One of the many Southern traditions you’ll find at a wedding is having a house party. No, we don’t mean the kind with a keg and a slew of people you may or may not have even invited! We mean an extension of the bridal party.

Relationships you want to honor and include in some capacity on your big day but don’t necessarily want to include in your core bridal party for various reasons. Down South, we call this the house party.

In an effort to keep the bridal party from becoming too massive, some brides choose to only include family members in their bridal party and add close friends, distant relatives or significant others of siblings to the house party.

This keeps the group standing next to you at the alter to a minimum, but allows your other close relationships to feel important on your big day.

The house party members’ duties really are up to the bride. Some brides choose to give the house party small day-of duties like handing out programs, manning the guestbook or gift table, reading during the ceremony, planning the bridal shower, or just helping the bride get ready for her wedding day. Some brides choose not to assign any duties at all, the choice is completely up to the bride.

Bridesmaid Dresses &
House Party Outfits

Bridesmaids typically wear the same dress or color to define their role as bridesmaids. For House Party ladies, the bride has a few choices:

Choose a similar dress in the color that is a shade darker than the bridesmaid dresses

This stunning combination has bridesmaids in light blue and house party ladies in a darker shade of the same dress, creating a cohesive and beautiful look.

Choose the same or a similar dress in one of the other wedding color palette colors

This bride elected to put bridesmaids in one color, and the rest of the house party in the same dress in another wedding color. We just love this champagne + navy sparkly combination, it’s so elegant!

Choose a shorter version of the bridal parties dress (if bridesmaids are wearing a long dress) in the same color

This beautiful group of ladies is a great example of bridesmaids & the house party wearing the same color, but her maid of honor in a long dress and the rest of the house party gals in shorter dresses.

Have HP (house party) ladies choose their own dress in a certain color(s) with a certain length

The maid of honor is wearing white, while the rest of the house party is wearing shades of yellow – such a sweet, cheerful combination!

Have HP ladies wear a little black dress that fits a certain length or style

Most ladies already have a little black dress in their closet so choosing this for your house party members keeps them from having to buy a new dress (budget-friendly!) and is a lot more convenient for them. If they do need to buy a little black dress, it’s an item they’ll be able to wear again.

How Involved is the House Party?

House party members can be as involved in wedding duties as the bride wants them to be, and she may or may not assign them day-of tasks or have them help in planning various events leading up to the wedding. 

Traditionally, no matter how important the house party is to the bride, members typically do no stand at the altar with the bride, only bridesmaids do. House party ladies will usually be seated in the row just behind family members, and can be included in the wedding program.

Who’s Included in the House Party?

Who is included is ultimately up the bride and who she wants to honor with a title on her wedding day, but doesn’t want to make the bridal party too big. This can be close friends, sorority sisters, extended family, significant others of siblings (if the bride has brothers with serious girlfriends), etc.