If you’re having a wedding at an event center, you might have considered honorary bridesmaids. Learn more about this tradition to see if its right for you.

If you’re having a wedding at an event center in McAllen, TX , you might have considered honorary bridesmaids. But what are honorary bridesmaids? Do you need them? Keep reading to learn more.

To begin, honorary bridesmaids are friends are family members that are important to the bride but are not super close to the bride or are unable to perform regular bridesmaid duties. Traditionally, honorary bridesmaids are mentioned in the wedding program, given a corsage, and sometimes given a special duty like doing a reading or singing a song. They are not expected to wear a bridesmaid dress.

While it might seem like a special honor to be an honorary bridesmaid, some people might get offended if asked because they feel that they weren’t good enough to be a “real” bridesmaid. Here’s a list of who you should and shouldn’t ask to be an honorary bridesmaid in order to avoid offending someone:

Friends – Don’t ask a friend, because you’re pretty much telling them they didn’t make the bridesmaids cut.
Aunt – Do ask an aunt, as she will love the honor but will be happy that she doesn’t have to participate in most of the duties.
Coworkers – Don’t ask coworkers. Just invite them as guests.
Cousins – Only ask a cousin to be an honorary bridesmaid if there are no cousins in the “real” bridal party.
New Sister-In-Law – Only ask your new sister-in-law to be an honorary bridesmaid if you want to include her in some activities but not in others. If you’re not sure, talk to your fiancé.

Some brides choose to further honor their honorary bridesmaids with gifts. While it’s not mandatory, getting honorary bridesmaids small gifts is a nice gesture that will be appreciated. Need some inspiration? Here are good honorary bridesmaid gifts:

Jewelry – Small, tasteful pieces of jewelry are always lovely. Consider getting them a necklace or a bracelet with their initials for a personal touch.
A Night Out – Treat her to a night out on the town or cook her a special dinner at your place for some quality time.
Comfy Slippers – Everyone loves slippers, and chances are she’ll get lots of use out of any pair you give her.
Mini Spa Set – Mini at-home spa kits have small price tags but big wow-factors.
House Plant – House plants continue to look beautiful long after a bouquet of flowers would die.
Ring Holder – Small but useful chachkas, ring holders are very thoughtful gifts.
Gourmet Tea Set – Luxury tea gift boxes are great for when you’re not sure what she’ll like, as they often come with a little something for everyone.
Personalized Compact – A personalized compact will be treasured and used for years to come.
A Letter – If you’re tight on budget, a thoughtful hand-written letter is a wonderful gift and will allow you to tell your honorary bridesmaid how much she means to you.

This is everything you need to know about honorary bridesmaids. If you want more helpful wedding tips or information on McAllen, TX event centers , Memorial Event Center is here to help. Call or visit us today.