing Smaller Wedding Parties

Wedding traditions have changed, and more couples are choosing what feels right instead of following every old rule. For many, that means having a small wedding party or skipping one altogether.

There are plenty of ways to keep things simple:

• Choose only siblings or a few close friends
• Have one or two people stand beside you
• Skip the wedding party and let everyone enjoy the day as guests
• Forget about even sides (your photos will still look great, we promise)
• Keep the group small to make travel easier for a destination wedding

Keeping things simple can be especially helpful when you’re getting married abroad (we photograph destination weddings too!). With fewer people to plan around, travel and schedules can feel much easier. We’d always rather see you choose the people who matter most than add someone just to fill a traditional role.

Love romantic spring weddings filled with colorful florals and garden views? Read our French Park Cincinnati Wedding blog for inspiration from this beautiful spring celebration.

How a Small Wedding Party Impacts Your Wedding Photos

A small wedding party can make photos easier and more relaxed. We can move between locations faster, try different groupings, and spend less time gathering everyone together. That often means more time for portraits of the two of you.

Smaller groups can also create more natural candid moments. There’s more room to talk, laugh, and enjoy the experience without photos taking over your day.

Of course, large wedding parties can look amazing too. As a Cincinnati Wedding Photographer team, we’ll work with whatever group you choose and keep things moving so you can get back to celebrating.

Deciding What Is Right for You

There’s no perfect number for a wedding party. Instead, think about who you truly want beside you and the kind of day you want to have. A small wedding party can make things feel more relaxed, while a larger group may be perfect if you have lots of close friends you want involved.

You can also skip the wedding party completely. Whether you choose two people, twelve, or none at all, what matters most is surrounding yourself with people who make your wedding day better.

Whether you’re planning a big celebration with all your favorite people or keeping things simple with a small wedding party, we’d love to capture your day in a way that feels like you. If you think we might be the right fit, get in touch, explore more of our weddings, or follow along on Instagram for real wedding inspiration, helpful planning tips, and a peek behind the scenes.