Ways to include important people in your ceremony

So, you want to make a few people feel special in your wedding ceremony, but they don’t fit into the bridal party—or maybe you’re ditching the bridal party altogether? Here are a few ways to include people in your ceremony that you might not have thought of.

Bringer of the Rings

You don’t need a small child to bring your rings into the ceremony—anyone you trust can take on this role and come up at the important moment. I had one of my besties bring the rings at my own wedding, and she loved it.

It’s a great role for a loved one who isn’t keen on public speaking, and it can put your mind at ease knowing your rings are being handled by someone reliable from start to finish. Let them know before the day that they’re in charge, and they can ensure the rings are at the venue and ready at the right time. No last-minute scrambling or awkward handovers!

Witnesses

In Australia, your witnesses must “appear” to be over 18 and not intoxicated at the ceremony—but other than that, it can be anyone. This is a great way to make your parents or a friend feel special.

Even better, you can surprise them during the ceremony by having your celebrant call them up! It’s an unexpected and heartfelt way to honour someone important to you. Other witness ideas can be found here.

Bouquet Holder

Traditionally, the maid of honour or bridesmaids hold the bouquet, but if you don’t have a bridal party, choosing someone to fluff up your dress and hold your bouquet during the ceremony is a lovely way to include a friend.

It shows them they matter to you—without the extra obligations that can come with being a bridesmaid. No matching dresses, no formal title, just a meaningful role on your big day.

Get Ready with Your Crew

If you’re skipping the traditional bridal party, you can still invite a select group of people to spend the morning with you while you get ready. This way, you get to enjoy their company and all the best parts of having a bridal party (a bit of bubbles or a round of golf) without the formalities.

You could give them a small token of appreciation or include them in hair and makeup if you like, but simply asking them to be there and putting on a little food will make your real best friends feel valued.

Poem Reader / Storyteller

This is perfect for a friend who has a knack for public speaking but doesn’t necessarily need to be giving a speech at the reception (there are usually enough speeches as it is!).

Ask them to share a poem or reading during your ceremony—or even better, let them be the one to tell part of your love story. Having someone who was actually there as your relationship blossomed adds a personal, lively, and memorable touch to your ceremony, while also making that friend feel appreciated.

There are plenty of ways to make this work—you can let them choose what they say, or your celebrant can write your love story into the ceremony and set aside a part for them to read out. More on that here.

If you’re looking for an easy way to include a bunch of important people in your ceremony at once- see my post about ring warming.