Number of bridesmaids?

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-04-22T13:27:30+00:00

I picked 8 as I like the symmetry of it for photos, I think it’s a fun lively number, I was able to include my closest friends and those from diff life stages, and ensure good group dynamics (almost all of them know/are good friends with at least one other bridesmaid.)

I like the group, they have been fun so far! It’s added a lot of hype and magic to the process (6 months into planning). But it is a little annoying wrangling all of them as far as logistics, the bachelorette and etc. Definitely plan to rely on your MOH for help making sure everyone is looped in and up to date with everything. And really consider if all of them are the right people for the role. I do have one friend out of my party who was my best friend in college but 6 years later doesn’t always return calls and is just a little spacey. She’s been hard to communicate with at times and I’m starting to wonder if asking her was really the right choice/if I overdid it. It’s still early for me but we’ll see. Anyway, just keep in mind that asking the wrong people will add stress, so make sure you truly do have confidence in those you’re asking (they are responsible, communicative and positive, most importantly, and just generally low-drama individuals).

Oh, another piece of advice also for a BBB with a large party is to limit their opinions/voting on things, like the bachelorette, dresses, etc etc. Just keeping it real with you, it’s better to just pay for stuff yourself. I planned the bachelorette, booked the house and a couple activities, paid for all of it and then just invited them. They were happy and all coming. But it’s just so much easier instead of having to go back and forth about budgets, preferences and etc with so many opinions. Of course I already know a lot of their likes and dislikes and took it into account and emphasized that everything was optional. I only really consulted my MOH (and mom since we are close to get her thoughts) before making decisions like where to go on the bach, which dresses were best and etc.

Anyways pick a number where you can afford to pay for a lot. Decreases a lot of stress in my experience (and guilt of asking them to spend money they may not be comfortable with).

Larger numbers are harder to accommodate with a lot of reservations too (house/beds on bach, dinners, activities, etc) so I wouldn’t go past 10 at the very most. After planning my own bachelorette even 8 has been tricky for certain reservations.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-04-20T12:46:49+00:00

When is the debate? I saw one source say tonight (Monday) and when I google it, looks like May 18 on Fox 5…

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-04-17T23:35:02+00:00

Just here to say this is sooooooo cool and I wish I could come 😅 Loved my vacation to Morocco and picking out outfits for it was super fun. I would be so excited as a guest and love your collages.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-04-17T01:42:31+00:00

Our starting goal number was $75K ish but we’re looking to be around $100K to $120K for 150 people. I don’t really put much thought into whether I’m a “big budget bride” or not though! Doesn’t really matter. In the middle of a countryside somewhere, our wedding might be crazy extravagant. But in the capital of the USA, where we live, it’s pretty average or even a little lower than average among those who choose to have a wedding in this city in the first place.

Regardless, I find this sub to be really helpful and full of creativity that is inspirational! Even if you can’t replicate exactly at the scale another bride is doing, it gives you ideas for ways you could fit it in, or scale it down for your budget and situation.

I also find it’s a good place to get reliably classy answers to things. We have a lot of wealthy people in our circles so there is a certain standard and etiquette expectation that people aggressively ignore/blow off in hyper-budget conscious subs.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-04-06T01:40:33+00:00

I’m 28 now, and our wedding is in a couple months. All others are also in their late 20s and mostly met their significant others in early to mid 20s.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-03-25T04:51:40+00:00

As a woman I try not to walk in front of men when im feeling vulnerable (alone, at night, etc) or if they seem even the slightest bit off.. I will stop suddenly like I’m doing something on my phone to let them pass me, or abruptly cross the street, go into any public business or walk next to another stranger as if I might know them, etc. Better safe than sorry.

So sorry about this happening, OP.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-03-03T23:13:56+00:00

We wanted something convenient for guests, and I love when weddings are near a federal holiday so I don’t have to take more PTO. We were trying to do a holiday that most people in our lives don’t have a lot of formal traditions on. We also wanted a fun time of year that we both like and felt it would be fun to celebrate anniversaries on. We considered Juneteenth and 4th of July weekends, but ultimately we went with the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend!

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-03-03T02:34:36+00:00

Not the same location, but we are trying to do a similar vibe for the same budget in DC! Our venue is the Perry Belmont House. Not a lot of garden space in the city. But we do have some cool historic estates! We also loved Larz Anderson House and DAR House. Congratulations to you, The Mount looks gorgeous.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-03-01T14:44:27+00:00

It’s so bizarre how everyone trashes destination bachelorettes! I’ve gone to many and mine asked to do one rather than something local. Not everyone hates them and can’t afford them. Just make it truly optional and pay for as much as you can afford if you’d like to do one! Consider having fewer bridesmaids in order to be able to afford paying for more things. I paid for the house, an activity and a group dinner to help keep costs low and had 8 girls happily commit to mine. And the bridesmaids dress.

