***Poll - How many bridesmaids will you be having?***

In the process of choosing, and still struggling! Have my sister-in-law-to-be, and three of my closest friends so far... One of the hardest decisions to make i think.

Plus, didn't help when an old friend (definitely not bridesmaid material though) answered by statement of 'I'm engaged!' with 'OMG, I cannot wait to be your bridesmaid! So excited!' Not joking, deadly serious. Awkward doesn't begin to cover it! :/

I have three sisters, job done!

Got my sister as MOH.... She's making my cake too, is very arty and great for bouncing ideas off! Got one of my step daughters as BM (the other is very self conscious so preferred a more background role.... She will be honorary usher :0) my 4 yr old daughter as flowergirl (then son as usher, eldest daughter as assistant TOG and 5yr old nephew as PB) I have stepsisters who live all over the place and my best friend lives quite a way away, so there was no question for me on who I would have. Plus, my sister is very honest with her opinions and advice.... Good choice! :0)

I'm an only child so no sisters to choose from so I'm having my best friend of 23 years to do the job. I'm only having her as my other friends are part of groups, which would mean that I have to have all of them or none of them. I have been a bridesmaid when I've had to pay for things and although I didn't really mind, I don't want my bridesmaid to have to pay for anything so therefore, I can't really afford more than one! neither do I need more than one, my bridesmaid is a bridesmaid extraordinaire! I think we could make money hiring her out! She's so ridiculously fabulous!

I'm having 3. I have 2 sisters so I'm having those, the oldest is to be my MOH, plus my oldest niece, who is the MOH's oldest child and is the same age as my other sister. I live hundreds of miles from them but they've been great at looking for dresses and are excited to be involved in everything. Closer to the day they'll be helping loads as the venue is closer to them than me.

I know I may have upset a mate or two by not asking them but I really wanted to have my family as bridesmaids since I live so far away from them and miss them so it just felt right for me.

I don't envy the people who have voted 5 or more in the poll as the costs really add up! When you factor in dresses, shoes, accessories, hair, gifts etc each bridesmaid costs a fortune! Lol

I asked my two sisters. They would help me out with the wedding even if they weren't bridesmaids.

I have just chosen 2 - my best friend and sister. My sister in law was hinting a little and although she and the family are absolutely lovely I just wanted two bridesmaids and two people who know me so well and I am close to. I hope she isn't disappointed. I chose my sister because for the last few years and particularly since H2B and I got together she has been very supportive, I think she will be a good, calming sensible influence. My best friend is very on my wavelength, we have such a laugh together and have been friends for almost 20 years, never let's me down and is amazing at negotiating things on a night out, she always gets on guest lists and gets freebies thrown in.

I'm having 2. I did consider having 3, but the 3rd one has responded to our engagement in a really negative way and announced that she probably wouldn't even be able to get a day off work (in 18 months time..!) and that we'd rushed into booking it. So i'm having my sister and best friend, who are both really excited and I know I can rely on them both. OH is having BM and 3 ushers, so it'll be a bit unbalanced but I'd rather have a calming influence than someone acting in a jealous manner, stressing me out like she has since our engagement!

I am having 3! My younger sister (my only sibling), one best friend who I've known for 22/23 years now and another best friend I've known for 8.5 years. These are the 3 girls I automatically go to if I need a girl chat! I'm debating whether to have a 4th but she lives in Canada and I don't know if she'd be able to afford the flight over anyways and I don't have the money to be able to fly her over =/

6! 4 bug, 2 little. Easy to pick them: 3 sisters and a best friend then OH's nieces (rather than his sis & 2 SILs!) I didn't doubt it for a min

3 - MOH and my 2 daughters then 3 flowergirls

2nd time around for me so I have chosen my 2 grown up girls. Very happy with my choice but wondering if I should invite them to the Hen do!

I've also got three sisters, so my decision was sort of made for me. It would of felt odd not having them as bridesmaids. I'm the eldest of the four of us, so the 2nd one is going to be maid of honour, she is only 18 mths younger than me so we were at school/ guides/ work together so that seems right. I am having to stretch to four though as I couldnt imagine not having my oldest friend as a bridesmaid either. I've found other key things for the friends who I would of picked for bridesmiad had I not so many siblings including doing readings, being a witness etc.

I'm having 3. They are all friends.

