I'd feel exactly the same, tbh. The bridesmaids suggested the venue, but then pulled out! I'd find a good reason as to why they can't come, or at least give you a damn good reason as to why they can't go. I know it's post Christmas and they might be skint, but your wedding is hardly last minute. You've spent months planning it and they've had months to put some money to one side to save for your hen do.
I would say though that six sounds about right
I must admit before my wedding, I really wasn't up for a hen night; mist of my friends are male, especially as I worked in predominantly a very male orientated company. I hated nightclubs at that time too, with the heavy smell of cigarette smoke. The women who did arrange the hen night really at the end of the day, wanted to embarrass me. They brought me a present to open in front of 300 odd colleagues, all of who knew me because of the type of job I had there. The 'present' turned out to be a vibrator. I made the appearance of just laughing it off, but I admit the minute I got home, it went straight into the bin. The hens night itself was just as bad. They insisted I had a pair of the biggest knickers I'd ever seen, with something which I can remember, written on it. Looking back on it, I still view it as an ordeal. I knew much of their antics were not meant to be kind. Quite the opposite. Needless to say, only one of them turned up at the wedding, a real friend, who's since sadly passed away.
I think I felt very loathe to have a hen night because at the end of the day, I felt my husband to be was, and still is, my best friend. He's the one who wouldn't dream of embarrassing me like that at work. He wouldn't drag me into a smoky nightclub. We both loathed those sort of places. Yes, I'm more extrovert without a doubt than my husband. But then, as is now, our favourite type of evening is a takeaway. We may have a beer or something, but we hardly drink either. As my husband says, I'm a very cheap date as I don't like to be out of control of myself. I can get drunk on Diet Coke, apparently!
I'm pretty sure my so called friends thought I was marrying someone just for the sake of it and it wouldn't last. Yes, I'd had two long term relationships, then a patch of time when I only wined and dined and that was it. I did that because I realised I wanted to have some fun, be spoilt and to be friends with a future husband before anything else. My colleagues thought it was very I'd that I was seeing five men, but all knew the score. I was totally honest with all of them. My female colleagues kept adding 'durex' to my shopping list, every time I had one on my dead. Not that I needed them. Oh no, definitely not.
That was when I met my husband to be. We were friends, first and foremost. We didn't like nightclubs, but we both loved good pubs with good food! We had so many similarities! We had a whirlwind romance, to say the least. So maybe that was the reason for their cruel reaction. I do know for a fact though, that our marriage has outlived many of the cruel instigators who tried hard to upset me.
At times like this, you find out who your real friends are. OP, you don't need the ones who simply pretend. They're already showing their true colours. I would definitely find a reason somehow for them not to be bridesmaids. Maybe you could say that you're having to make some financial cuts due to the escalating costs. It'll save on two dresses, presents for them, make up and shoes. That would add up and you'd have some extra fornthe honeymoon. It's your wedding and you should make your honeymoon one to remember. We did and we have no regrets whatsoever.
Crikey, some women can be so bitchy, probably the reason why my friends are mainly male! 🙄🤔