Symbolic "Bridesmaids"?

Are you doing any sort of vow renewal? Or just throwing a party?

I'd pass. You could have a spa day or get ready before hand. Maybe get them a corsage to wear or gift for supporting your marriage? But, I don't see the point in calling them BM if they aren't standing up and supporting you as a bride. At this point, you are a wife, not a bride.

I think a bridesmaid is a bridesmaid and is a way of honoring them I think they will be excited either way. Just tell them it won't be a very formal event and you don't want them in matching outfits. But maybe still do a "bachelorette" party and do painting, apple orchard, or some small get together to still unite them ?

Are you having a vow renewal ceremony? There is no point in having bridesmaids without some kind of ceremony. If I was asked to do this, I would find it really weird.

It depends what you expect of them. A lot of people are annoyed when they have to buy a dress for a symbolic wedding.

Honestly, this is a sweet gesture but I would think it's a little weird.

I would skip it. I like the thought behind it but I'm not sure how it would work.

I would probably skip the idea of "bridesmaids" for an anniversary party, but if you're getting like hair and makeup done, etc, you could always invite them to hang with you beforehand. have like champagne and stuff to do like girl time without being like, "you are a bridesmaid."

My thought is that you are doing the reception part of the wedding (celebration with more people there) since you had a very intimate private event before. If this is the case or if it's a vow renewal I'd say yes to bridesmaids if that is what you want. If it's just an anniversary party then skip them

I get that you want to honor the people that you normally would have asked to be your bridesmaids. A corsage should be enough.

Yes to having them as bm if you're having a ceremony. It doesn't seem like you are but I'm sure they'd be happy just to be there with you celebrating your anniversary

I appreciate everyone's response and thoughts.

We are not doing a vow renewal. We couldn't have the big wedding party we wanted for personal reasons at the time, so we decided to wait until the time was right. We decided to do it on our first anniversary so it's meaningful to celebrate with everybody that wasn't able to be there.

I just don't want my girlfriends do feel pressured into buying dresses they don't like and the court ceremony has already passed. I just want them to know that if things have been different they would of totally been standing right next to me at the time. I even got them a little TY gift for all they did for hosting a post "bachelorette" party for me bc they wanted me to feel special like any bride would.

I'll probably still do it but explain to them there's no big strings attached, get ready together for the party and have a good time.

Honestly, skip it.

I do like the idea of you all getting ready together, and giving them each a gift! That's really sweet and it sounds like you have a great group of friends.

Team skip it. It's a bit weird, IMO.

We are doing a vow renewal and I've asked my bff and sister to be standing w me. I haven't given them titles bc they technically aren't bridesmaids. Other than that, I think a really great way to show them that they're special is to have a head table and invite them and their dates to sit with you during dinner.

I would pass.

This isn't a wedding or a reception, you already had that...the small ceremony and celebration was your wedding and reception, no matter how small. People know you as a married couple.

Most people wait until it is a milestone event...10, 25...at least 5 years to start throwing anniversary parties or vow renewals.

Your decision ultimately but if one of my good friends brought this up to me, I would pass.

I think you can just tell them that if things had been different, they would have been your bridesmaids and ask if they would like to come over before the party to all get ready together. You don't need to give them a title other than "my best friends".

I thinkyou need to ask yourself how much does this mean to you and them. And if it does, which I am thinkin git does from what you h ave written ask hubby if he is okay with it and okay with askinig his friends not that he has to have matching numbers of groomsmen to be part of his wedding party. I know it is party of the wedding process so go forit IF Y OU WANT IT. The girls can wear LBD and the guys can wear black suits or white shirts, matchign ties and black pants. In other words basically things from the closet except the tie perhaps.

I wouldn't have them as BMs, but if you are having a photographer for your reception/ party, you could do a girls photoshoot with them before the party itself (I thought about doing something like this for my girls), and ask them to wear a color dress they already own if they want to be matching. While you all are getting ready for the photoshoot, you could give them a gift with a letter about how much their friendship means to you.