Bridal party numbers... help!

It’s your wedding- do what you want. However, the bigger the wedding party the more expensive it can be. That’s 7 different schedules, opinions etc.
Why do you want to add more?

View Quoted Comment That’s true! I want them all to be included in some way, I guess I’m just unsure about how I should be ruling people out.

A larger group is expensive and can be tougher to coordinate.


Your attendants should only be those nearest and dearest, most supportive of you. Not filling a role out of obligations or to have even numbers.
Many people would be thrilled to just be guests having fun with zero responsibilities. That is a huge honor in itself.

View Quoted Comment Well they could be involved in it without being a bridesmaid. They could do readings, escorts, give out programs etc. There’s so much others can do!

11 total is definitely not too many. Our bridal party is 14 total!

That isn't too many

I’m sorry, but I guess I don’t understand how adding a single person to your bridesmaid lineup obligates you to add 2 others?

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I'm also wanting to know the same thing. Is it a situation where all three of them are equally close to you so you'd feel bad if you asked one and not the other two? Just wondering!

That amount isn't too many at all! Where I'm at (Georgia), it's normal for the wedding party to be quite large. A few of them I've seen had 11 on EACH side . As suggested above, a larger wedding party comes with more expenses and more opinions. So just be prepared for that if you do decide to add 3 extra people!

It was easy for us to pick our bridal party. We actually had them picked out a week after we were engaged! His father is his best man, and all three brothers are his groomsmen. So that made it easy for me in finding 4 girls! I took a look at who I kept in touch with the most often, and who makes a point to be present in my life. Think into the future and ask yourself if you'll be happy with all the people present in your party, and looking back on photos if you'll be happy as well!

View Quoted Comment Yes! So basically, I’m equally close to both of them and they’re both part of the same friend group. If I invited one, I would be leaving the last person as the only member of the friend group who I didn’t ask to be a bridesmaid. I know they’ll all make good bridesmaids, but I was hoping to leave it smaller because the groomsman are only 4. Wow! I’m not used to bigger bridal parties, but now I’m wondering if I should just pull the trigger and do everyone.

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Gotcha! Now it makes sense. You don't want the other person feeling left out. If you're wanting it to be a smaller bridal party, then you could have the extra people do readings during your ceremony (but ask if they feel comfortable doing so!). If you want to have them all, then by all means go for it! I wanted a small bridal party, so I stuck with 4 haha! But yes, 11 is by no means to large of a bridal party, and honestly, no one really pays attention to whether the numbers are equal or not. If you feel like the three extra ladies will be amazing bridesmaids and it will all work out, then go for it!

View Quoted Comment Awesome! Thanks so much for your input!

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You're welcome! Happy planning!

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I understand how you feel! I have a ton of sisters which I wanted to include all of them with my best friends and ultimately I decided to have them all be bridesmaids and my very little sister, a flower girl. I agree with a lot of the other ladies when they say it can be expensive and chaotic, but if you want them as bridesmaid do it girl! If you have an event planner they can be a HUGE help keeping everyone together and whatnot. You're going to have to be very organized at the least!

I personally hate the concept of friend groups being a "package deal" but I get it. In your shoes, I would likely just stick to four bridesmaids, but include the other three girls for things like the bachelorette and perhaps invite them to participate in special parts of your wedding in other ways. Every official maid you add to your party is additional people to coordinate for all of the pre-wedding events, pay for (in terms of flowers, bridesmaids gifts, and any other things you would be buying them or services you would include like hair styling), and compromise/have get along for all the group functions, so I think a smaller group of people is more manageable and preferable, especially if your FH is going to have a similar modest number of groomsmen.