Guest Of Honor?

There is no need to exclude these people from your bridal party- out of state BFFs can still be in your wedding! There are no “bridesmaid duties” other than buying a dress and standing with you during your wedding ceremony. Every single member of my bridal party lives in another state, and it’s been no problem at all 😀

I’d just include them in the bridal party.
Honestly if I were your friends I’d take a “guest of honor” type thing as being second tier to the people that are actually in the bridal party. Like I wasn’t important enough to warrant being in the actual party.

What "bridesmaid duties" are you specifically referring to? As long as they are able to attend your wedding date, they will have no problems fulfilling all of their obligations as a bridesmaid. If they are your closest friends, just ask them to be bridesmaids if that's what you want! Relationships transcend distance

I live at a minimum 4 hour drive from my bridesmaids and a 9 hour from my maid of honor. Distance doesn't matter!

My bridesmaids all live in different states! They can certainly still be included in the day. Depending on their schedules/timing/travel costs, they may or may not be able to attend a bridal shower or bachelorette party, though those aren't requirements for being in a wedding party. If you want them as bridesmaids, you can still include them!

As much as you want your bridesmaids involved with the planning process and other wedding festivities they don't have any actual duties (unless stated otherwise by the bride, so in other words what their expectations are). So, you can still make them bridesmaids! Just have a conversation with your girls to see what they can assist you with or what they are comfortable with if you gave them specific duties.

I honestly didn't have much for my girls to do. I did ask them if they could help me with putting together party favors and help me with the centerpieces two-three weeks prior to the wedding. They were all able to come over and help me as I made us dinner. They did ask every now and then throughout this wedding planning process what they could do to help if need be. But for most of it I said no because I was very particular on some stuff lol.

I wouldn't do this. Bridal parties are traditional and somewhat expected, partly for the aesthetic, partly for the honor. I wouldn't create an additional tier of guests that would appear to be between guests and bridal party

4 of my bridesmaids live a 22 hour drive away from me. The only thing I expect of them is to get a dress and stand up with me on the day. If they can make it to the bachelorette/bridal shower, great, if not, it's understandable. And since they're traveling to the wedding, I'm not requiring hair/makeup either. They can if they want, I'm also going to give them an alternative near where I'm getting ready that's slightly cheaper.

Wedding party doesn't have duties. Just have them as a part of the wedding party!

Bridal party members don't have "duties", so she should be able to be a bridesmaid regardless of where she lives, as long as she can make it to the wedding. Publicly naming a specific guest as a "guest of honor" might come off wrong to other guests. All of our guests were important to us and we wanted to treat them all the same.

One of my bridesmaids, my sister, was from out of state, as were two of my husband's groomsmen. The best man may as well live in another state, as he lives in the opposite corner near the border. (We're in Chicago, and he's in southwest Illinois close to St. Louis.) However, everyone who came from out of town did their part, and they were honored to be asked! If these friends you're talking about mean that much to you, and you want them to be a part of your day, then just ask! I'm sure they'll be thrilled.