A bride is considering asking two of her closest friends to step down from her wedding party — but wonders if she is overreacting.
In a post on Reddit’s “Bridezillas” forum, the bride shared that she is set to marry her fiancé in July 2025 and wants to have eight bridesmaids, including two of her closest friends, whom she referred to as “Friend A” and “Friend B.” She said she recently served as a bridesmaid for Friend A’s wedding and went above and beyond in her role.
“I was a bridesmaid to Friend A and did anything and everything she asked during her wedding/bachelorette,” the bride wrote, adding, “Friend B was also included in this wedding. Anything that Friend A wanted we both supported.”
However, the bride said, now that she has embarked on her own “bridal journey,” Friend A “straight-up tells me that she can’t do the bachelorette” and “she can’t afford the hairstylist I’m bringing.”
Bride and bridesmaid (stock image).
Docinets Vasil/Getty
“Anything Friend A wanted [for her wedding], I did it in a heartbeat. And she made us drive 4 hours away for her bachelorette and 5 hours to her hometown for her wedding,” the bride wrote, noting that Friend A’s bachelorette and wedding costs totaled “over $400.”
But the bride said she “made it work” — despite not having the financial means at the time — because it meant “so much” to her friend.
Faced with Friend A’s disappointing reaction to her wedding plans, the bride said she remained calm and “cool” about it because “things happen.”
She then detailed that she planned a bridal lunch with her bridesmaids to “go over all the bachelorette ideas,” but Friend A and Friend B did not show up due to “school/clinical obligations.” And afterward, neither friend reached out to “ask what they missed” — despite the bride planning the lunch a month in advance to ensure that all of her bridesmaids could attend.
In addition, the bride said that Friend B has now told her she too can’t afford to attend the bachelorette party. She also “still hasn’t paid for makeup which I’ve asked everyone to do so to spread out costs.”
“Mind you this bachelorette is in June 2025 and the total cost would be around $330,” the bride explained, noting that the cost would include the “airbnb, T-shirts and themed outfits.”
“I already feel tremendously guilty about asking everyone to pay for dress, hair + makeup and bachelorette trip,” the bride continued, before adding, “I’ve given my girls bridesmaids gifts, and I plan on spoiling them on the trip with more gifts.”
Bridesmaid (stock image).
Getty
At this point, the bride is considering “kicking” her two friends out of her bridal party. “I’ve talked about it with my fiancé and he supports my decision seeing how much it’s been upsetting me,” she wrote.
She concluded her post by asking, “Am I being a bridezilla for asking them to step down?”
In the comments section, the majority of people were sympathetic to bridesmaids’ point of view — and concerns about cost — and encouraged the bride to get some perspective.
“I’m sorry, I know you’re trying to be reasonable about bridesmaid expenses, but the fact is that weddings have become a big financial drain for everyone concerned, and people are starting to push back. Every damn bride thinks it’s okay to plan expensive trips and demand her bridesmaids spend hundreds on the look she wants,” one Redditor wrote.
Another commenter did not mince words, writing, “Omg you are delusional. No one cares about your ‘journey’ as much as you do. No one.”
“Your bridesmaids should not have to pay for hair and makeup if it is something you are requiring,” added another user. “They are being honest with you about their financial situation — your wedding is not their priority nor should it be.”
