Bonanza of Bridesmaids - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

Mary2008Weds · #1 10-17-2007, 08:25 PM

Ok before the list gets out fo controll, just how many bridesmaids is normal. I just dont want it to seem like too many.

Julz518 · #2 10-17-2007, 08:37 PM

I've been to weddings that had anywhere from 1 to 13. I woudl say that 3 to 5 (including the MOH) is the average. But really, it's totally up to you.

Things to keep in mind:
1) They should be people who will support your marriage and will be honored to stand up with you on your wedding day
2) Are they reliable enough to be a bridesmaid? I think everyone has one of these friends... save yourself the headache and make her an usher or guest book attendant instead.
3) Do they have the financial means to be a bridesmaid? (money for a dress/shoes, travel, showers/parties should they choose to do so) or are you/your parents willing to help them out?

Has your FH picked his groomsmen yet? You DON'T have to have equal numbers, but it would be a good starting point. You can also have more than one MOH if you would like, as well as Junior Bridesmaids.

ETA: Also, someone once told me that you should each have one attendant for every 50 guests expected at the wedding (e.g. for 250 guests I have 5 BMs... though it wasn't planned that way).

maroki13 · #3 10-17-2007, 08:57 PM

I don't think there is a rule about how many bridesmaids you can/should have...

We had about 100 guests and I had 3 bridesmaids, while DH had 4 groomsmen....we didn't have equal numbers but it still worked out very nicely.

NovemberGal · #4 10-17-2007, 09:02 PM

Julz pretty much summed it up. The way I’ve heard the 50 guest guideline, though, is one usher to every 50 guests (these can be groomsmen/ushers or just ushers). The main thing is that you don’t want your wedding party to be out of proportion to the size of your guest list—if you have an intimate ceremony with 30 guests, you don’t want 10 bridesmaids.

DH and I each had four adult attendants (2 MOHs, 2 best men, 2 BMs, and 2 groomsmen), plus I had DH’s three nieces as junior maids. That was on the large side for what I’ve usually seen, but I really wanted his nieces included. We had about 150 guests.

SerendipityCrafts · #5 10-17-2007, 09:25 PM

My only thought on the matter is that the more girls that you have, the more personalities & opinions you will have to deal with. Don't even think of asking a drama queen to be in your BP

LOL re: the title of this thread

Montanabride · #6 10-17-2007, 09:39 PM

We had 4 Bridesmaids including my MOH. And he had 4 Groomsmen including his bestman. We had about 100 guest maybe a little less.

But honeslty it is up to. If you feel you can handle alot, then go for it! But remeber they all have to be willing to support you and do what they can for you.

Marksbride · #7 10-17-2007, 10:30 PM

We had 175 guests and 4 bms and gms

m_t_rose · #8 10-18-2007, 02:42 AM

You have to keep in mind that although BM can be very helpful they can also be a headache. The more BM's you have the more problems you will have. (not for everyone) but at least one thing will go wrong

NovemberGal · #9 10-18-2007, 03:10 AM

I actually had no problems with my bridesmaids at all, but I didn't really ask them to do anything. But many women here and elsewhere can certainly give you bridesmaidzilla stories!!

Heather · #10 10-18-2007, 03:23 PM

We had a big wedding - 7 on each side, plus the FG and RB. I didn't have any headaches, just one BM that I shouldn't have asked.

Mary2008Weds · #11 10-18-2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SerendipityCrafts

My only thought on the matter is that the more girls that you have, the more personalities & opinions you will have to deal with. Don't even think of asking a drama queen to be in your BP

LOL re: the title of this thread

Yeah I was thinking that too. So far so good. I have asked 3 and FH has asked 4 he is flying up to NY to ask 2 more. Then he said he will ask more as I get more. It just seems so easy for the guys, a tux some good words and your done. Oh no thats not true I remember one of the guys saying he is no way wearing tux pants. He wanted blue jeans. WTF

Kim&Bob2004 · #12 10-19-2007, 12:07 AM

I had 2 Bm's, a MOH and a Sir of Honor, Bob had 2 groomsmen and a bestman. I had no problems with my bridesmaid except for one that refused to wear the plaid skirts, she wanted to wear some grunge type outfit and I got like a birdezilla over it and said NO WAY. She wasn't in the wedding after all, which was fine, she was a family friends daughter, another friend about 5-6 weeks before the wedding stepped in.

Mary2008Weds · #13 10-19-2007, 02:57 AM

I just hear so many horror stories over bridesmaids that I pray I dont encounter any. I know I am sure to but I am thinking positive here. I want to have a mix of not only my close gals but also some of the family girls as well to encorperat them in the wedding. Would be a start of mixing the family.

Becka01 · #14 10-21-2007, 02:31 AM

I'm having my sister be my Matron of Honor, no bridesmaids- and I'm loving it! So many headaches have been avoided just having one attendant. Its so easy with just my sister- we're having a seamstress make her dress so it fits exactly and is so flattering. She's my closest friend, second only to my Mom. It also eliminates the tippy-toeing around in order to maintain a friendship. I'm able to tell her that so help me god I will kill her if her hair is her current shade of orange on my wedding day. Its great!

Do not feel like you have to have someone in your wedding. Someone told me that she didn't understand why I would have my adopted sister stand up with me, and not one of my biological sisters.

It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, this is your wedding and you do what feels right for you!