Saying No To Bridesmaids

When I pictured my wedding as a young girl, I always imagined standing at the altar flanked by my best friends and my unknown husband's closest friends, all of whom dressed in color-coordinated attire.

 First of all, it's time-consuming: My friends may feel forced to commit to things like invitation stuffing and ceremony rehearsing. Plus it's just not necessary does it really matter if my pals stand next to me or sit two feet away? So, I'm pretty sure that my fiance and I are simply not going to do it.
Typically, the most expensive part of being in someone's wedding, for women at least, is having to buy the bridesmaids dress and shoes. While more and more brides are trying to pick gowns that their friends or sisters can wear again, only 34 percent of former bridesmaids have or plan to wear a dress a second time.

Maybe I shouldn't let these things bother me and I should convince myself that I'm "entitled" to ask my friends to drop cash (and give their time) just to be in my wedding after all, I'd do it for them, and, in some cases, I have done it for them. However, I feel more comfortable having friends support me and my guy on our wedding day in a more relaxed, non-obligatory way. Perhaps we will have our closest friends stand up there with us—just not in matching dresses and coordinating suits and ties. Maybe we'll do a "friend processional" before our families walk down the aisle to honor those we're tightest with.

Whatever we decide, all I know is no friend of mine is going to be forced to buy a dress she'll never wear again for my big day. As the bride, I've already got that one covered.