Just need to let loose with all this! It's all worked it, but TL/DR: My entire bridal party quit, but I fixed it :-)
When my FH proposed to me, I immediately had a vision of how I wanted my bridal party to look. My daughter and I are big into hosting foreign exchange students and over the past 10 years, we have hosted 5 of them. They are (almost) all daughters after my own heart, and I wanted them to make up my bridesmaids and not worry about other people, since I have 6 really close friends I wouldn't be able to choose amongst, and my FH has only two people he wanted to ask. I also have read plenty of bridesmaid drama on this board, so I was like "NO WAY!"
Well, three of them backed out only immediately. Belgium just quit talking to me--but she has VERY high social anxiety disorder and conflict avoidance and if she's afraid, she just won't talk. So I'm not surprised. Denmark has school exams and isn't sure exactly when they'll be done, but she thinks that if she can make it, she will. Malaysia is a devout Muslim and our wedding coincides with the end of Ramadan. It is a very big festival family time, like Christmas, and she will spend it with her family.
That leaves Thailand and Turkey. Turkey lives with us at present. Unfortunately a week ago, she freaked out when we wouldn't let her go on a ski trip because she had bronchitis. The exchange organization had to get involved, and Turkey had already decided she was moving out and that was that. So she was out. Yesterday, Thailand emailed me to say that because of the corona virus situation, travel in and out of Asia is nearly impossible and she didn't want to buy a plane ticket she would not be able to use and would not get reimbursed for. So she is out.
So from five down to zero.
First thing after the situation with Turkey blew up I did was visit my sister, and I asked her to be in it with me. We have a lot of issues between us and our ups and downs, but ultimately, when it matters, we are there for each other, and I know I can count on her 100%. She was so excited and happy, and immediately made an appointment to find a gown when I'm down her way again in March.
Yesterday after I messaged back and forth with Thailand, I approached one of my two best friends. I asked her if she would consider it, that I knew it was a hassle and an expense, but it'd be so awesome to have her stand with me, and she accepted.
Then I got to thinking about my other best friend, who I had asked to be a reader. I realized I didn't want her to get her feelings hurt that I hadn't asked her, so I approached her with an "I know I asked you to read during the ceremony, but everyone is dropping out, I've asked my other BFF as well, and I would hate it if I hurt your feelings at all by not asking you if you'd like to switch roles. I just can't choose between the two of you."
And happily she said yes! Her daughter already appointed herself a flower girl, which I accepted, so the two of them are now excitedly making plans for dress shopping where they live.
I've told them all that no extra duties required, I don't need a bridal shower or a bachelorette, nothing fancy, just get a dress they like and let's party.
I'm so happy and relieved that they all said yes. Even though we'll be a little bit lopsided, I'm still ecstatic and I feel like putting aside what happened with my daughters, I have literally the wedding party of my dreams. I slept GREAT last night 
Thanks for reading!
