What are Groomsmen for?!

They provide support to the groom the way bridesmaids do to the bride.

It's usual for the bride to pick the bridesmaids and the groom to pick the groomsmen, and they are usually people who are close to the bride/groom. So MIL has no business muscling in on this. I would stick to saying no. If you give way on this, she's only going to be pushing for something else.

It’s an American thing to be honest. We didn’t have any and didn’t even have a best man and my husband (I can say that now!) has two brothers but no one seemed to be bothered. We had one brother as the witness and the other did the reading. My husband said he didn’t need any help getting ready. Only thing that bothered me slightly was he hadn’t pinned his buttonhole properly and it fell out during ceremony! A best man would have done that but not much else lol 😂

Agree with the comments above, having a bridal party of any description is a personal choice decided by you and your partner to reflect what you want for your day. It is also worth remembering that in the same way as bridesmaids, they don’t have to be ‘for’ anything, and they don’t have to have any specific jobs at all. It is often just about the closest people in your life being part of the celebration, a way to say thankyou/acknowledge the close role they play in your life. For us, it is primarily just a nice way of spending time with close friends, getting ready with people who will keep us calm and help us enjoy the morning. There are lots of little tasks they’ll be on hand with to support us with during the day to take some stress off us, we have agreed who does what in advance. In our case they will help with some set up in the venue the day before, be meeting suppliers in the morning whilst we get ready, be ushering guest around on the day, acting as ‘toastmaster’, doing speeches, looking after rings, helping with clear up, and are primed to get people n the dance floor etc. If you feel confident enough, thank your future MiL for the helpful suggestion about bridal party members - let her know you'll share your final decisions when you are both ready. Good luck! x

Do you know how the brothers feel about it? If they don't care about being groomsmen and your fiance doesn't want them either then it's an easy no. Maybe she is trying to force a role on them and making them think they are not important to your fiance if they don't have a title for the day. I would suggest the brothers all talk before giving a clear and final choice to the MIL.

I think its your wedding do what you both want like you said its only a small wedding x💗

What Sarah says is right - they don't "have" to do anything. Or they can be called on to do everything.

For me they are good to help move furniture to create space for photos or get people from the bar/loo, go fetch you drinks whilst we are in the gardens for some couple shots. Many times the groom has been about to go and find someone and I remind him to send a groomsman - its what they are for.

BUT don't rely on them too much for anything after the photos - once they find the beer

@yorkshirelass - In my experience the best man would not have done any better a job of putting the button hole on. I usually show one of them the best way and then let them do each others.

You could just allocate someone for all of the above but giving them a title may be easier for them to accept the little jobs.