I am only having two bridesmaids: my sister and my best friend. I agonized over this decision for a bit, thinking that my “side” would look lonely and that it would look weird to have three times as many guys in the wedding party as girls. (I have three brothers, so our wedding party is overloaded with males.) Plus, think of how fun dress shopping would be for five or six girls!
Photo by Michele M. Waite Photography
Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Shannen Norman Photography / Event by Save the Date Events
Photo by We Heart Photography
The perfectly mismatched-but-coordinated dresses would look a bit odd with only two girls.
I have several other lady friends I could have picked to fill things out a bit. In the end, I decided that I didn’t want to pick people for the sole purpose of taking up space. I love my friends, and while I’m sure we will find other ways to include them at our wedding, I wanted to keep the wedding party small. Things are logistically difficult when your wedding party looks like this:
Image via Look at Vietnam
Plus, I don’t want our kids to look through our wedding album and wonder who the people standing at the altar with Mommy and Daddy are.
I know I’ll have a lot of fun with my two beautiful ladies on my wedding day and that I’ll have all the love from them that I could ever want. Plus, these ladies look pretty happy with their perfect pair of bridesmaids.
Photo from Mrs. Teaspoon’s wedding by MM Photos
Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Veil and Bow / Event by Salt Harbor Designs
Image via Style Me Pretty / Photo by Lachance Photo
Did you have a small number of bridesmaids? Did you ever regret not asking more people to stand up with you?
I had 2 bridesmaids and was so glad of that!! We didnt have to get up at 6 AM to start getting everyones hair and makeup done, it was easier getting dresses that only had to work on 2 people, getting ready there was just the 3 of us (plus hair and makeup) and it was so chilled out without a whole bunch of people crammed in there stressing me out!! Plus same concerns about having more people ‘just beacuse’…these girls really care about me and were so happy to be part of the wedding that I didnt feel that I missed out on anything by having a smaller wedding party.
I’ve got 3 for sure…he’s got 5. I thought about adding his sister to my side…but we’re not close, and it would make it more awkward that I’m also not planning to ask my brother and his wife who I’m not close with. I’ve made a list of other possible friends and went through thinking about who I have the most history and meaningful relationships with, and who would be the most reliable and fun… Unfortunatly that’s exactly how it divides up. (the people I’m “closest” to are the least reliable most dramatic ones…and my newer friends would be much better at keeping it light and organized – very tempting, but a guilty thought).
I admire your fortitude in sticking to the smaller number…perhaps I should do the same.
I have three and honestly, somtimes i wish i had none….#coordinating nightmares#
Exactly! Very well written post! I’m having my sister, he’s having his son. Easy to plan and coordinate! 
Sounds like you chose the perfect number for you. We have three bridesmaids and three groomsmen and I can’t imagine it any other way.
I only have 3 bridesmaids. My best friend as my MOH, my sister and my FSIL (my Fi’s sister) I love it! Less stress, less dress shopping, plus we get to do everything together! I couldn’t imagine it any other way!
My wedding party is also a touch guy heavy, we have 3 bridesmaids and 5 groomsmen + 1 junior bridesmaid.
I actually think a smaller bridal party makes thins easier. And dress shopping for a large group of girls is not very fun 
Especially with opinionated ladies!
I am getting married in 4 days and I only have 2 bridesmaids my only sister and his only sister. I did it for 2 reasons,# 1. it was either 2 bridesmaids or 8. Out of all of my close friends 8 is the amount I would have to include without someone feeling left out. If I just did family I could have 2 BMs and none of my friends could be hurt. #2. a big bridal party is even more stress on me, I have to worry about everyone finding a dress, paying for a dress,worrying about everyone getting everywhere on time, having 8 girls getting their hair and make up done, BM bouquets x2, wedding party gifts x2…on and on.
Anyway, I can say with my wedding so close I am so glad I picked 2, it has been pretty easy dealing with everything for them, and I actually found out that some of my friends were relieved to not be asked because of all the added expenses. Everything will be wonderful for you, I just know it!
2 – Lucky you! I have five – Five… Five dresses to find on Five different ladies – I have some fabulous friends I have some wonderful people in my life so it sucks to say I wish I could have only had two or three – but I have Five, five wonderful women standing up with me and even more that will be hugging me after the I do’s
Lucky you – you have Two
I only have a MOH and FI has a Best man..both our BFFs for years. We were going to each have our siblings (my sis his bro) but since neither of us are that close to our siblings and they are both not financially stable it would have been more of a headache than enjoyment. It is so much easier for me to get up with the 2 of them rather than 4-8 people. Also made BM dress shopping way easy..pretty much here’s the color and length I like and the rest was up to her so my MOH got a dress she loves and didn’t have to compromise with anyone else.
I’m having 1 bridesmaid and a man of honor, my FI is having one groomsman and a best man. My brother is my man of honor, and honestly- he’ll probably spend most of the time with the guys anyway. I’m so glad I only have one BM, and that she’ll get to have her pick of what she’s wearing
We’re only having one each. Makes things easier all around. And cheaper 
I too love the pictures you posted, but when I think about it, we can have something similar with our families (I’m one of 6 he’s one of 5).
We decided to have a family only bridal party, and I left the numbers up to him. I have three brothers and no sisters, and he has two brothers. I told him that if he only wants to have his brothers as groomsmen, then I would ask two of my female cousins. But, if he wanted to include my brothers, then I would ask another cousin, his cousin who he is extremely close to, and his sister in law. While I would have been happy with either option, I’m glad he picked the second so that my brothers could be included in his side and so some girls that he is close with could be included on mine. It works out well for me since I basically have no girl friends, haha…
My MOH had just two ladies (I was one of them), and it was so nice to just have the three of us, definitely made pictures and dress searching easier
I have three. It’s a great number for me. My sister and closest friends without having a parade.
I’ve also felt the strain of ‘keeping it even’. I have two best girl friends and his sister, while he’s in a fraternity and originally wanted to have 7! We’ve decided on a number around 5. I’m not going to ask anyone just to fill the numbers, but i AM hoping two of my outlying friends step up and into the positions in the next year. Two sounds perfectly fine!
If we didn’t do the whole shebang I would have had just one attendant and been okay with it — I wanted to have my flock of ladies, though, and fought for it! It’s a bit more logistically challenging, so I can see how that would be a nice change, if you only had to “manage” two people.
Im in the same boat. It feels great to hear all the encouraging “pros” of having a smaller bridal party.
Congrats
I am also having a smaller side of 3 people with my sister and his two sisters whereas there will be 5 groomsmen (none of whom are related to us). I would like my best friend to stand with me but I didn’t want another person in my bridal party because of the logistics (I don’t live in the same country as any of my bridal party, we couldn’t shop together and coordinating another person in yet another country was too much like hard work), so she’s going to read at our wedding instead. I also thought it might look weird that I have a smaller number, but I much prefer it now.
Mrs. Treasure, Chicago Age and Occupation: 24, Law Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Equity Analyst Engagement Date: July 30, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2012 Venue: Saint James Chapel at Quigley Prep/Murphy Auditorium About Me: I was born and raised in Indiana, but now live in sweet home Chicago. I'm a third-year law student and aspiring trial lawyer, which means Mr. T never wins an argument. Other than Mr. T, I love singing, exploring the Chicago restaurant scene, and Notre Dame football. We met in a musical (just like my parents!) and after 4 years together, we are excited to be planning our urban "destination" wedding.
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