I am only having 3 BMs....

abarlow12

I feel like 3 isn't enough, but I don't want to ask a friend I am not that close to. Am I being crazy?

lharri12

yes, you're being crazy. 3 is enough.

trix1223

Yes.  Don't ask someone you don't really know or care about to have an extra body.  That's just goofy.  3 BMs is just fine.

ETA:  If this is a subsequent post to the one below, and you're thinking of adding an acquaintance because you have 3 BM and 4 GM, that's just an awful idea.

WPs are NOT about symmetry, and I think that inviting someone you're not particularly close to so that you have "even" sides is simply not going to turn out well at all.  What's more important to you~symmetrical photos, and having someone you're not close to stand in the front while you exchange vows or having only your closest friends stand with you?  Wouldn't even be a contest for me.

[Deleted User]

3 is plenty. Remember the more you have, the more expensive the gifts will cost you etc. Leave it as is.

Beverly8

3 is just fine! dont worry about the number of your bridal party, its about how important these girls are to you, and that they are there for you throughout your planning and your big day! I only have 4 bridesmaids and I think thats just fine.  I wouldnt ask someone to just make a higher number or be a filler.

Good Luck

aerinpegadrak

Why do you feel like three isn't enough?

abarlow12

I guess I feel that 3 isn't enough because you see a lot of bridal parties these days where the wedding party consists of every single person the bride and groom knows. I don't have a big family, neither does my fiance and I don't have many friends that I'm particularly close to (only 1). So, I am having my best friend, cousin and future sister-in-law. (I'm also having a younger cousin as a junior BM)..

mysticl

I used to think that you had 3 BM, like it was a rule or something because every wedding I went to had 3 BM until about 10 years ago. 

jagore08

3 is a great number.  Go with it.

bablingbrooke

Please don't put style over substance.  You'll regret it.  Big WPs are rarely a good idea, and if you hang around both this board and WP, you'll see countless posts from brides who asked every sorority sister the night they got engaged and then six months later realize they don't want 15 BMs but now can't do anything about it without hurting feelings.  

FWIW, I've never been in a WP that had more than four on each side.  I only asked three friends to be my BMs (plus my sister) and my DH had only three GM, including his brother.  None of us felt that it wasn't "enough."

quotequeen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_am-only-having-3-bms?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:f0133da6-ffdf-4cf9-8773-7df912d5c068Post:04d01409-d7b2-4ef5-bd78-31d923264926">Re: I am only having 3 BMs....</a>:
[QUOTE]I guess I feel that 3 isn't enough because you see a lot of bridal parties these days where the wedding party consists of every single person the bride and groom knows. I don't have a big family, neither does my fiance and I don't have many friends that I'm particularly close to (only 1). So, I am having my best friend, cousin and future sister-in-law. (I'm also having a younger cousin as a junior BM)..
Posted by abarlow12[/QUOTE]

1) These huge WPs look pretty ridiculous.  Some people need to be guests.
2) You actually have 4, since there is no real difference between a BM and a JBM.

Lauriac

I'm having 3 and sometimes I wonder if 3 is too many! I often feel like FI and I should have just had a BM and MOH.

meganyani

I have three. originally it was going to be 1 or 2 but ehh why not. Fi wanted like 5 dudes I think, haha.

artbyallie

Hire a model if you're going for quantity over quality.

tpender13

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_am-only-having-3-bms?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:357Discussion:f0133da6-ffdf-4cf9-8773-7df912d5c068Post:06165f0f-78f6-4b74-939b-db79527dc475">Re: I am only having 3 BMs....</a>:
[QUOTE]Hire a model if you're going for quantity over quality.
Posted by artbyallie[/QUOTE]

This made me LOL!

But seriously, it's not a big deal. FI and I are only having a MOH and best man.

aerinpegadrak

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_am-only-having-3-bms?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:f0133da6-ffdf-4cf9-8773-7df912d5c068Post:06165f0f-78f6-4b74-939b-db79527dc475">Re: I am only having 3 BMs....</a>:
[QUOTE]Hire a model if you're going for quantity over quality.
Posted by artbyallie[/QUOTE]
Especially since most of the "big weddings" you've seen in magazines or movies are filled out by models/actors.

mkrupar

I'm gonna be honest, I work in the industry, and whenever we see huge wedding parties, we always say WHY? There's no way those 16 girls are all the closest people to you. It gets to the point where the BP ends up being half the guest list. 3 BMs is fine. I think you'll find it'll be easier for you in the long run.

zitiqueen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_am-only-having-3-bms?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:357Discussion:f0133da6-ffdf-4cf9-8773-7df912d5c068Post:04d01409-d7b2-4ef5-bd78-31d923264926">Re: I am only having 3 BMs....</a>:
[QUOTE]I guess I feel that 3 isn't enough because you see a lot of bridal parties these days where the wedding party consists of every single person the bride and groom knows. I don't have a big family, neither does my fiance and I don't have many friends that I'm particularly close to (only 1). So, I am having my best friend, cousin and future sister-in-law. (I'm also having a younger cousin as a junior BM)..
Posted by abarlow12[/QUOTE]

We didn't have a bridal party at all and we're just as married as those who had their 16 BFFs standing up there with them. IMO and YMMV, big wedding parties look ridiculous.

~moonshine~

"I guess I feel that 3 isn't enough because you see a lot of bridal parties these days where the wedding party consists of every single person the bride and groom knows. I don't have a big family, neither does my fiance and I don't have many friends that I'm particularly close to (only 1). So, I am having my best friend, cousin and future sister-in-law. (I'm also having a younger cousin as a junior BM).. "


I'm only having 2 bridesmaids, and my maid of honour! I think weddings with extremly large wedding parties are a bit silly. Ive been told by photographers that it's more hectic, and they use more of the valuable time trying to organize the wedding party, when that time could be spent for more intimate pictures!

Iluvev85

I've only got 2 bridesmaid and my MOH so its definitely fine to have only 3. The last wedding I went to there was only a MOH and BM.

gracenamwandi

I had three bridesmaids, 3 junior bridesmaids and three flower girls.
I think you can have as many or as few bridesmaids as you want.
I chose only friends I'm close to. My mum wanted me to have six to eight bridesmaids but I didn't see the point. I wanted to have only people I cared about around me.
No, you are definitely not crazy.

swissarmymelody

You will be thankful for only having 3 BMs on your wedding day. There will be less people to take care of and less of a chance for someone being late. Don't go by what you read or see in wedding magazine, just choose those who are close to you and will stand by you when you get married.

amberhanson

I only have three also-my sister who is the MOH and my 2 best friends since forever. It's about the people who are closest to you! Three is great...