How can I have my family members be apart of my wedding, if I have a very large family?

Im getting married in June, and I'm new at the whole wedding thing. I have a very large family, but i want everyone to have a part in it. I have the basics covered: ex: maid of honor, bridesmaids, flower girl and so on. Does anyone have any ideas of how to make everyone feel apart of it?

How can I have my family members be apart of my wedding, if I have a very large family?
for younger ones: hand out programs, hand out bubbles

for older ones: special readings during the ceremony, help coordinate everything
Reply:Ask your cousins to be ushers. Ask your aunt to be in charge of the guest book. Let your grandfather make a toast. There will be plenty of work to be done as the wedding gets closer, and you can enlist everyone to help you out. Be sure to thank everyone either at the reception or in the ceremony program. This will make everyone feel a part of the event. Best wishes!
Reply:I had the same thing to deal with, and you just need to realize not everyone can be included. Have a few as ushers, some to do readings at the ceremony, a few sit at the guest book for the reception. Otherwise, they'll be happy to help out with decorating the hall, for example, or doing something else that needs doing if you need it.
Reply:I had my family (big also) participate in the ceremony in other ways. We had a catholic wedding so we had people in the family reading, carrying gifts, etc. You could have someone special read a prayer or something. Just be creative.
Reply:Off the top of my head....



Give them all a long stem rose as a show of their love and support. Have an empty vase on the table/altar then say something like



"I will now ask the family of the bride and groom, will you now come and bring a sign of your love and support, of your willingness to join two great families together as one?"



They come forward and make the altar piece (floral arrangement) and then return to their seat as your officiant continues with something about the blossoms holding in them the promise of the future and the countless joys you will share as a family united by love.
Reply:dance to "we are family" all together



Have them do a dance together before the groom and bride do
Reply:Your family already IS involved in your wedding. They are your guests... and your witnesses. They are in charge of keeping the party hopping, and keeping the mood light and fun. Its a wedding, most people dont expect to be a part of the wedding (at least where i come from thats how it is.)



Where i come from, most people dont want tasks or jobs. They just want to enjoy the day and share your happiness with you.
Reply:well their are candle lighters ... a person or two at the guest book ... someone to hand out programs ...someone to hand out birdseed ...servers for the punch ...coffee...cake and whatever else you may be serving ..someone to sing ... play piano ...
Reply:you can have some cousins be ushers. have some other family members buy the guestbook, photo album %26amp; etc.
Reply:If you haven't chosen your bouquet yet why not let them...



I'll explain. If for example your wedding colour is red ask each family to bring a red flower for your bouquet. Your maid of honor can collect them all and tie them together with a ribbon on the day. That way you have something from everyone to carry with you on the day and can get it preserved afterwards at a florist as a symbol of having everyone from both sides of the family intertwined on the day you wed.



Otherwise you could end up with so many ushers you won't have anyone for them to escort to their seats! lol :o)
Reply:You have many good suggestions here for extra help, but I have a suggestion of my own. Although I'm sure you're very excited and want your whole family to share this experience with you, just know that if you get too many people involved it will all become very confusing indeed. I, too, have a huge family and I know that I won't be able to inculde every single one of them on my big day. I'm fine with that knowledge, as are they. Only cover the basics and keep things simple. Don't create positions just because your aunt's step-daughter's cousin's half-brother wants to be involved. Fewer people means less stress, and this is a very stressful time.



Good luck and congratulations!
Reply:Just having them there will make them feel special and included sweetie. Don't feel like you have to give everyone a JOB. I mean, many of them would probably rather just sit and ENJOY the wedding instead of feeling like they have to be responsible for something. If you're determined to give them a job, then there are small things they can do such as:



1) You can have 2 people in charge of handing out programs

2) You can have 1 person in charge of boxing up a thing of food for you and your fiance - they'll need to put it in whatever car you're leaving in just before you leave

3) You can have some light the candles as the music starts playing at the beginning of the ceremony.

4) You can have someone read a poem or bible verse during the ceremony



These are just small examples.
Reply:If it is a religious ceremony, they could do readings. If someone has musical talent, they could sing or play instruments. Actually, it'd be really cool if you could have a little family choir or band perform at your wedding.