Photo: Courtesy of Lauren Conrad/Martha Stewart Weddings.After William and I got engaged and the wedding planning began, I had a very important decision to make; I needed to choose who would stand up with me while I said, “I do.” For me, choosing my bridesmaids (and then asking them to be in my wedding party) was one of the most fun parts of the planning process. I’m so lucky to have a group of friends that I love dearly, and I wanted each and every one of them up there with me on my big day.
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When it came time to choose my ‘maids, my motto was the more the merrier. I didn’t mind the idea of having a large bridal party — to a point. You don’t want more people standing up than in seats! It really is a personal preference, and I knew that having a bigger bridal party with all of my best friends was the way to go. So, I chose my sister and a bunch of my dearest friends to do me the honor of being my bridesmaids, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.
If you do have a larger bridal party like I do (I had 10 ladies total), there are some logistical things that you’ll have to take into consideration. Is there enough room for everyone to stand up with you? If the answer is no, you don’t necessarily need to cut down your list of bridesmaids, in my opinion. You can simply have them sit in the front row. One lesson I’ve learned about planning a wedding is that the bride and groom should do things however they want. Some rules are meant to be broken, right?
Now, all of your besties might not live in the same state (let alone the same coast as you), but that doesn’t mean that they should be excluded. My advice? Include your far away friends anyway, even if they won’t be able to take part in all the activities. I also think it’s a good idea to take into consideration people who are going to be in your life for a long time, like your partner’s sister(s) or best friends.
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Of course, this is a very personal decision, and every bride has to do what works for her. Remember, this is your wedding day. If you want 15 bridesmaids, go for it. If you only want two, you can do that too. This special day only happens once, and you want to make sure it’s everything you’ve dreamed of.
For all of you brides or brides-to-be, how did you choose your bridal party? Do you have any other advice to add?
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