Is slimming down the wedding squad Taylor and Travis-style the new nuptial trend?

When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married at Madison Square Garden this month, they did so unaccompanied by a large retinue of celebrity besties. Reportedly absent from the bridal party were such famous pals as Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran and Patrick Mahomes, among others.

Instead, the wedding party included only siblings, with Swift's brother, Austin, serving as man of honor and Kelce's brother, Jason, as best man.

Event planners say the couple's slimmed-down wedding squad reflects a trend rooted at least partly in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We certainly have noticed an increase in smaller bridal parties,” said Laura Panozzo, founder and CEO of Marryment, a Lombard-based wedding planning and coordination company.

She says that's especially true for marriers (couples) who desire a quieter, more intimate wedding.

“As marriers have gotten a bit older, they've gone through the wedding experience a number of times with friends and family members,” said Panozzo, whose company plans or coordinates about 105 weddings between April and October. They understand the expectations and obligations that come with standing up for a wedding and “they don't want to put that responsibility on other people.”

Those couples find alternate ways to incorporate loved ones into their day that don't require them to purchase a gown or a suit.

“There are ways to elevate certain individuals, VIPs, without the label of bridesmaid, groomsman or attendant,” she said.

Sarah Rodriguez, owner of the Winfield-based Sarah Kathleen Events, recalled a client who gave her friends a single, beribboned rose that identified the women as honored guests. For the ceremony, the bride arranged reserved seating for her friends behind immediate family members.

Rodriguez traces smaller wedding parties to the micro-weddings held amid COVID-19 restrictions.

Today, the average number of attendants stands at six in the Chicago area, said Rodriguez, adding that a small wedding party can make for a more intimate, less chaotic experience.

“We find our couples with small bridal parties have less stressful days,” she said.

It's easier to stay on time, Rodriguez continued, when you have only one bridesmaid to load into a vehicle compared to 10.

“If you're looking for a more relaxed vibe, go for a smaller party,” said Rodriguez, whose company plans or coordinates between 110 and 120 weddings during a typical season.

Cost also can be a factor for both the couple and their potential attendants. Citing industry standards, Panozzo estimates a woman serving as a wedding attendant can expect to spend about $2,000 for a local wedding, including gifts and attire, while a man might spend about $1,500. That doesn't include increasingly common pre-wedding, bachelor/bachelorette getaways.

As for the couple, they can expect to spend between $500 and $750 per attendant (including gifts, grooming and flowers), according to Panozzo.

Rodriguez says family dynamics factor more than cost when determining the size of a wedding party. For example, parents may subtly pressure a couple to include siblings or extended family members.

“It's easy to let people steamroll a wedding, she said. “You want to make mom happy and pretty soon you have seven bridesmaids.”

Ultimately, “it comes down to what vibe the marriers want for the day,” Panozzo said.