ONE BRIDESMAN

Her Side

BRIDE'S LONGTIME FRIEND
When Geri Katz wed Brian Elliott in Minneapolis in '05, she says, "it never occurred to me to have only women on my side." Her bridesman, Lee Kafkas, "hung out with the ladies. They even put a little makeup on me," he says. "I was happy and proud—and it's better than being an usher."

TWO GROOMSWOMEN

His Side

GROOM'S SISTER AND FRIEND
Julie Elliott (far right) stood with her brother, and her twin sister stood with the bride. "I wore a red rose pinned to my dress just like a guy with a tuxedo," says Julie. Fellow groomswoman Erin Ferdinand got a special invite from the groom. "He said I could come to the bachelor party, but I didn't."

ONE GROOMSWOMAN

His Side

ONE BRIDESMAN

Her Side

THE GROOM'S CLOSE FRIEND; THE BRIDE'S COUSIN
At the San Antonio wedding of Adam McManus and Amy Holzer last November, "we threw tradition out the door," says Adam. "I was invited to do bridesmaids' stuff, but Adam didn't let me!" says groomswoman Roe Ann Estevez. "While they got their hair done, I went on a river barge cruise with the guys." The bride "wanted a bridesman to balance things out," says Amy. She asked her cousin Rob Reynolds, who says he only had one condition: "that I didn't have to wear a dress."