How many Bridesmaids is TOO MANY

9 is a lot, you have to gifts for all these people.

Please Try not to post so many threads at once, put all your thoughts in one. We can tackle them all at once.

If you already asked them you can't cut them.

Yes to what Kathryn and FutureMrs.C said.

Chill on the threads. And if you've already asked them, it's too late.

If you haven't asked, slim it down. Maybe you can give a couple of them a reading or something?

How many threads is too many? 3.

And this is why you don't ask your BMs over a year and a half in advance. If you haven't asked, well. It's really up to you. However the more BMs you have, the more drama, the more expense for YOU, and more people to wrangle on your big day. If you are having 9 GMs, that's at least 20 people at your rehearsal dinner alone minus significant others and family.

Please CALM DOWN.

9 is a lot. You shouldn't ask anyone until this summer.

9 is a lot, but there's no real answer to how many is "too many"! Just keep in mind that the larger the bridal party the larger the expenses (bouquets, gifts, rehearsal dinner attendees, etc)

We are invited 235 guests and I will have 7 bridesmaids, my fiance has 9 groomsmen plus 2 ushers

Sorry about the threads. I'm new to this and am still figuring it out.

I haven't asked anyone yet, I am just looking to get some advice so I know how to handle this.

Chill. Nine is too many; how special would YOU feel if you were part of a nine person BP and had to pay for the privilege?

Big bridal parties are cumbersome, expensive and unruly on the day. Cut it for your own sanity.

I have 6 BMs, and it's a lot! Please keep in mind that gifts are expensive, and the more girls, the more drama!

Well think about it some more. Focus on the big ticket items right now: budget, guest list, venue. You do not have to figure that out right this minute. At the earliest, return to this topic this summer see how you feel then.

IMHO I think of 6 BMs as a large wedding party and >6 as huge.

I know that for me personally, I knew without a doubt who my bridesmaids were going to be. I have 5. Sure, there were good friends I had that I would have considered, but I stuck with who I knew I wanted to stand by me on my special day. So if you're iffy, then please wait to ask.

There's no hard rule, but 9 is a lot. It also makes planning more involved and more expensive since you have to coordinate more outfits, get more gifts, have more people at the rehearsal dinner (bridal party PLUS their dates/spouses), etc.

I'm not sure if you're paying or if anyone else is contributing - but as an example, let's say you spend just $15/per person at the rehearsal dinner and $20 per bridesmaid gift. Those are low estimates of course.

That would mean $20 * 9 = $180

$30 (BM + significant other) * 9 = $270

=$450 just for your side, for those two things

Add on extra bouquets, if you pay for shoes or hair and makeup, etc... between you and your fiance's side, that's easily well over $1000 just on wedding party related items.

I'm having deja vu

Only you know if it's too many. Personally I would probably give the side-eye to a bridal party of that size.

Consider the added cost of gifts, flowers, and rehearsal dinner with a bridal party so large. Not to mention the increased chances of drama and the added difficulty of "wrangling" that many people for the wedding day.

Well, you have to think about the bridal party as a line item in your budget. Each person needs:

1. flowers - bout/bouquet

2. thank you gift

3. a place for them and their SO/Spouse/FI at your rehearsal dinner.

9 bridesmaids means 9 bouquets, 9 thank you gifts, and 18 seats at your RD. That doesn't include your FI's side and family members. Does that fit into your budget?

Seems like a lot. Plus you don't want half the wedding up at the altar and no one in the audience.

9 is a lot, but it's definitely been done. I wouldn't make any bridal party decisions until you're less than a year out. A lot can change in a year.

People would side eye the fact that someone has more friends than they do? Seriously?

I had six bridesmaids, but could GAF if someone happens to be more social and therefore closer with more people.

Sad.

With the cost of BEING a BM soaring all the time (clothing, multiple parties, travel, bachelorette weekends) you can really show your best friends how much you love them by not having a BP.