How Many Bridesmaids Should You Have?

Asking your favourite people to be your bridesmaids is one of the best parts of getting married. Picking your bridesmaids is a great way to show those closest to you just how important they are by honouring them on your big day. But how many bridesmaids should you have at your wedding? And how on earth do you go about making such a big decision?

Before we dive into the ins and outs of how many bridesmaids you should have on your big day, we want to highlight the most important thing. Your wedding day is all about you and your partner. While the occasion presents an opportunity to include those closest to you, the main thing when it comes to planning your wedding is to focus on what you want as a couple. We want to say this because, for some, pleasing everyone can feel like an impossible task - and it often is. So, instead of focusing on what others want, make sure to always keep in mind what you and your partner want from the big day and work everything around how you achieve that.

Now, on with the answer to the question…

How Many Bridesmaids Should I Have?

The great thing about weddings is there are no hard and fast rules. While many brides favour traditions, others prefer to do their own thing and blaze their own trail. That also means there is no concrete answer to this question. Instead, you should pick as many bridesmaids as you like to celebrate your big day with!

That being said, there are a few things you should take into consideration before popping the question to your nearest and dearest. We’ll cover a few of these below.

What’s Your Budget?

While you might initially think you want lots of bridesmaids at your wedding, take a moment to think about your budget. Traditionally, the marrying couple will foot the bill for the bridesmaid dresses, shoes, accessories, hair styling and make up. All of these costs can quickly add up, particularly when you’re working with a large bridal party.

How many bridesmaids you choose might, therefore, depend on your budget and how much of it you can spend on your bridesmaids. There are also other costs to take into account such as transport to and from the venue, accommodation, meals, drinks and bridesmaid gifts.

It is often the budget that dictates how many bridesmaids and groomsmen a couple choose, which leads to the average size of the bridal party being made up of a maid of honour, two bridesmaids and one or two flower girls. But, really, it's up to you!

How Big Is Your Venue?

The size and capacity of your venue will dictate the size of your guest list and your bridal party. In traditional wedding ceremonies, bridesmaids walk down the aisle before the bride and are seated in the front row or near the front. This is particularly important if you need help lifting your wedding veil, arranging the train of your dress, or handling off your bouquet.

As well as the size and capacity of the venue, consider the shape of the ceremony room. How much space is there for your bridesmaids and will they all be able to sit down comfortably without being crowded in? Can they reach you without climbing over other guests to assist you when you need it? All of these factors will have a direct impact on the size of your wedding party.

Odd Or Even Number?

Another question to consider is whether you should opt for an odd or even number of bridesmaids. The only reason we mention this is for your wedding photographs. Having an even number of bridesmaids in your party will make achieving symmetry in your wedding photographs easier.

That being said, this shouldn’t be a deal breaker if you really want to include someone in your bridal party. Many photographers will be able to come up with creative ways to create a balanced look in your wedding photographs regardless of how many bridesmaids you have.

Can You Have Too Many Bridesmaids?

Did you know that the world record for the most bridesmaid to one bride is 168?

With that in mind, no. We don’t think you can have too many bridesmaids. However, you should probably take into account how much you want to spend, the size of the venue, and (most importantly) what you and your partner want.

In a similar vein, you might choose to have no bridesmaids at all. And that’s fine too! What is key when it comes to wedding planning is doing what is right for you and doing your best not to bow to outside pressure if it arises. As they say, the people who matter don’t mind and the people who mind don’t matter!

When you do decide on your bridesmaids and bridal party, make Lace & Favour your first port of call for all things related to bridesmaid fashion. We stock a wide range of affordable and fashion-forward bridesmaid dresses, shoes, hair accessories, jewellery and much more to help you adorn your maids in style ahead of your big day!