I will be having 4 moh best friend, cousin aged 12, step daughter age 7 and moh daughter aged 5

I have asked my mum to be MoH and my little cousin as flower girl. We are having a small ceremony and didn't want a big bridal party. Although it was awkward when my best friend from school (who I haven't seen in 8 years and only speak to now on FB), assumed she would be a BM...

Were having 5...my sister is MOH, my sis in law to be, both of their daughters and my best friend..! 4big and one little although there may be another one to add as my sis in law to be is pregnant with her 2nd child!! eeeeek!

i take my girls everywhere with me and have all been there throughout endless trying on of dresses. I love them all tons!

Only one for me - my daughter (who will be 10 by the time we marry!)

Tash xx

My eldest sister, my 2 best friends and my 5 yrs old daughter but she will be just 7 when I get married. My sister is pregnant and due next month if it s a girl then she will be flower girl. I hope my 2 best friend will be ok with each other as they both not see each other very often.

Easy, just my 2 daughters, they will be 3 and 6.x

4 - My younger sister was always going to be one.

Then my 3 best friends from uni. I really wanted them but wasn't sure I could afford it. Now I have two of the dresses I know I can afford them all so really happy about that! I wouldn't have been able to chose out of the 3 so it was 1 or 4 for me.

2 adult bridesmaids, one is my sister and the other is my best friend. 2 Children (4 and 2.5yrs) My goddaughter and my neice. Four bridesmaid in total. My Best mate was the perfect choice, she is doing so much for me including organising a hen weekend that I know will be fab!

3 Bridesmaids (2 sisters and one best friend)

3 flowergirls (3 nieces)

I'm having my sister, best friend and my niece (who will be 2) as a flower girl

Hi, hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes by highjacking this post, but I'm newly engaged and am already having a bit of a dilemma about the bridesmaid thing! I have 2 best friends, who, if I was to have bridesmaids, I would choose, no question. However, we only have a small budget to work with, and will be having a reasonably small wedding, so I am seriously considering not having bridesmaids at all. I was wondering what people thought about this?

I always thought I'd practice what I have preached to friends who have planned weddings - that it's their day and it's totally up to them what they do - but I am a bit apprehensive about upsetting my mates by not asking them to be bridesmaids. Also, I know I will have to ask one of them to be a witness/maid of honour, but not sure who to choose! I'm pretty sure one would be less upset than the other, but surely that shouldn't be the basis for a decision.

Any advice much appreciated!

I think you firstly have to be realistic, we don’t have a big budget and i considered cutting bridesmaids as it would free up some cash but i just couldn’t imagine not having any and when i did i knew it wasn’t what i wanted.

It wasn’t so much about upsetting them it was more about me not having my girls standing with me. I wondered if i would always regret it.

If you wont and you can do it without them then i would go for it.

Personally i have 3 adult bridesmaids – i have set a budget for £50 each for their dresses, they all know this and they have been looking on Ebay for used Coast dresses, which i think is great of them.

They have agreed to buy their own shoes and bags. As for flowers I am going artificial, found the most amazing shop that was doing bouquets for £4.99 – they look fab!

I then have 3 little ones ... all my nieces and couldn’t exclude them or pick between. For them i have seen their dresses in TK Maxx - £16.99 each! Shoes i will be getting in the summer sales. Their flowers were £1.99 but i have paid a bit extra for ribbon to spruce them up.

I know that is still a big chunk out the budget but could you maybe get them to pay towards the dresses? Look on places like Ebay? TK Maxx?

Maybe shop around and see what is out there then decide.

Good Luck!!!!

It's all about family politics and keeping everyone happy huh. I like the idea of 2 but then when you think about it...that's a couple of friends and then you move into the family and young nieces and cousins....thats a lot of shoes to buy

I will have 5 bridesmaids/giving me away maids, aged between 9 and 16. No adults to guve me support, but we are a close family and I know it will be fine.

Wanted 2 but having 3 so my other halfs sister can be bridesmaid.

It started with two but now its 5!! Final answer lol, I didnt want to dissapoint anyone and ive seen some lovely bhs dresses for the little ones ;-)

I'm having my 3 nieces, my sister as MOH and my closest friend

I'm having 3... My 2 Sister In Laws to be and 1 friend who has been there through evrything, including losing my Dad 4 years ago.

I did originally want 4 but the other girl has 2 youg kiddies and it's not really fair to ask her to give up so much time beforehand and during so she will be one of our witnesses instead.