What to call not-quite-bridesmaids?

[SoonIHope]

As I was discussing here, I have been conflicted on how to include a few of my close friends who are not able to be bridesmaids for logistical reasons (I''m just going to have a maid of honor) in my wedding. That thread helped me figure out what exactly we''re going to DO with these people, but I still haven''t come up with a good name for the role yet! They will be asked to (if they want) wear the same color, and we will give them each a flower or corsage to wear at the wedding, but they will not wear matching dresses or participate in the ceremony at all. They will mainly just do the fun bridesmaidy things with me, like help me get ready in the morning and maybe have a brunch together the morning of! The two ideas on the table at the moment are "wedding hostesses" and "honorary bridesmaids" but I''m really not quite happy with either.... Does anyone have some other ideas for what we could call them? I want to list them on my wedding website, and in our program (if we decide to do one), as well has have something to ask them, "Will you be my ______?"

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!!!! (Also if you can think of any other cool things to do with them, that would be great!)

 

[gingerBcookie]

traditionally i think they''re called "house party." kind of honored guests who help out -- like greeting other guests, handing out programs, directing ppl towards the guest book, helping ppl find their seating cards, etc... is that what you mean?

 

[SoonIHope]

Yeah, that''s exactly what I mean! Is "house party" an common enough term that you think other people would recognize what it means? What is an individual member of the house party called? It''s so exciting to see that what I''m doing isn''t really bizarre though! Thanks!!

 

[JKohio]

When I see the term ''house party'', the LAST thing I associate it with is a wedding. I actually would prefer to see ''honorary bridesmaid'' (or something along those lines) in the program. I''d stay away from ''hostesses'' (I think of the typical ''restaurant hostess'' role) because it sounds too much like a ''job''. How about ''bride''s attendant''?

 

[SeattleSparkle]

Hey, that''s what I was going to say!! I say you call them attendants.

 

[gingerBcookie]

when i hear attendant, i think of the actual bms. bms and gms are the attendants i always thought. when i did all my flower appts and drawing up prposals, the florists always asked "how many attendants will you be having?" mybe its a regional thing?

 

[SoonIHope]

JKohio - I agree, I had the same thought when I first heard "house party"! And I kind of have the same feeling about "hostesses" too which is why I wasn''t crazy about it in the first place...either it''s a job or it''s very Martha Stewart....

I agree with ginger that "attendant" by itself might sound too much like the ACTUAL bridesmaids/groomsmen, but I think if I call them "Bride''s Attendants" that sounds enough like not-bridesmaids that it might be okay....and it''s really just going to be written one or two places, so people won''t be saying it a lot so I hope that will minimize confusion...

I think "bride''s attendants" is my front runner now! Thanks!

Anyone have any more ideas/thoughts?

 

[appletini]

House Party!

 

[qtiekiki]

Both "honorary bridesmaids" and "bride''s attendants" sound like official bridesmaids to me.

When I read "House Party", I didn''t associate it with special guests either but it does sound fun.

I was thinking about a play on word like "bride''s aide" for each individual and together as a group they can be the "bride''s cabinet" (political reference, so don''t know how you feel about it).

 

[appletini]

House Party is a more southern thing. These girls are in the bridal party but don''t wear BM dresses. They are in charge of things like handing out the programs and managing the guest book.

 

[aljdewey]

I''ve never heard of house party before......but it sounds more like a "fraternity" term and less like a wedding term to me.

"Honorary Bridesmaids" just feels cheap to me.....good enough to be honorary, but not good enough to actualy BE bridesmaids.

I personally prefer Bride''s attendants, and I don''t equate that with Bridesmaids. Bridesmaids are bridesmaids....period. Anyone else who might attend to the bride but *not* be a bridesmaid is a bride''s attendant.

Of course, you could always resort to "bridal pit crew"....

....hhehehehe - but I''d really go for Bride''s Attendants.

 

[Shay]

I actually have the same problem. My best friend lives in Taiwan and wont be around for the fittings or the bachelorette party or any of the planning, but she is flying in (All the way from freaking Asia to Africa) a week before the wedding to be with me and attend the wedding. It''s such a wonderful gesture on her part and I hate not having her as a bridesmaid. I have 3 bridesmaids already and my brother is man of honour so that''s already 5 attendants. I think that''s a lot.

Our ceremony is going to be really short so there''s no way she can participate in it but I want to think of something special for her. Any ideas?