How Many Bridesmaids Is Too Many? One Bride Goes Viral for Having 95 at Her Nuptials

While your wedding is ultimately about celebrating the love between you and your partner, it’s also a time to recognize all of the family members and friends who have supported you and your relationship. On your big day, you may ask some of these people to stand next to you as you say “I do” to your significant other, fulfilling the time-honored tradition of being your bridesmaids. However, figuring out who to ask to perform this role can be a stressful and difficult process. You may want to have a small wedding party, only inviting your siblings to be next to you at the ceremony, or you may decide to extend an invitation to a number of friends from different areas of your life. Regardless of the final number you land on for your bridal party, it’s unlikely that it will surpass 15—or even 20. Yet, one bride did just that—inviting 95 people to be a bridesmaid at her nuptials.  

The bride, Kathryn McGowan, recently tied the knot with her husband, Jack McGowan, in Northern Island. According to the couple, one of the first conversations they had in the planning process was about the number of bridesmaids. “I was thinking and thinking about how it was going to work and I thought in my head, what’s the biggest number of bridesmaids I could have?,” the bride told the BBC. While she disclosed to the outlet that the duo initially discussed her having between seven and 10 friends beside her on the day, the count was soon raised to 95.

Since the newlyweds’ guest list included 250 people, 38 percent of attendees were ultimately bridesmaids. Most members of the bridal party were students at the bride’s dance school—and ranged in age from six to 40. “All my dancers and my friends that have been in my life for a long time, they’re still very much a massive part of my life,” she told the BBC. Even though most bridal parties don’t include 95 members, the groom said he wasn’t shocked by the number. “I’m used to these big events with lots and lots of our dancers, so I strangely expected nothing less,” he told the outlet. However, it appears that he didn’t attempt to match the number, asking just eight of friends to be groomsmen for the occasion.

Rather than select one dress for the bridesmaids to all wear, the bride provided them with a color scheme—and asked them to don an ensemble that featured one of the hues. “It was really interesting to see all their different styles and personalities showing through,” she told the BBC. And while it’s unclear whether the couple held a rehearsal prior to the ceremony, the bride said that the procession went smoothly. “The girls all know how to get in formation and organize themselves very quickly,” she said in the interview, adding that they walked in two uniform lines down the aisle.