Should your bridesmaids be family, friends or a mix of both?

Your bridal party should be people you want to honor and could not imagine not having stand beside you on your wedding day. I have been to weddings where the were two bridesmaids and ones where there were eight.

This. There's no rule that says they should be family, or they should be friends, or anything else. Your wedding party should be your closest loved ones, no matter their "official" relationship to you!

You're the only one who can answer that for yourself. It should be the people you can't imagine not having stand by you. For me, that's my very best friend and my two sisters. But there's no obligation in having my sisters....we are super close and I wouldn't dream of not having them stand by me.

It should be the people you can not see your wedding day without by your side.

For me, that was my two best friends. No one else. These two women have been by my side for so much of my life. It was only right they would be there again at my wedding.

I don't have any family. I wasn't going to make my new SIL one. We love each other, but we aren't that close and she doesn't like to be in the spotlight.

I would limit it to the 4 YOU want most. Whether that be your 4 sisters or 4 friends. Whichever you choose, just explain to the other group that due to budget reasons you had to keep your wedding party small, but would still like them to be involved in pre-wedding events if they would like to be.

I'm doing my sister and my two best friends. My FH has a brother who is married but I wouldn't imagine using her in my bridal party as we aren't close. I only want those who are very close with me to stand on my big day. I wouldn't feel obligated to ask anyone to join your bridal party, but out of your top ten (friends, family, FSIL, etc).. who are your top choices? If you want three in your party, who are your top three regardless of your relationship to them? Who has been there for you through thick and thin?

I'm using my sister, 2 cousins and FSIL.

There is no rule about numbers. I wanted a small bridal party, and that worked out perfectly because I don't have a lot of females I'm close to.

The most important factor should be that you choose women to stand with you that you can't imagine doing this without. Your nearest and dearest, whether they are blood related or not. I'm having my sister, my daughter and my cousin. These three women are vital in my life, and I can't imagine not having them next to me.

You have only who you want to have. I only did a MOH and no Bridesmaids, because I don't have any sisters, and neither does my FH and I have no friends that are girls, BUT I have 5 nieces ages 13 and under. We wanted no kids at the wedding nor reception. So as I promised my oldest niece when she was even younger...she could be MOH, and that's that ha! She's 13 and was the only exception to the no kids rule. We're eloping now so it doesn't matter, but she was very excited about it, and there was no objections because everyone knew my decision was final on at least that one specific matter, so even if they objected I wouldn't have listened, ha!

So if it was me, I'd go with who you are the closest to and know you can count on. They will be your support when you start freaking out the closer the actual date gets. Good luck and congratulations on your engagement!

Totally up to you and who you want up there with you on your day. There are no rules or right or wrong way. I'm having three close friends and my future SIL.

I really appreciate all the tips! I guess I'm just worried about how big the party is getting, even though I want to add my friends.

Mine is half friends and half family—8 total. Honestly, all of the drama associated with my wedding has been due to family and I do wish I had stuck my original plan of just having friends, which would have been a reasonable four.

It was important to my fiance to include family, which I can appreciate.

Whoever you are closest too! I have 9 bridesmaids. 5 of my best friends from throughout my life, and my fiance's 4 sisters.