How many bridesmaids a person can have?

[Shakespearian55]

My friend is getting married. She's told us that there are 11 women who she'd love to ask to be a bridesmaid, but felt that that was too many. My other friend said she should just go for it and have them all. Another of us thought that even half that many was ridiculous.

My own view is that more than 4 looks a bit weird, although I hasten to add I didn't say that today.

What do other people think? Does having loads of bridesmaids start looking a bit tacky?

I am a bridemaid in a few months and there are 10 bridemaids!

I’ve got 14 😆. DP has lots of sisters, we also have dd’s and there’s friends of dd’s who were desperate to be included then I’ve got a couple of friends from childhood who I am really close to and really want to be part of my wedding.

I don’t care what anyone else thinks really, we’re paying for it and if it makes them all happy I’m happy to have them be a part of my wedding.

Bridesmaids, no more than 3 unless a cathedral wedding. 1 best man, enough ushers to cover number of guests and size of location.
Bridesmaids preferably aged under 18.

My cousin limited herself to 4, but she has so many friends she couldn't narrow it down, in the end she did names in a hat and pulled 4 out.

I went to a wedding a few years ago where there were around 80 guests, 28 of which were bridesmaids. It was hilarious. There was a handful of us women who weren’t and all the others had the same dress on. Even the 2 mothers had the same dresses on. I never did see the wedding photos - must ask DH if there are any on social media.

I had 1 best woman.

I understand her dilemma, I have friends of equal standing from different parts of my life and it felt like I couldn't choose and didn't want nine or ten bridesmaids, so I had one maid of honour, who is my very best friend and two little ones, my only niece at the time and luckily only one of those good friends had a child, so her daughter was the other. That way no one felt left out and I didn't feel ridiculous, and DH didn't have to come up with nearly a dozen groomsmen!

I had 10 bridesmaids and 11 groomsmen.

It was very expensive and I’d never have that many again.

Two were friends, two were my daughters, my sister, my nieces and husband to be’s niece. I was pressured by my mom “if you’re having one, you’re having them all” was her attitude.

Next time (that expensive marriage lasted 10 months ) we’ll be eloping.

A friend of mine was one of 40z it was in the papers. He wasn’t the most faithful , think she was making a point, She is now divorced . He cheated

*I had eight bridesmaids! It was wonderful.

My two sisters, sister in-law, two very close childhood friends (who are also sisters and practically family as have known them since birth), three very close friends from college and another amazing and special friend who I met while travelling and who introduced me to my husband.*

Isn't this nine??

You do you. Have as many as you want, are happy to do it and your budget allows. Sometimes that's none, one, two, four or 24.

@parkersnose yes, it is, you’re right! So many I can’t count them after a roast and a glass of a red!

DB and SIL had 5 bridesmaids and 2 flower girls - SIL’s aunt & 2 cousins, her cousin’s DDs and my DDs. They had a best man and a best woman as well.

In my day you had one but possibly bridesmaids and one best man. Any more and it becomes like the Great Fat Gypsy Wedding!

Any more than two or three is OTT I think. The most I've seen is 4, most have two or three. I could have had two or four (2 school friends, 2 friends from my 20's) but went with 2 and the other two did a reading so still had a special role.

Where is the cut off, I don't see the point of 11

As many as she wants, I was a bridesmaid and there were seven of us and seven groomsmen, was fine, I'd agree with the pp it should be balanced by groomsmen or it will look a bit weird with the eleven of the. Traipsing down the aisle.

She can have as many as she likes, but some people might think it looks a bit daft. If she's not bothered by how it might look to others then go for it.
There's no need to have an equal number of groomsmen either, unless she wants to pair each bridesmaid up with a groomsman to walk down the aisle. Traditionally, the groomsmen used to act as ushers, and the bridesmaids used to walk behind the bride.

I would have thought financial budget would dictate some of this? If I’m asking someone to be my bridesmaid or groomsman, I would be accepting all cost of outfits. So therefore numbers depend on budget.

I’ve been one of 8 before and it was lovely but we didn’t all have to wear the same dress, thank goodness! Personally I think more than 2 women in the same dress looks a bit silly. We were all just told to get ourselves a floor-length dress in a particular, easy to find colour (so not a specific shade of burnt orange or anything like that!) and the bride reimbursed us up to £100. A couple chose to put in their own money and get something more expensive but I found my perfect dress for £60 and saved the bride a few quid!

I’m only having my sisters, because I have lots of female friends but would struggle to pick just a few closest ones to have as bridesmaids.

I think if you want 11 and can afford it then go for it (I don’t think it has to be balanced with he men at all) but please don’t put them all in identical dresses!

I think it needs to be balanced by best men on the other side, it'll look daft if there's 11 women and 2 men.

this seems ot me to be odd.
In UK, most weddings have several/lots of bridesmaid and one best man.
Groomsmen is a really American concept.
I'm not saying you shouldn't have groomsmen if you want them, but you don't need to balance, it is quite traditional to have lots of bridesmaids and not lots of groomsmen.

11 is a lot, especially if adults, instead I would probably have 1 bridesmaid, and then have a special photo with my fav women