High on your list of priorities is the decision on how many people should be in the bridal party, and then who those people will be.  The right attendants can be an enormous help with the wedding preparations.

Not every friend and cousin can be an attendant, no matter how much you would like them to be.  Don't feel pressured into choosing someone you don't want.  On your day, you want and need to be surrounded by people who are special to you and who really care about you.

 The Bride's Party
Most modern Australian weddings have two or three bridesmaids.  Traditionally, 12 are the maximum, but weddings of this size are rare.  Your Chief bridesmaid, usually a sister or close friend, is known as the matron of honour if she is married, or aid of honour is she is single.  As she is usually one of the witnesses to the documents, she should be over 18 years old.  The other bridesmaids are normally family members or good friends.  To symbolise the joining of two families, it is a nice gesture to include a future sister-in-law among the bridesmaids.

Try to choose bridesmaids who will stay calm (you will be nervous enough without worrying about them), who will be helpful during minor crises and who get on well together. Young sisters, or perhaps cousins, a fill the roll or junior bridesmaids.  Children aged four to ten lend a cute touch as flower girls, ring bearers, candle bearers or pages.

 The Grooms Party
The best man is almost always the groom's brother or his best mate.  But it could also be his father, uncle or son.  As he is usually a witness he needs to be over 18 years old. Groomsmen are usually close friends and/or relatives.  Again it's thoughtful of the groom to ask a member of his future family to join his group.

You really do not need ushers (to greet guests, direct them to seats on the right side of the church and handout the order of service) unless you are having a very formal wedding, in which case the rule of thumb is one for every 50 guests.  Most people can find their own way to a seat, or at a pinch, the groomsmen can help them.  Assign a good friend or relative who could not be included in the wedding party to hand out the order of service booklets.

While those chosen to be part of the bridal party feel greatly honoured, they may also feel overwhelmed.  Few people know what is required of them as attendants. Being a matron of honour or a best man is usually a once in a lifetime experience.  Besides, in our modern society, duties are constantly changing, as families become more scattered and women have busy careers.  A bride-to-be soon finds she can't do everything, so the smart ones will plan well in advance and delegate decisions and jobs.

The most important part of planning is to determine which decisions you need to make first.  Approach your decisions in a logical sequence: First the most basic, next the decisions that arrange the players and set the tone and finally the elements that personalize your wedding.