Bridal Party Obligations

No you're definitely not obligated to have them as bridesmaids, you're not even obligated to have a bridal party if you don't want to!

No, you aren't required to have them as bridesmaids. If your fiance wants to have them in the wedding then they can stand on his side as groomswomen. Otherwise they don't need to be in the wedding at all.

Not obligated whatsoever. Have whoever you want in your bridal party! Like Veronica said, if FH wants them involved, he can always have them as groomswomen.

Not obligated but it's a nice gesture especially if you're close with them. They can also be groomswomen and stand on his side, with different outfits than the bridesmaids.

No!! You should not invite them out of feeling obligated, you will almost certainly regret it later. You’re only having your sister, not a bunch of friends, I don’t think they can be offended.

Nope, you definitely don't have to have them as bridesmaids if you're not comfortable with it! As others have said, there's nothing wrong with them standing on his side if he wants them in the bridal party that bad.

You aren't obligated to ask anyone - you should choose those closest to you who you can't imagine sharing your day without. If your FH wants to include them, he can ask them to stand on his side as groomswomen.

You’re not obligated to, no. I did ask my fiancé’s sister to be a bridesmaid because he’s having his three brothers as groomsmen and in that scenario it did feel rude to not ask her. I really like her and am not regretting it but I probably wouldn’t have asked her if all of her brothers weren’t already in the wedding party.

I echo the sentiments of all of these comments! However, given that these sisters will soon be family, make sure they will not resent you for not including them in their brother's wedding. You don't want to start off on the wrong foot. I would talk to your FH about it! See what he thinks would be best.

Your bridesmaids (and groomsmen for your fiancé) should only be those who are supportive in your innermost social circle. The wedding party is not the appropriate place to have future in laws or college/ high school friends you are not close to because you stood in their wedding. If fiancé has sisters, they can stand on his side because they are not your BFFs.


Never ever do anything out of obligation. Your wedding is not the time to please other people. Nor is the rest of your life. That includes asking people you are not close to be attendants and inviting people to share the day that you don’t even want there.

My fiance comes from an Italian family that is very close and it definitely was assumed/presumed that his sister would be a bridesmaid and for me because I'm close to her, it didn't feel like an obligation. So this may disagree with PPs slightly but I definitely think it depends on the overall family dynamic/traditions, etc. My family and my FH's family it is considered rude to not include the SO's family. But again, to me it didn't feel like an obligation, we're close anyway and so I wanted her included regardless.

If you want to include them in the day but not necessarily in your bridal party, maybe they could have other roles, like reading during the ceremony or something.