How weird is it to NOT have a wedding party, well other than having a maid of honor (which I really don't want either, but fiancé insists on having his dad as his best man and it would be awkward if I didn't have a MOH).

I want things to be somewhat traditional yet my style. I want to wear a red dress (like this http://trulyweddingblog.com/wedding-...-wedding-dress) and have a ceremony and reception but no wedding party, I.e. no bridesmaids. I just don't want the hassle. I want to do the candles, jump the broom, shove cake in my fiances face, have a first dance but with twists.

Have any of you gone this route without bridesmaids and how did it work out for you?

It's weird in that it's pretty unusual. But the thing to remember is it's YOUR wedding, yours and your partner's. You don't have to do anything just because it's traditional. If you don't want bridesmaids (and they can be quite pricey for something you don't actually want) then don't have them!

I don't think it's weird. It's YOUR day so celebrate it how you want and to heck with what anyone else thinks.

Have a wonderful day!

i just had a MOH, no bridesmaids. It was a small wedding, about 60 people. My brother was the best man..it was my husband's third marriage(yikes) so it was awkward..he wouldn't have had a reception at all, would have been happy with a JP and dinner out, but I'd never been married before and wanted the whole deal.

Bottom line, YOUR day, you do whatever YOU want!

Scarlet would be gorgeous for a wedding. It's not weird at all to not want bridesmaids. These specific trappings aren't necessary. It's your wedding. Make it as unique as you! Congrats and good luck with your planning!

(I look cadverous in white and will not wear anything resembling white. I have no intention of having bridesmaids either.)

I had no bridal party (got the idea from a very good friend who didn't either), and it was great. My couple close friends had a role in the wedding (doing a reading, making a toast, etc.). I thought it went great.

In a way, I think my good friends were relieved...they got to go to the wedding and have fun, without buying a dress they'd never wear again.

I also had no wedding party, except a best man (husbands best friend) and a maid of honor (my sister).

We had a pretty traditional wedding with a few quirks that made it suit us (we also walked down the aisle together because my father had passed away a few years ago and wasn't there to give me away and since the husband and I had been living together for years I thought it better represented us going into the marriage as a unit).

It's your wedding, and I always thought part of the fun of going to a wedding is to see how the different ways people do things. It's interesting to see people customize these things to represent them and their relationship.

Agreed! It's your day, you should do things how you want. You would be uncomfortable on your wedding day if you felt pressured to do something that didn't reflect your tastes and personality, and no bride wants that.
I didn't have a wedding party either. It was my second wedding and his 3rd, so we kept it very simple... outdoor, cookout, close family. It was perfect and exactly how we wanted it.
And I agree that the friends you would have chosen to stand with you would possibly feel relieved that they only have to go and enjoy themselves, instead of stressing about buying a dress and shoes, and being here or there, etc. If someone might feel hurt being left out though, you could give her/him a special job to do, either in the planning process or during the ceremony. That may help people to feel included without actually having them part of a wedding party.
Good luck with your planning, and congratulations!

Hubby had six friends in his half of the 'party' while I had a Matron of Honor and a flower girl. It was a little lopsided but it worked for us.

I doubt if anyone at the time cared or remembers it now.

I had just a MOH (my sister) and a flower girl. We had about 100 guests. I thought it was great! She bought her dress off the sale rack at a department store - no matching dresses to worry about - and it was not weird at all to skip the bridesmaids.

I love the dress. It's your wedding, do exactly as you wish. My son got married a couple of months ago and did almost as you describe, she did have a white wedding gown there were no attendants, just the two of them standing in front of the minister. Her sister and my other son signed as witnesses but they did not stand up in front with them and they were just wearing ordinary street clothes. It was very informal and fun.Do what pleases you.

Thanks, all of this is good to hear

This is my second marriage but only did a JOP the first time with no bells and whistles.

I'm excited to have a "real wedding" tweaked to suit us.

I had a MOH and no bridesmaids. These days I wouldn't even have that. It's ALL about me and the hubby!!!

Btw--red is awesome and is used in MANY cultures for marriage.

I think no bridesmaids is actually quite common for second marriages. It was my preference, but I was overruled by our children who wanted "a real wedding where we wear matching dresses and everything." (We had 3 teen bridesmaids, one teen groomsman, no best man, no maid of honor.)

Do what makes you happy (including that gorgeous dress), the day is to celebrate your marriage and should be all about what you and hubby-to-be want.