Inviting friends to be in your bridal party is exciting and sometimes tricky. Which friends do you want? How many? Are some friends expecting to be asked? Who is totally X’d? Should you have your fiancé’s cousin? Question after question after question.

Here are three rules to asking the right people:

Don’t ask someone just because you were in their wedding. Just because you were in theirs doesn’t mean they have to be in yours. If your goal is to have no more than five bridesmaids and the slots are taken up by sisters, cousins or lifelong pals, don’t sweat it. She’ll still be invited. She just won’t be standing up there with you. NO biggie.

Do ask the people who make you feel good. If you have a Debbie Downer or Negative Nancy in your group of friends, do you really want them to take part in your special day and all the festivities? Pick people who cheer you up and who you value the most as friends. Come bachelorette party and bridal shower, you’ll be happy you went with the fun and nice ones.

Don’t pay attention to bridal party “norms”. Each side of the bridal party usually consists of between two and six people. By all means, if you’re lucky enough to have more friends than that and want to invite them all to be in your wedding, do so. I was just in a wedding with 11 bridesmaids. Let me tell you, because there were so many of us girls, we pulled off a fantastic (and cheaper) bridal shower and bachelorette party. And the reception was ten times more fun with all of us starting the dance party!

Really, there are no rules for how to pick your bridal party. It’s your wedding and you ask who you want, even if your Aunt May suggests inviting all thirteen of your female cousins to be in your ceremony. It’s your decision – not anyone else’s

- Stephanie

Tags: bridal party, bridal shower, bridesmaid, fiance, wedding

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 at 11:41 am and is filed under Behind the Scenes.