Too Many Friends for a Small Wedding Party?

nmpaige

I've been blessed with really close friendships.  If I were not concerned with the numbers, I would have a total of eight bridesmaids.  However, my fiance and I would prefer a small wedding party of just two attendants each.  I've selected my Maid and Matron of Honors....that's my two.  Still, I cannot visualize my wedding day without honoring my other six really close girlfriends.   Any suggestions on how I might incorporate these ladies into the ceremony without calling them bridesmaids?  Inviting them to be hostesses is not an ideal option.  I want to honor them...not make them work. Creative and thoughtful ideas welcome. :-) Thanks so much!     

baystateapple

Honestly, if they're not bridesmaids, they just want to be guests.  Don't give them any other "duties" because those aren't honors, they're jobs.  Just invite them and let them enjoy the party.

bablingbrooke

If they're not in the WP, have them come as guests.  It makes no sense to have a small WP and then a large quasi-WP.  People don't want to be pseudo-BMs.  Trust me, they'll be happy as guests.  I always am.

aerinpegadrak

If you want to honor them, take them all out to lunch or a movie or something before (or even after) the wedding and let them know how much they mean to you. 

TheCranberry

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_many-friends-small-wedding-party?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:a9207b46-8b78-46b8-9ed4-3d42dc5cb7d9Post:69ad9cba-c29b-484c-9e05-ad2702415235">Re: Too Many Friends for a Small Wedding Party?</a>:
[QUOTE]If you want to honor them, take them all out to lunch or a movie or something before (or even after) the wedding and let them know how much they mean to you. 
Posted by aerinpegadrak[/QUOTE]

I agree with this. 

If you still want them to stand out at the wedding or do something special for them, maybe give them a corsage if you think they would like that.  For practical reasons it may be a PITA for them since they'd either have to pin it to their outfit or wear it on their wrist which could be annoying.

zitiqueen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_many-friends-small-wedding-party?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:37Discussion:a9207b46-8b78-46b8-9ed4-3d42dc5cb7d9Post:1235b4a6-7310-48f7-8080-175fa89000ca">Too Many Friends for a Small Wedding Party?</a>:
[QUOTE]I've been blessed with really close friendships.  If I were not concerned with the numbers, I would have a total of eight bridesmaids.  However, my fiance and I would prefer a small wedding party of just two attendants each.  I've selected my Maid and Matron of Honors....that's my two.  Still, I cannot visualize my wedding day without honoring my other six really close girlfriends.   Any suggestions on how I might incorporate these ladies into the ceremony without calling them bridesmaids?  Inviting them to be hostesses is not an ideal option.  I want to honor them...not make them work. Creative and thoughtful ideas welcome. :-) Thanks so much!     
Posted by nmpaige[/QUOTE]

trix1223

Guest.  Anything else is just a pity position, and everyone knows it.  There isn't a single person that I know who would be truly honored to be a cake cutter, guest book attendant, hostess, gift table attendant, punch pourer,  "honorary" bridesmaid, or personal attendant. 

Oh-if you ask them to do one of the above "honors", they'll say yes because they love you and don't want to hurt your feelings by laughing at you.  But they'll talk behind your back about it.

ehathewa

Doing a reading isn't a pity role... but it sounds like you have too many for that... so guest sounds good to me.