What are bridesmaids for?

Support and really nothing else. It's just a way to have those friends you care most about with you on your wedding day. eta: grammar

Sit still. Look pretty.

The tradition (if I'm not mistaken) was that they all dressed like the bride in order to confuse evil spirits on the wedding day (which is why until recently, they all wore matching dresses) but now they're just there to smile and look pretty.

Asking someone to be a BM is an honor, they are your closest friends/family that will stand by you as you say, "I do".

That's all. They don't have jobs, duties, etc

Support and it's fun to have your friends around. Me personally, I should've picked them more carefully or did without. Just don't expect them to go out of their way. It's not their job.

Nothing buy a dress and show up at the wedding

It's the people you want standing up with you honoring them and their support of you and your relationship. It's the people with which you want to share the entire day and experience.

Yup. They's there to be next to you.

Tradition has that they were to lure evil spirits away from the bride (they were all dressed like the bride so that the evil spirits would be confused).

You don't have to have one, if you don't want, if that's what you're asking. All you need is an officiant and a license. *Everything* (and I mean *everything*) else is optional and won't make you one bit more married.

Thank you all !!

I am not doing any bridesmaids - I would have too many! Plus my sister would have to be my MOH and she will be just a few months out from having twins so I thought I would just give her a pass on the duties. But I am also very non- traditional I have discovered in this wedding planning. I am bucking many traditions and it just seemed easier to not make any of my friends buy dresses and all the other jazz. We are having a small beach ceremony with just two flower girls and two ring barriers (family kids).

To support you! I can't tell you how many times I've gone to one of them about a song I heard and cried to, or a dress I saw on a

Bridal shops page an wanted an opinion, or just to cry to because time is flying by! I have 5, 3 of which are my sisters and other 2 are my bestfriends. I can't imagine my special day without them! They don't have duties, or significant roles, but I'm not gonna lie, it is expected for them to host/throw bridal shower and bachelorette! Of course a very generous thing to do for the bride, but a typical thing for the girls to do.

They're your closest friends. While one should never expect or demand anything from a bridesmaid... How are two people "close" if they're not willing to go out of their way for another? I wouldn't accept being a bridesmaid for someone I'm not willing to help with planning, venting, etc.

Traditionally they were to either ward off evil spirits, or to make it such that a potential political rival didn't know who was the bride (all dressed the same as the bride) so he couldn't swoop in and steal her at the altar.

I'm not doing any since our wedding is so small.

My FH and I are only having one person each up with us. I chose my best friend (which happens to be a guy) and he picked his nephew. Other than that we will be on our own. It's your day. Whatever you and your FH feel comfortable doing is what you should do.

We're not having a bridal party. I have zero regrets with that decision. I want my friends to enjoy the evening and not worry about spending money on a dress they'll never wear again. I'll probably ask the three girls I would have chosen to sit on the second row if they want to, but that's it.

For support and maybe throw your bachelorette party.

I know some of my BMs offered to help with some DIYs but I declined so far.

They should be there to make your day more special by showing up!

We had 7 bm included the moh and 6 gm and bm and they all want to buy there own dress n tux when I said I would but they said we had enough to do but they was great they got involved in decor and favors we was having fun doing this and going to last min vendors and pick out decor was great and I was glad to have our family and close friends by our side I did not want that many but I had 3 from start then I get ill buy my own dress can I be a bridesmaid and then we was up to 7 so it was nice everyone got along and we got them waffle robes with bridal name in back hair ties shot glass and guys got pocket knife and shot glass n money clip and they all loved it j heRd some stories about bm and gm and we did not do a bridal shower or bachelor either cause some live out of state and came in 2 days before the wedding and day a after they had to leave so it's was fine we spend time together when we could

We are having a very small ceremony and won't be having bm or gm.

I didn't think I would have any BM, maybe one MOH, somehow ending up with 4BM and MOH. Not sure how that happened, but I will roll with it.

To answer your question: Bridesmaids/bridal party are completely optional. If you do choose to have any, their job is to show up on the day of (relatively sober), and support you as you say "I do".