Hi all! I am feeling really conflicted on what to do regarding my bridal party. I am a very family oriented person (youngest of four siblings) and as my family continues to grow, the number of "sisters" I have has increased. It is important to me to include my biological sister (MOH), two sister in laws, and soon to be sister in law (groom's sister) in my bridal party. However, this already brings me to four women. From there I have two friends from college/post college who I'd like to include AND a group of four girlfriends who I grew up with & are all still close "as a group".
If I were to invite all of these women I care about to actually stand up there with me on the day, that is 10 bridesmaids, which feels like WAY too many to me. The group of sisters are all non negotiables. At this point it feels like I need to cut my childhood girlfriends (who come as a package of 4, I don't think asking a couple but not all is an option). I feel somewhat sad about this and don't want them to feel excluded.
Can I ask them to be included in any fun pre wedding celebrations as cherished friends, but tell them I just have acquired too many sisters to have them actually stand up with me at the wedding? For context, I'm looking for this to be a pretty low key bridal party. No big out of state bachelorette trip and no huge expenses for hair/makeup. I'm not looking to ask them to take on any "responsibilities" of wedding prep/planning, I just want them to feel acknowledged & included despite not being asked to be bridesmaids.
Thoughts? Is there a way to achieve this? Have any other brides taken steps to make those who are not actually a part of the bridal party "feel included"?
