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UKbride Member Request 26 Jul 2017

Hi, has anyone else chosen not to have bridesmaids? We've decided not to...

Hi, has anyone else chosen not to have bridesmaids? We've decided not to have bridesmaids & groomsmen for several reasons - we want the wedding to be non traditional, a celebration without all the formalities, too many bridesmaids, not one best man, the faff of the dress shopping etc etc!! I will still have my closet female friends/family getting ready with me, and in pictures. I still feel slightly unsure of my decision because I don't want my girls to feel 'left out' or not a special part of our day, (which they are!) and also whether this could impact the running of the day etc. They've all been totally fine with the decision, but I just wondered if anyone else has done this and any feedback/thoughts.

16 Comments
UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

I'm doing this too, one of my best friends is getting married just before us and asked me to be her bridesmaid so I felt a tad guilty BUT it's not that I don't want them there and I want them involved in other ways which means more to me (and them) xxx

Gemma Wilson
Gemma Wilson 26 Jul 2017

I'm getting corsages like button holes for 'my girls instead of being bridesmaids as you say I still want them to be part of it but having a small wedding and too many in the wedding party would be odd.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

I chose to only have relatives as bridesmaids for similar reasons. I couldn't choose just a few friends without worrying that the others would feel slighted, I also worried that if we fell out in the future, the photos would be too hard to look at. Even if I fell out with my nieces and nephews, they'd still be family. So maybe if you're wavering, just have family?

Shannon Cooper
Shannon Cooper 26 Jul 2017

I was going to have my sister's and sister in law and chose to have my 3 year old instead xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

My sisters refuse to wear traditional bridesmaid dresses but so long as they are there who cares what they wear sharing my special day is all that matters ... do what you want it's your day xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

We chose only to have our 2 young girls as bridesmaids, it didn't have an impact on the day because I had my good friends and family around me to help anyway , and we did what was best for us ! So go with what you want. Good luck

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

We are having no wedding party too. I ordered t-shirts for the girls who I want to get ready with me on the day and who would have been bridesmaids if I was forced to choose they say "brides mates" on them and I asked then too be my un- bridesmaids bit cheesy but I still wanted then too be involved

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

I don't have them as I don't want an entourage, in the preparations or on the day. My fsil is artistic and asked to be involved so she and I will do some of the decorations together, but dress shopping etc I'll do on my own and I'm not choosing her clothes. I don't have close female friends, my witness is a man, so the no bridesmaids decision was easy. But if I did I'd probably do as you are, some traditions, like witnesses, have real relevant meaning behind them and others don't, so if you don't want them don't have them!

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

I'm not planning on having any either but am going to look at other ways of involving close friends/family members!xx

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

The only people who can really answer that for you in particular is your friends. If they all know and understand then there's nothing to worry about.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

No bridesmaids at our ceremony. Simplifying things takes a lot of stress out of the day.

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

I did exactly that. No adult bridesmaids or groomsmen. My step son was best man (he was 17), my son gave me away (11) and my niece (7) and stepdaughter (14) were bridesmaids. My sis-in-law and best friend dressed me. Another friend did a reading. Everyone was involved but none of the hassle 🤣

A member uploaded image

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

I've opted not to have bridesmaids but have said if the little girls want to dress up that's fine and still be part of the day x

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 26 Jul 2017

Coming out of the closet instead lol

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 27 Jul 2017

I think it sounds great, and if that's what you want then go for it! Doesn't even matter what any of us think :)

UKbride Administrator
UKbride Administrator 27 Jul 2017

We are exactly the the same, there will be no bridesmaids, no best man, no ushers and no speeches! I don't want all of the formalities and traditions, I want it to be really chill and relaxed x

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