As a bride, it is not uncommon to wonder whether or not you absolutely have to have your fiancé’s sisters, as bridesmaids at your wedding. You probably feel like you have enough bridesmaids already and therefore you have no room for your fiancé’s four sisters. Simply put, you do not have to ask your future sister in-laws to be your bridesmaids, but it would be in your best interests to ask them. At the moment, it may seem like it’s a good idea to snub your fiancé’s sisters, but you have to think about the future. Can you imagine how awkward, future thanksgiving dinners with your husband’s family will be if you decide to snub his sister when picking your bridesmaids?

There are Exceptions to Every Rule

While asking your future sister in law to be a bridesmaid is a good thing, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if the sister in question strongly disapproves of your relationship with her brother, you can leave her out of the wedding party, without guilt. Since planning a wedding is stressful enough already, it doesn’t make sense to have someone who doesn’t like you, in your wedding party.  If you feel the need to somehow include her in the wedding, ask her to help you with the wedding place cards and place card holders.

Another exception to the above rule is where your future sister in law, isn’t interested in being a bridesmaid for one reason or another. For example, if the two of you aren’t close, she may find it weird if you ask her. Most of the time, if your fiancé’s sister is interested in being part of the wedding party, you’ll know in advance. However, in the event that you have no idea whether or not she wants to be part of your bridal party, ask her but leave enough room for her to back out. For instance, you could tell her that you will understand if she is not comfortable with the idea of being a bridesmaid. If she says no, do not be offended; she probably prefers to be with her own family on the wedding day.

Other Ways to Include Future In-Laws in your Wedding

Needless to say, it is not always possible to have all your future sister in-laws in the bridal party. This is especially true when your fiancé has more than one sister. Communication is one of the best ways to make your inlaws feel included in the wedding planning process. For instance, ask them to help you pick an hors d’ouevres or flowers for the reception. However, remember to only ask closed ended questions as opposed to open ended questions so as to keep them from taking over the wedding.

Although including the obligatory bridesmaid in your wedding party may seem like a lot of extra work, it is a great way to avoid unnecessary conflict. It also gives you additional bargaining power in the future. After all, it’s only one day of your life and these people are going to be your family for the rest of your life.

Ashley Nelson has been in the wedding industry for a long time and has planned a lot of weddings including her own. She now enjoys helping stressed brides to pick out unique wedding favors.

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