Ok, so, planning hasn't officially started. But, one of my friends is really excited for me to get married but I advised her I wouldn't be asking her to be bridesmaid, she started really crying and I felt terrible, so I said ok. Now we're looking at venues etc. and things are becoming more real, I don't feel as I want her to be my bridesmaid. She is a close friend and I do love her dearly but she has not been the most reliable throughout our friendship. I feel awful.
You could apologize to her and say that you cannot afford to have her as a bridesmaid. x
Hi I agree with Naomi that would be the most plausible excuse :)
It is a shame you gave in initially as you have now made it harder on yourself and her. I agree with the others, the easiest scapegoat is to blame it on budget constraints. Apologise and explain that as you had previously said you hadn't planned for her to be a bridesmaid and you just can't afford it. It will be hard no matter what you say, but take it as a lesson learnt, you can't please everyone no matter what you do, so go with what makes you happy.