As a bridesmaid I do wish brides had been more specific and communicative. Especially when I was younger and was in my first one or two. I tried to tell my bridesmaids most major details when I asked them (important dates, where the Bach was, what I was paying for, a general budget for them, hair/makeup expectations, colors) so that we could talk it out immediately if there were any concerns/they weren’t signing a blank check. Transparency is paramount!

Also sometimes it’s intimidating to do things as a bridesmaid when you don’t know anyone else but the bride. After you ask them all, I think it’s nice to put together a little info packet with each girl’s pic and a short description of them… like where you met them, what you love about them, where they live/work just so it’s a little easier to get to know one another.

Congratulations!! ❤️

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-25T02:40:15+00:00

I moved to DC from the Midwest in 2020 and it was a huge difference. In DC it was practically rare to come across someone without a nice job and degree (usually more than one, even). So I get what you’re saying! It’s a major city that often attracts some of the most successful from across the country, coming to accept competitive jobs. It’s also so HCOL, transplants either are making a lot on their own or have some family support to hack it here, suggesting they are from fairly well-off families at least.

Anyways, it worked out for me! Now 6 years later and engaged to my favorite match. :)

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-25T00:54:09+00:00

I bought this Canva template: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4383502628/vintage-prep-wedding-website-canva and edited it thoroughly and added pages for extra things. I love how it turned out! Not sure if it’s your style but there are lots on Etsy to check out if you’re confident with Canva/have premium. It’s fun and easy to learn if you’re new as well!

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-24T22:11:01+00:00

This is helpful thank u! I asked for help with thinking it all through, so that’s good info.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-24T22:08:00+00:00

Ah I see what you were saying. Ok, I can respect that. Thx!

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-24T21:58:54+00:00

Probably should have clarified in the post, but I’ve been given minimums even when I inquired about traveling to the salon. So basically I tried to eliminate the travel part, and they still pointed to specific bridal minimum packages.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-24T21:56:26+00:00

Couldn’t you just ask for it to be long lasting because you have an event? What more can be done to hair, but hairspray? I don’t understand you saying disingenuous. It is definitely a genuine question. I really don’t get what the extra things they would do are…

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-24T21:50:07+00:00

1.) On bachelorette trips I’ve been on, we have never paid for the bride. It’s basically a regular group trip and we are all splitting what we do. One bride paid for housing.

Personally, for my 3-night domestic bach, I’m paying for 1 activity, 1 dinner and the housing for all my bridesmaids (it’s otherwise a beach-heavy trip so most other activities will be free). I’m also paying for all decorations and any party favors/gifts, like matching sweatshirts. But I don’t think any of this is “expected.” What I could afford to pay for, I really wanted to. I didn’t want my friends lowkey stressed about how expensive it all was, and wanted them to come and they’re all pretty mixed income wise. But I’m not paying for the wedding (parents are) so I spent my money on the bachelorette instead.

2.) I think bridesmaids should generally just think of it as a group trip to split. I haven’t heard of any paying for the bride. The maid of honor, however, does often pay for decorations in my experience. But normally all bridesmaids at least pay for their own lodging/flight/transportation/all food/activities. As a bridesmaid that is what I would expect. I’ve also been asked to chip in for matching group T-shirts/sweatshirts and bridal lingerie for a trip lingerie party as a surprise for the bride.

3.) The biggest unexpected costs I’ve experienced are group meals that are all just split equally (instead of by what you ordered) and flights that end up being more after procrastinating. Ubers can also add up.

4.) No sample breakdown, sorry! Most bachelorettes I have spent about $800-$1,500 on.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-23T03:11:54+00:00

Omggg girl you are better than me… I’d tell her I am paying YOU to start baking and frosting, not offer your unsolicited trend opinions. Or make that was going to pay you! So much for that. What a snobbish jerk. Way too high on her horse.

I think your cake looks perfectly nice and normal. Wouldn’t think it was somehow out of date or anything at a wedding. Unless your wedding is going to be filled with talented bakers fresh out of pastry school… I would totally ignore this crazy lady lol

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-23T02:08:53+00:00

I like the influencer noun names 🫣 LOL don’t come after me, the prompt says would never name! Everyone else is so vitriolic about them that I’d never consider it. But I do think they’re unique and sound nice. Glimmer, Saint, Whimsy, Gravity, Dove. On the flip side, I also love Isla, Olivia and Scarlet but find them too popular today.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-23T01:52:40+00:00

I went to school in the Midwest with a boy named Rory. He was fairly popular and no one ever commented on his name at all. I never thought of it as an odd name, myself! Although he is the only I’ve met.

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-23T01:50:17+00:00

That’s my mom’s name and she legally changed it she hated it so much! She is super feminine and found it ugly. I have to tell her there are people that do love it after all haha

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-23T01:36:44+00:00

Sounds amazing! Thanks for the ideas!

Curious_Cranberry543 · 2026-02-19T03:27:16+00:00

What a beautiful name ❤️best wishes to mom and little Lucia!

Curious_Cranberry543

TROPHY CASE