Is One Bridesmaid Enough?

If you only want one, just have one. I don't think anyone will think it's odd that your H2B has 2 best men and you just have one bridesmaid. I can't remember ever counting best men, ushers or bridesmaids when I've been to weddings before! There's no point asking someone else who you don't really want just for the sake of it is there?

Hiya

I'd agree - i wouldn't be looking at ratio of BMs to guests or best men at a wedding i went too - it is totally your choice x

I had a fairly big wedding, 90 to the day and about 150 at night and i had one BM only. I thought it looked fine and it was special in the morning, just the two of us getting ready

I had a similar sized wedding and only one BM. It was fab.

If it was the other way around - 2 BMs and 1 best man - you wouldn't think anything of it!

I read that the rough guide is one BM to every 50 guests - but I had 3 BMs for 70 guests, my friend had about 40 guests and 5 BMs and a page boy! So what I'm saying is, you should have whoever you want - why have an extra BM who you're not as keen on just to make up numbers??

I and most of the people I know (apart from a couple who had 2 or 3 and one who had 9) have had/are having one bridesmaid and even when it comes to my customers the majority tend to have one adult bridesmaid and then maybe a couple of flowergirls/pageboys. It is really up to you but I wouldn't go finding a bridesmaid on the basis it will look better because in reality it won't as the extra bridesmaid will be a bit of a spare part. If you want two then fine but have them because you want them both.

I'm only having one - my sister

i dont think the number of guests should have any impact on numbers of bridesmaids or best men - maybe on number of ushers tho

i think one is perfect, as too many just requires too much worry about their dresses, hair, make up, where they stand, what they do etc etc.

in my opinion ;-)

keep it simple!!

x

I reckon I'd still be hungry after one bridesmaid.

Thanks everyone - I'll just stick with the one - I'll be much less stressed! Can't really pick between my other friends as could cause upset!

? I am clearly not the only one that thought of this joke!

We''re having 70 to the day and about 90 in the evening so smaller than you but not tiny imho. Like you, my H2B is having 2 best men (brother & best friend) and I'm having one bridesmaid. For me it was much easier. We moved house about 2 years ago so all my closest friends live miles away and are quite spread out across the country. I decided to have just one very close friend as a bridesmaid as trying to coordinate several would be a lot of stress and also I really wanted to have her in particular.

It's been great actually. As there's just one, there have been no difficulties with finding a dress that suits more than one friend and she's been able to have exactly what she wants. Also, money wise it's been easy as bridesmaids can be expensive. So I've been able to treat her to a lovely dress, shoes, handbag, jewellery, nice bouquet, hair, makeup etc. without having worry about the budget as it's just her. In the end I think I've paid about £250 on her. If I'd had to spend that on other bridesmaids as well, I think the costs could have gotten out of hand and we'd have had to skimp on something else. It's been lovely to go shopping with her and pretty much not have to look at the price tags.

My bridesmaid has been a great help putting bits and pieces together and keeping me sane. That's the reason I asked her, as I knew of all my friends she was the one who would keep me sane and keep me laughing even if it gets stressful and true to form, that's exactly what she's done. I can't wait to have her on the day! I think getting ready is going to be an absolute hoot! With the other friends I might have asked if we still lived in the same place, I've asked them to do readings and usher so they're still involved and very pleased to be asked.

My advice - do what you like and bear in mind that bridesmaids are effort and can be costly and do whatever you want and what will help you the most. Your bridesmaid (or maids) should be there to help and support you on your wedding day - so doing something with bridesmaids that is less easy on you is a contradiction in terms!

Pen

I think 1 is fine, better to have the 1 you want than 2 or 3 who you really dont want. I am getting married in 2 weeks with no bridesmaids, but my 4 nieces as flowergirls instead. They are 3, 4 and 5 year old between them. I have 2 sisters but 1 will be 7 months pregnant when i get married so didnt want her to be left out so decided if i couldnt have both i would have none. My wedding is for 191 guests and i dont think it will look odd.

The time you two spend on your own will be all the more special as that is who you really want to be there with you.

Sx

We are having 100 in the day and we are having 4 groomsmen and 4 bridesmaids, but thats what we want. and thats the main thing, you have what you want.

My advice.....ONLY HAVE ONE!

I'm having 4 where as I orig was only going to have one......if I had stuck to my guns I would have avoided:-

4 day long shopping trips where not even a majority verdict was reached.

Many shopping trips to agree on bits and bobs.....8 weeks to go and 1 of the BM,s still cant find the right shoes ( yes need them for alterations).

Still no hen night as no one seems to be taking charge.....think it will be down to me!

Not to mention the extra expense......you only think of the dresses at the time and forget about the shoes, bouquets/bags, headpeice........

Stick to one? wish I had

H x

I only had one adult bridesmaid, was scheduled to have 2 but both dropped out last minute (long story!), so my sister in law stepped in last minute, worked out well as her husband was my husband's best man.

I loved having just one girl, I've been a chief bridesmaid for somebody who had 4 adult girls and it was pure chaos (badly organised bride to be honest, she was later to be one of mine who dropped out).

I had two younger girls who looked stunning and enjoyed having a part in our day!

To answer your question, it would not look weird. In fact I think it would look quite nice for a change and would be very personal to you and your groom!

Claire xx

Thanks everyone for all your replies - feel really happy about only having one now! I agree, it'll be so much nicer to be able to treat her and only have to co-ordinate dress shopping between the 2 of us! I've read some of the posts about all the problems people have had with bridesmaids so think I'm avoiding a lot of potential stress! thanks for all the advice - my mind is at rest! ?