[iowaldy]

Hi there,
I have been debating what to do about my bridesmaid situation, and I think I am lucky enough to have so many wonderful important girlfriends in my life that while my fiancee only wants to have his 2 brothers as groomsman...I can only narrow my list to 8 lovely ladies. My fiancee wants to keep the number of actual people who stand up in the wedding limited to family (3 on my side and 2 on his), and I havn't asked my 5 college friends yet. What I'm wondering is if there is a tactful way to ask these ladies if they will be bridesmaids in my wedding, with the only catch being that they wouldn't walk down the aisle in the ceremony. They have all repeatedly said to me that they will be happy to help me with any planning or details that may arise, and I think it would be a huge unexpected and happy surprise to all of them to take a formal part in the wedding since I had initially mentioned to them that we may keep the attendants to a small number. I know this is a bit untraditional but basically if we do it this way we can have the family members stand up with us and then my girlfriends could possibly be greeters or something for the ceremony? I'd like to make handmade surprise requests asking them and give them in a few weeks, but I'm wondering a. Does this seem like a doable idea as a compromise between my fiancee and I? and b. How can I mention this to them (i.e. not walking down the aisle and not standing up in the wedding detail with them in a non-tacky or uppity way that makes them understand we are just going to have family stand up with us but I'd still like them to be my bridesmaids? Thanks for any advice you can provide! -Heather

[Wedding Queen and MOG]

Agreed, but, if you would like to give them a role in your wedding, such as greeters, that would be nice. THey would not wear the bridesmaids dresses or be considered as part of the bridal party.

[iowaldy]

Thank you both I'm going to have them do a reading together and I'm so excited to have reached this decision. I really appreciate your help.

[Wedding Queen and MOG]

You're welcome. They can also hand out programs, bubbles, rice or petal tosses in the church or, at the reception, they could watch over the guest book.