Everything You Need to Know About Honorary Bridesmaids, According to Experts

If the thought of whittling down your friend list to just a select number of carefully chosen bridesmaids is keeping you up at night, then it's time to chat about honorary bridesmaids. This wedding trend is gaining momentum for a variety of reasons, from brides who want to relieve their friends of official bridesmaid duties while still honoring the close relationship, to those who are feeling anxiety over the potential of an uneven wedding party (who knew it would be so hard to have so many friends?).

Honorary bridesmaids give you the chance to have your nearest and dearest by your side throughout your wedding celebrations without the need to put them in a matching dress. You can limit the number of bridesmaids that are standing up with you on the big day or cut them altogether, without giving up the camaraderie that comes with celebrating throughout your wedding weekend.

"Honorary bridesmaids are often close friends or family members the bride wants to honor but might not be able to include as traditional bridesmaids due to logistics or the size of the wedding party," explains Cameron Forbes, founder of Forbes Functions based in East Hampton, New York. "It's a lovely way to ensure everyone feels included in the celebration!"

Are you honorary bridesmaid curious? Here's everything you need to know, according to wedding planners who've seen this new tradition up close and personal.

FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT

In this article:

• What Is an Honorary Bridesmaid?
• What Is the Difference Between an Honorary Bridesmaid and a Bridesmaid?
• Do Honorary Bridesmaids Walk Down the Aisle?
• Honorary Bridesmaid Duties

What Is an Honorary Bridesmaid?

An honorary bridesmaid is someone who is not officially in the wedding party and does not process down the aisle, but who still participates in some of the activities throughout the wedding weekend. They may get ready with the bride or attend the rehearsal dinner, but they won't show up in the bridesmaid dress or appear in the program.

"Having honorary bridesmaids is perfect for those who want to include all their favorite people but without the logistics of a large bridal party," says Jilian Becker, owner and lead wedding planner at We Do Events in Scranton, Pennsylvania. "Sometimes the bride just wants a smaller formal crew but still loves the idea of having her whole squad around during the special moments—like getting ready and taking fun photos."

These friends could even attend the bridesmaids' luncheon, the bachelorette party and other events throughout the wedding season. In some cases, what the honorary bridesmaid wears is a color similar to the wedding party but not the exact same dress.

What Is Another Name for an Honorary Bridesmaid?

Honorary bridesmaids can have multiple names. Depending on the gender, they may be called an honorary attendant. Others casually refer to them as an unofficial bridesmaid. Depending on the region, another name for an honorary bridesmaid could be a member of the wedding house party or the something blue crew.

Junior bridesmaids are similar to honorary bridesmaids, but, typically, they do wear the same dress as the bridesmaids. They simply have fewer duties due to their younger age.

What Is the Difference Between an Honorary Bridesmaid and a Bridesmaid?

The difference between an honorary bridesmaid versus a bridesmaid often comes down to whether they're committed to the bridesmaid duties. Often the wedding party roles include planning pre-wedding events, doting on the bride throughout the wedding weekend, helping to coordinate vendors and wardrobe changes on the big day or making sure the bride isn't overwhelmed at the festivities. An honorary bridesmaid is often relieved of those duties. She's simply there to support the bride.

Forbes has one bride who chose to have an honorary bridesmaid when a close friend couldn't commit to showing up fully as a bridesmaid. "The bride still wanted to honor their friendship. The bride gave her the honorary bridesmaid title and a small bouquet, and she joined the wedding party photos and sat in a reserved seat near the front during the ceremony. It was such a sweet way to show their bond," Forbes says.

Do Honorary Bridesmaids Walk Down the Aisle?

Often, two of the most visible differences between an honorary bridesmaid and a bridesmaid are dress and the procession. "Typically we see honorary bridesmaids take a more behind-the-scenes role, skipping the procession but still enjoying all the other perks of being included," Becker explains.

Honorary bridesmaids will skip the matching dress and they will sit with the rest of the guests during the ceremony rather than standing with the couple. They may have a place of honor towards the front of the seating, but it probably won't be completely obvious to other guests that they have a special role.

However, Forbes has seen honorary bridesmaids process down the aisle if that's what the bride has in mind for her big day. She says, "It depends on the bride's vision and the flow of the ceremony. If they do walk down the aisle, it's usually without the formal duties of a traditional bridesmaid, so they're free to enjoy the moment without added responsibilities."

Honorary Bridesmaid Duties

Because honorary bridesmaids don't have an official role, their duties are entirely up to interpretation. The bride can choose the duties she thinks suit her closest friends, and she doesn't need to worry about whether they line up with tradition.

Becker recalls one of her brides who skipped a traditional bridal party but still wanted her five closest friends to feel like VIPs on her big day. "They all joined her for getting ready and preceremony photos. It felt like the ultimate girls' night prep before a big night out—laughter, music and so much excitement," Becker says.

She explains that the bride gave them each a specially chosen and unique role during the wedding. "One curated the ultimate getting ready, while another signed the marriage license as a witness."

Forbes explains further that honorary bridesmaids typically attend prewedding events, like the wedding shower or rehearsal dinner, and help with small tasks on the day of the wedding or make sure to be present as a source of support. "Honorary bridesmaids have a flexible role that's meaningful but less formal," Forbes says. "It's all about the bride defining what feels right for her!"