Bridesmaid Questions

[MickeysStarTrader]

How did y'all choose how many bridesmaids to have at your wedding? I've heard there's a ration of X many bridesmaids to X many guests. Is that the rule you followed? I'm unsure of how many to have I also don't know what to do if one of them can't make it. Did any of you have a backup bridesmaid(s)?

 

[insight blue]

We had around 100-110 guests, and I had 6 bridesmaids, and hubby had 5 groomsmen. I really didn't want more then 6 or 7 bridesmaids, just because I thought that would be too many for myself. I wanted the people I picked to be special to me, and to feel special for being picked. But really, the bottom line is have whoever and however many you want. Think about who is really important and special in your life, and who you want up there standing beside you and supporting you on your wedding day. That's how I decided.

 

[Emily11212]

I wouldn't worry about the rule of how many bridesmaids to how many guests. I picked the girls in my life who all mean something. My sister is my maid of honor, and then I have 5 bridesmaids. 4 of them are very close friends from very many different walks of life (they don't even know each other, I've traveled a lot and made close friends everywhere I go) and the 5th is my fiance's sister who is also wonderful and I've become close to. My fiance also used my brother as a groomsman.

If you have a bridesmaid or groomsman drop out, don't worry about trying to replace them... it actually happens more than you think, and it's perfectly fine for one groomsman to escort two bridesmaids, or vice versa. So we are having 12 attendants, and about 75 guests... like I said, for me it wasn't about the number, it was about choosing the girls in my life who are important to me and who I wanted standing up there with me.

 

[herb102211]

We had around 125 guests and I had 4 bridesmaids and DH had 5 groomsmen. I wouldn't necessarily follow a rule as to how many to include. I would base it off of what those people mean to you and I wouldn't exclude someone just because a rule says you should only have 4 instead of 5. GL!

 

[lurkyloo]

I decided not to have any bridesmaids cuz they cost too much money and cause too much drama! I saved a bundle on bouquets and gifts, relieved my friends of the obligation to buy dresses they would never wear again, and never had to deal with personality drama or whether or not they were doing all that stuff they're supposed to do.

 

[MickeysStarTrader]

I decided not to have any bridesmaids cuz they cost too much money and cause too much drama! I saved a bundle on bouquets and gifts, relieved my friends of the obligation to buy dresses they would never wear again, and never had to deal with personality drama or whether or not they were doing all that stuff they're supposed to do.

You know, I never even considered that lurkyloo! But then I thought of practical things like who held your bouquet and your DH's ring?

 

[lurkyloo]

In our case, DH had his brother as best man and I had my brother as a "man of honor," but if we'd gone solo, the officiant could have kept the rings and someone in the front row would've held my bouquet.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I decided not to have any bridesmaids cuz they cost too much money and cause too much drama! I saved a bundle on bouquets and gifts, relieved my friends of the obligation to buy dresses they would never wear again, and never had to deal with personality drama or whether or not they were doing all that stuff they're supposed to do.

She's right. Less is more in this case. I had two and was going crazy over just dealing with the two of them.

 

[Evi]

I agree with Carrie there is no way I could deal with other girls drama surrounding my wedding day. I've seen to many friends deal with crazy bridesmaid drama. Its just not for me.

 

[mb187143]

I agree with Carrie there is no way I could deal with other girls drama surrounding my wedding day. I've seen to many friends deal with crazy bridesmaid drama. Its just not for me.

i had a bridesmaid drop out and then proceed to harass me for 3 straight days via text and email, and then called me a bridezilla on facebook because i had asked her to be in the wedding when i knew she didn't have enough money (backstory - she's my cousin and my grandmother was paying for her air travel, hotel, dress, and shoes - i am paying for my girls hair and make up). and now, she and i haven't spoken since then, and i still have to invite her to the damn wedding!

i love my other 2 bridesmaids, i should have just stopped there - it's not worth the drama!

 

[trickiwoo]

We have around 80 guests and I have 5 bridesmaids and my fiance has 4 groomsmen. We didn't do a bridal party to total guest ratio. We just picked siblings and close friends, and that's how the numbers turned out!

The hardest part for us was picking a Best Man and Maid of Honor. I don't have any sisters and my fiance has 2 brothers... and he didn't want to pick one brother over the other to be the best man. And neither of us really have just 1 best friend... instead we have a group of close friends. So we have our dogs as the Best Man and Maid of Honor! And all of the duties typically designated for the Best Man/Maid of Honor (throwing showers/bachelor parties, holding the rings at the ceremony, signing the marriage certificate, speeches, etc.) are spread out throughout the wedding party with different bridesmaids and groomsmen doing different tasks! It's worked out well for us! Plus, I can joke about the fact that I'm probably the only bride that is okay with her fiance kissing the Maid Of Honor at the wedding!

 

[PrincessShea]

I've never heard of this ratio rule! I have two sisters, so my decision was easy. I didn't want to choose which sister "I liked best" so both were the maids of honor. Problem solved!

 

[Janice2013]

we are having a small Wishes wedding and I'm only going with a Maid of Honour and no bridesmaids. While it is tied to the size of your wedding it really is about what works for you and your spouse!

 

[tracey1302]

I didn't even know there was a ratio rule!

I'll be having six BMs and one FG.

My sister as my MOH, best friend in life, best friend from school, best friend from home, best friend from Uni and my two goddaughters as JBM and FG.

It does just depend on what works for you. If cost is an issue for you, maybe don't have any? You will save on gifts, dresses and the awkwardness over 'who to ask.' If you're in the same position as me, and are planning a destination wedding, and cost could be an issue for your guests, I would wait till you know who's going and then pick of the guests you have. If there's noone you would have asked anyway in those who are going, don't have any!

Problem solved!