Including siblings in wedding party...

llross13186

I have 5 sisters and 1 brother, all much younger.  I originally wanted to have just 5 bridesmaids.  My 2 best friends, 2 of my cousins who are like my sisters, and the same age as me, and another good friend.  I want to include all my siblings, but I find it odd to have 10 bridesmaids, especially since they're all under 18 and would not be able to afford to pay for the things that members of a bridal party are expected to pay for.  How do I include them without ruffling feathers and making them feel left out?

lilacck28

llross13186 said:

I have 5 sisters and 1 brother, all much younger.  I originally wanted to have just 5 bridesmaids.  My 2 best friends, 2 of my cousins who are like my sisters, and the same age as me, and another good friend.  I want to include all my siblings, but I find it odd to have 10 bridesmaids, especially since they're all under 18 and would not be able to afford to pay for the things that members of a bridal party are expected to pay for.  How do I include them without ruffling feathers and making them feel left out?

Do you mean, the ones under 18 won't be able to afford to pay for a dress? Because that's all they are required to pay for as a bridesmaid. Showers, bachelorette parties, decorations, hair and makeup, etc. are all optional. If you are worried about burdening your mom/ dad/ guardians/whomever with that cost, ask them before you ask your sisters. 

lilacck28

oh! and how to include someone within your wedding without making them a bridesmaid: take them out for a sister brunch, make them readers during the ceremony, and/or invite them to get dressed with you before the ceremony. You could also give them each a little bouquet or corsage to honor them. 

JaxInBlue

I agree with @lilacck28 on all counts.  The only cost that your sisters would face would be the dress, and even then there are ways to make that a low cost, such as giving everyone a color and having them pick their own.  So if cost is your concern, it might be wise to talk to not only your sisters but your parents and see how big an obstacle it may actually be. 

Don't factor in things like shower, bachelorette, hair, make-up, shoes, jewelry, as bridesmaids are not obligated to financially contribute to or purchase those items themselves.

And to include them, in addition to lilacck's suggestions, if any of your sisters are musical they could be soloist or if you are having a religious ceremony that asks for people to fill other roles, such as the presentation of the gifts during a Catholic Mass Liturgy of the Eucharist, your sisters could participate there.