How to Include Family and Friends in the Wedding

If you have just gotten engaged, you probably already started to think about the wedding. One way to make the event special is to include your friends and family members, not just as guests, but as participants.

Instructions

1. Ask your loved ones to serve in the bridal party. You can ask female friends, sisters or future sister-in-laws to be bridesmaids. Male friends, brothers and future brother-in laws make great groomsmen.

2. Invite male friends or family members to serve as ushers for your big day. Ushers walk people to their seats, take your guest's coats and generally help them find their way around the ceremony site.

3. Ask a friend or family member pass to stand by the entrance of the ceremony site to pass out wedding programs and greet guests.

4. Have a friend give a reading during the ceremony. You may pick out the reading yourself or let the reader surprise you. Good choices for readings include poems or personal stories.

5. Ask someone close to you to sing during the ceremony or the reception. Invite others to make multiple toasts during the reception. The best man and maid of honor don't have to be the only ones who perform this function. You can receive toasts throughout the evening. Treat it as an open mic event.

6. Ask friends and family to help you plan to wedding. From picking out a wedding dress to giving you ideas of places to hold the reception, they can be founts of good advice.