We're doing a destination wedding followed by a reception in our hometown about 3 weeks later. Some close friends will be with us for the trip/ceremony, but my best friend and some other close friends won't be able to make it there. They will all be present at the reception, though. If we were having a traditional ceremony, I would have chosen my best friend to be matron of honor and 1-2 other friends to be bridesmaids (one of whom is going to be at the ceremony). I wanted to somehow designate them as honorary matron of honor and bridesmaid (as well as have my fiance choose a "best man" and a "groomsman" or two), but I don't want to dictate what they wear or anything like that. The only idea we've come up with so far is to have a table at the reception at the front of the room to seat us and have the "special" people sitting up there with us. However, then I'd feel that we'd also need to include a seat for the spouses/significant others of these honorary people (only in one instance would both the husband and wife be chosen for these roles). Especially for my best friend, it's important because we've been friends since 3rd grade and it's breaking her heart that she can't make it to our ceremony (I was maid of honor in her wedding years ago and we'd always said she'd definitely be the same in mine). If I'm not careful, we'll have 6 or 8 people sitting up there with us, and I'm not sure if that will be a little ridiculous, or make other friends feel like they are sitting out in the crowd of our relatives with no one interesting to talk to. I need some more ideas of ways to make these certain people feel like they have played some type of role in our wedding experience. We'll have no need for a program to print their names or anything like that. I'd also thought of having them wear corsages but I don't feel that's enough. The only "job" I can think of assigning any of them would be to man the entrance with the guestbook/coat check/gift table but I think that job could be done by someone else like my brother or a cousin, etc. Help!
Etiquette Now
WEDDING ETIQUETTE EXPERT
Apr 25, 2008, 5:42 PM
Post #2 of 2
(222 views)
Re: [mojoar] how to make honorary bridal party feel special
[In reply to]
Dear Mojoar,
There is no such thing as an honorary attendant. They have nothing to 'attend' to. And, it may be very confusing to all. So, it may be best to just have special tables for all of them. The head table really only makes sense if these people were just in your wedding (the reception that follows the wedding).
how to make honorary bridal party feel special
I need some more ideas of ways to make these certain people feel like they have played some type of role in our wedding experience. We'll have no need for a program to print their names or anything like that. I'd also thought of having them wear corsages but I don't feel that's enough. The only "job" I can think of assigning any of them would be to man the entrance with the guestbook/coat check/gift table but I think that job could be done by someone else like my brother or a cousin, etc. Help! 
