Choosing your bridal party is no small feat. After all, these people will be standing by your side as you plan your event and say your vows on the big day. But choosing how many bridesmaids you should have can be overwhelming for brides afraid of offending anyone, so we’ve come up with some important questions to ponder before you start asking anyone to be your bridesmaid.
What type of wedding is it?
If you’re going the traditional route, then etiquette states that if you’re having a formal wedding, you can have up to 12 bridesmaids. A semiformal wedding would have up to six, while a more casual affair calls for just a maid/matron of honor and best man.
How much stress will it cause?
The general rule of thumb is that the more bridesmaids you have in your wedding, the more stress you’ll be dealing with leading up to the big day. You’ll have to deal with any personal rifts between the ladies, who wants to wear which dress, who can afford what--you get the idea! If you’re worried about this, then it’s safer to keep your bridal party on the small side.
Are you really close to this person?
There is sometimes an obligation to ask certain people to be a bridesmaid. Your brother’s wife, your college roommate, your favorite coworker--you get the idea. But unless you feel super close with these people, you shouldn’t feel obligated to have them in the bridal party. Instead, find other ways to make them a part of the day, such as a reading during the ceremony, making a toast or being in charge of the guestbook.
What does my fiance think?
If you want to have 20 maids, but your groom only wants to ask three of his buddies to be groomsmen, that is going to look really weird in photos. While you don’t have to match the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen, you should try to keep it as close as possible.
