If you come across this, chances are you’re not sure if you want to have bridesmaids or not, and that is totally fair. With the rise of nontraditional weddings, we are seeing more and more brides opt-out of having a huge bridal party. But, just like all choices there are pros and cons. So, we want to help you weigh out your options to make the best decision for you and your wedding.

The Benefits Of Having Bridesmaids

First, lets go over the pros of having bridesmaids.

Pro 1 – Honoring Your Closest Friends and Family

Choosing to have bridesmaids is a wonderful way to tell your closest friends how much you love and appreciate them. It is a huge honor and shows that you picked them specifically to join you on this momentous occasion.

The people you choose should be the people who have been with your through the ups and downs of life. They can be new or old friends, but they have to be important to you. At the end of the day, you will always remember who your bridesmaids were. And, the people you select will understand this.

Pro 2 – Additional Support

We all need our ‘girls’ every once in a while to help us through emotional stress. Your wedding will undoubtedly cause you some stress. Having bridesmaids at your wedding will lighten your load when it comes to wedding planning and will lend you emotional support when things get hectic.

Pro 3 – Extra Hands

This is your wedding day and you will need all the help you can get. Having bridesmaids can let you delegate certain tasks and roles to specific people so you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Traditional bridesmaid duties include taking care of the bridal shower and bachelorette party, which helps ensure you are taken care of in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Your bridesmaids will make sure you are well fed, well hydrated, and that your spirits stay high.

The Negatives of Having Bridesmaids at Your Wedding

Now for the cons of having bridesmaids.

Con 1 – Bridesmaids Means More Budgeting

Your bridesmaids might pay for their outfits, but there are many costs that are often covered by the bride.

• Bridesmaids gifts
• Hair and makeup
• Flowers for them to carry down the aisle
• Accommodations

The costs for a wedding add up very quickly, and if you’re looking to keep your budget down, forgoing bridesmaids might be the way to go.

Con 2 – Conflict

We’ve all seen those movies where one friend is getting married and some of their bridesmaids just don’t get along. This can cause a lot of drama and unwanted stress for the bride. It is important to keep in mind that just because you get along with all your friends, doesn’t mean they will necessarily get along with each other. Having too many personalities and opinions can cause some serious rifts in friendships. The last thing you want is to have your wedding day be shadowed by bridesmaid drama.

Con 3 – Hurting People’s Feelings

When it comes to deciding on who to choose to be for your bridesmaids, you might have to leave people out. The people in your life who aren’t chosen to be your bridesmaids might have hurt feelings for not making the cut.

How to Have The Best Of Both Worlds When Choosing To Have Bridesmaids or Not

Still on the fence about having bridesmaids at your wedding? Well, what you can do is just have one. Choose your best friend or sister and make them your maid of honor. That helps you avoid hurt feelings, keeps the potential for conflict down to a minimum and it is much more cost effective.

If you choose to go with the one bridesmaid, you can easily just do a girls trip for your bachelorette. It doesn’t have to be just the bridal party that is invited.