Your Bridal Party Size

Figuring out how many bridesmaids to choose (let alone who to choose) can get stressful. Sometimes choosing bridesmaids can feel like you're the captain of the kickball team looking at a crowd of eligible players, trying to choose the top 5 or 10 for your team. But just because you have a lot of close friends or family members, doesn't mean they all need to stand by your side on your wedding day. They can be there for you in other ways that don't require a hand-picked chiffon dress or a rehearsed gallop down the aisle. If you find yourself breaking out in a stress sweat over how many bridesmaids to choose, remember these four rules for choosing your bridesmaids.

There's No "Right" Bridesmaid Number

You don't need a certain number of bridesmaids. You don't have to choose an odd number or an even number or a certain number, like five, because you've seen that most people on your Facebook timeline have selected that amount. It's not a numbers game and there's certainly no rule of thumb you should abide by when it comes to how many women (or men) to lead the way for you down the aisle.

Don't Feel Pressure to Have the Same Amount of Bridesmaids as Groomsmen

You also don't need to have the same number of bridesmaids as your fiancé has groomsmen. The only time anyone will notice that you have less bridesmaids than he has groomsmen, is when it's time to walk down the aisle. Which, by the way, no one really pays much attention to because their sitting their fidgeting with excitement, waiting for you to walk down the aisle. If you're nervous about your pictures looking off with an uneven number, ask the photographer to stage different setups and poses for the pictures so that it's not just a straight line of people standing beside one another.

Just Because Someone Chose You as a Bridesmaid Doesn't Mean You Have to Choose Them

If you're picking your bridesmaids based on who has picked you in the past, you may have over 20 bridesmaids (this is a shout-out for us "always-a-bridesmaid" girls). You don't have to grace someone with the bridesmaid honor just because they graced you. If you're still close with them, go for it! If you haven't spoken in two years, it may be a little awkward rekindling your friendship during your wedding adventure.

It's Okay to Not Have Any Bridesmaids—Or Include a Bridesman Instead

You absolutely don't have to have any bridesmaids at all. There's no cardinal rule about how many bridesmaids you should have. It's just an age-old tradition, and you can still have a booming bachelorette party and invite all your gal-pals—they may even be happier in the long run that you saved them from having to shell out a clump of cash to buy a polyester dress they are never going to wear again! On the other hand, have a guy in your life that you can't imagine leaving out? By all means—bestow the "bridesman" title upon him and add him to the group.

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