Bridal party or not? The Gen Z trend changing bridesmaids and groomsmen
- Federica Tamborini
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The traditional bridal party is evolving
For many years the structure of a wedding party has been almost the same everywhere: bridesmaids, groomsmen, a maid of honor, a best man, coordinated outfits and clearly defined roles.
But things are slowly changing.
Many couples today — especially those from Gen Z — are starting to question whether this traditional structure really reflects the way they want to celebrate their wedding.
When I speak with couples planning getting married in Italy, I often hear questions such as:
“Do we really need bridesmaids and groomsmen?”
“Is it unusual not to have a bridal party?”
“Can we involve our friends in a different way?”
The truth is that there is no single rule.
Wedding traditions often come from specific cultural contexts, and today many couples prefer to adapt them to fit their own vision of the celebration.
Why many Gen Z couples prefer to skip the traditional structure
There are several reasons behind this choice.
Some couples don’t want to create hierarchies among friends or family members.Others prefer to avoid the logistical complexity that sometimes comes with formal wedding party roles.
In many cases the decision simply comes from a desire to keep the wedding more relaxed and less structured.
This doesn’t mean that friends play a smaller role. It simply means couples are looking for more natural and flexible ways to include them in the celebration.
How the role of friends is changing
Instead of following the traditional bridal party format, many couples are choosing alternative ways to involve the people closest to them.
For example:
having no formal bridal party
creating mixed groups of friends without traditional roles
inviting friends to participate in readings during the ceremony
asking loved ones to give speeches during the reception
involving friends in small meaningful moments throughout the day
In some cases there is still a close friend acting as a reference person, but without the formal structure of maid of honor or best man.
The result is often a wedding that feels more personal and less staged.
Why this works particularly well for destination weddings in Italy
When planning a destination wedding in Italy, logistics can be very different from a local wedding.
Guests often travel from different countries, and coordinating outfits, fittings or pre-wedding events can become complicated.
For this reason, many couples planning getting married in Italy prefer a simpler and more flexible approach.
From my experience as an Italy wedding planner, reducing rigid structures often makes the planning process smoother and allows everyone to focus more on the experience of the celebration.
Friends remain an important part of the day, but without unnecessary pressure.
Tradition or a more relaxed approach?
In the end, the real question isn’t whether you should have a bridal party or not.
The real question is how you want to celebrate your wedding with the people who matter most.
Some couples love the tradition of bridesmaids and groomsmen.Others prefer a more relaxed and informal atmosphere.
As a wedding planner, my role is always to help couples understand what truly makes sense for them, instead of automatically following a predefined structure.
Because every wedding should reflect the people who are celebrating it.
If you need to talk to me, if you want to know more about how I work and what I can do for you, what are you waiting for?
And if you haven't yet:
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Federica
Your Planner in Romagna, Marche, Umbria & Abruzzo
