I’ve always wondered how people pick their bridesmaids. Would you pick your best friends? Your sisters? Here are three different ways you could choose—I find them all intriguing!

1) Don’t have any. I always thought I’d have a few bridesmaids, but this summer I went to my friend Preethi’s wedding and loved that she didn’t have a wedding party. It was just her and her husband standing together, and it looked so sweet and intimate. “The main reason I decided to not have bridesmaids was that we had two weddings, and we wanted to keep it simple,” Preethi said.

2) Choose a mix of friends and family. When my cousin Denise got married, she picked her sister-in-law, two friends who had a “calming effect” on her, and me and our cousin Nathalie. “Originally, I wanted just my cousins to be my bridesmaids. Unfortunately, Justin had more than two groomsmen so I had to pick two of my friends as well. It was a really tough decision because I have so many friends that I wanted to include, but I wanted to keep the wedding party small,” she said.

3) Pick a good friend from each important stage in your life. My friend Pearl told me about this option which I think is brilliant. You could pick your friend from jr. high whom you used to write 3-page notes to (front and back) during history class, your college friend who you’d stay up late watching Sex and the City and eating Cheetos with, and your friend from your early 20s who consistently made you feel better about not knowing what to do with your life. It would be wonderful to be surrounded by all the women who’ve played a role in shaping the person you are today.

Who would you choose? Or, if you’re married, who did you choose? 


(bottom image by Leah Kua via Green Wedding Shoes)