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Original poster

Bridesmaids

18 replies

northernsquirrel · 16/04/2023 07:56

Has anyone not had bridesmaids at their wedding then regretted it?

Keen for opinions. Wedding to be reasonably small and REALLY don't want a hen do so wondering not to have bridesmaids? Only thing is I don't want to be getting ready on my own that morning.

What have others done?

OP posts:

IDontLikeMondays88 · 16/04/2023 07:59

I didn’t have bridesmaids.

I had planned a wedding before which was then called off and I just didn’t want bridesmaids this time. I had a couple of good friends doing a reading and sign the register but I have no regrets at all

heldinadream · 16/04/2023 08:00

My younger dd didn't have bridesmaids, me and her older sister and her oldest friend and friend's mum were all with her for the getting ready bit, all very informal and lovely and we had a fabulous time and wedding was lovely and lack of bridsmaids was no kind of issue for anyone as far as I know. Was a really brilliant wedding.

DustyLee123 · 16/04/2023 08:00

I had a bridesmaid, my step sister, that I’ve regretted for a long time.

IDontLikeMondays88 · 16/04/2023 08:00

I got ready with my mum and dad so maybe depends on your family situation and that felt right. The make up artist and hairdresser etc were there as well

kjv1234 · 16/04/2023 08:02

I didn't have any bridesmaids or a hen do and I don't have any regrets.

Busybusybusy · 16/04/2023 08:07

I do regret it. Me and my group of friends were all getting married around a similar time and made a pact to just have family as bridesmaids given the expenses of multiple dresses and hen do’s etc. i feel I definitely missed the whole getting ready build up in the morning. In hindsight we should have done that even though they were not bridesmaids. Hope this helps.

DustyLee123 · 16/04/2023 08:14

You don’t have to get ready on your own, ask some friends round and have champagne/Prosecco/Buck’s Fizz while you get ready.

piedbeauty · 16/04/2023 08:15

You could have a best woman. Like a best man.

Original poster

northernsquirrel · 16/04/2023 08:19

Thanks so much everyone, much appreciated x
Love the best woman idea!

OP posts:

babynoname22 · 16/04/2023 08:19

I had just my sister

Allschoolsareartschools · 16/04/2023 08:20

To be honest, mine were no help whatsoever really on the day & if I had the day again I would have a small wedding & definitely no bridesmaids!
Your day sounds nice, I'd maybe ask one closer friend or sister to be there to help but not be officially a bridesmaid.

Mumdiva99 · 16/04/2023 08:38

I just had my young daughter. (I had a low key hen do with my best friends - I organised it and we went away for the night.) I got ready at mums - just a hair dresser....my daughter had her hair done. No make up artist. I could have invited a friend to come over, but actually it was nice and calm. - we did a lot for the wedding ourselves - including being at the church early in the morning to let people in etc... so a bit of calm was nice. I didn't have a photographer there, we met her at the church. But....my aunt popped up and we got a couple of pics of us leaving and that was nice. Then walked down with a couple of neighbours that were invited too.

Mumdiva99 · 16/04/2023 08:39

.....sorry should have said.....my daughter had already gone to the church earlier with my mum so she could see all the family arriving and join in the fun....we had tea/coffee and snacks for those who wanted it and had driven a long way.

Bleakhouser · 16/04/2023 16:23

I didn’t have any and don’t regret it at all. I got ready in the morning with my husband, some friends and family came over too. It was wonderful.

Original poster

northernsquirrel · 16/04/2023 20:18

Thank you all for your responses x

OP posts:

FiddleLeaf · 03/05/2023 18:28

I’m not having bridesmaids or a hen do. On the morning & night before, I plan to have my mum & sis in law around and perhaps my oldest friend. I’ve got my little nieces as flower girls & nephews as page boys. Future DH has a LOT of friends so might end up with three best men and a bunch of ushers. Plus a huge stag do.

Chalk and cheese!

Musicaltheatremum · 22/05/2023 19:08

I remarried at 58. No bridesmaids. At 2pm I was in our back garden with lots of friends/relatives/ husband to be ...in bare feet with my makeup on
He left at 2pm to go to church with his daughter then I got dressed. It was wonderful

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 22/05/2023 19:12

I had no bridesmaids but my two friends from far away came to stay the night before and the night of the wedding (dh stayed at the venue the night before with his mates, and we both stayed at the venue the night of).

If you don't feel like asking a friend to come stay with you, why not book a bit of a squad to come do do a massage, facial, hair and make up etc for the morning.

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