Who was in/will be in the bride's dressing room with you?

To tell you the truth, I kind of would like to get ready by myself. The dress I'm getting married in is just a cool, simple sundress, so it's not like I need help getting into it or anything. I don't see why I can't just get ready like I do every day, by myself, and then spend time visiting with my mom and bridesmaids if they're over at my house waiting for me.

In your case, why don't you nip the problem in the bud by delegating different wedding-day responsibilities to everyone? For example, you can tell your cousins that it would mean the world to you if they go and supervise the decoration of the reception area, and then maybe you could tell your aunts that it would be the biggest help ever if they go check on the flowers or something, etc. That way, they'll all be running around the hotel bugging the vendors instead of you, LOL. And they'll still feel like an essential part of your day, which was all they ever wanted in the first place.

Let's see. For the getting dressed part, my photographer was there. My mother and sister to help. After that, the photographer took me off to get pictures and my mother started to get dressed. Then when I came back, my aunt came in to get my mother and took her off. So I had my 4 bridesmaids (except I think one stayed out in the hallway the whole time), my flower girl and me. That was it. My flower girl was older but if I'd used a young child, I would have had her mother with her.

I think that room will not hold the 16 people you have listed there not including menagerie. Some people have to leave. I think everyone not in the bridal party needs to go sit their butt down for the service. You are right you shouldn't go bridezilla crazy. I had a book. I sat there and read my book while my aunt told people to leave. I think you should ask someone ahead of time if they can keep everyone except for (the following) out of the dressing room and clear it entirely at 15 min left. Or whatever. Then you can just think calm thoughts about keeping your brow from looking stressed and about how happy you are that you are just about to be Mrs Johnson. While the aunt (or friend) asks everyone to leave.

I would try one or a combination of the following:

1) tell them the truth(ish). You'll be so nervous if there are too many people flitting around. Then elect your most helpful, calm (and burly) girlfriend to be the "gatekeeper".

2) give them lots and lots of jobs. "I'm so worried that while i'm getting dressed, the centerpieces will get positioned incorrectly, can you and Aunt Martha take a tape measure to the reception room and make sure they're centered?"

3) get dressed in a girlfriend's room. Move all your stuff the night before. Come back to your room all ready to go an hour or even a half hour before the ceremony so all the womenfolk can come by and tell you how gorgeous you are.

Good luck.

I will have my friend (make up artist) and probably my BM and maybe my FMIL, but I do not want everyone there either. ... If i could be alone with my make-up artist... I will be the happiest bride alive.

If I was you, I would give them duties OUTSIDE the bridal room or maybe, have them inn in shifts... I agree 10+ people while in the room while you are trying to get ready is silly, not to count stressful. Youc antell them: I need Auut Cora, cousing Sally and Mary and Joe at 10-12 to help with X. Suissie and Martha and jane at 12-2 to have a light lunch. After that, X and Y to help with the dress and then at 4, your make and hair with your mom and x or y.

Good luck (only a few days left) : )

At my wedding, it was my 4 bridesmaids, mom, MIL, aunt, flowergirl, and flower girl's mom. A few other aunts and cousins came in to say hi and tell me how pretty I looked before the ceremony, but they were very quickly in and out, and they helped boost my confidence, so it was kinda nice!

I'd keep the aunts, cousins, and "menagerie" out of the dressing room, for the most part. Tell someone, like your mom or MIL or whoever that if the others want to come in and say hi they can, but they need to get out quickly. You need your space to breathe girl! Besides, you don't want everyone to see you before the wedding anyway, so maybe you should just say no!

I had a destination wedding. Same situation as you. Everyone stayed at our hotel. In the morning, I got my fiance out of the room and got ready by myself. I went to the lobby where his parents and my mom and fiance were waiting. We all talked this out the night before so everyone was clear on what was to happen. I didn't want to have to explain myself or my desires to anyone that morning--I figured I'd be under enough stress as it was!

You won't seem like a bridezilla. It is your day. The only people who should be in your bridal room are the people who will be helping you to get ready for your special day. I am like you. I wanted to relax and I didn't want to be overwhelmed. I didn't even have my bridal party sleep over the night before. My sister came over in the morning and we got our hair done and then later in the day the rest of my bridal party came over to get ready. Your mom should help get the word out that before the wedding you only want her and your bridal party with you. Have your mom tell them that you know they mean well and that you love them all but you need to relax and don't want to feel stressed and overwhelmed and that you will see them at the ceremony. You should put a sign on the door that says bridal party only.

I had my mom, my 2 aunts, my moh & bridesmaids. It's completely up to you who you want in there. If there gets to be to many people just ask them to wait outside that you need a few min of quiet. Don't think you have to let everyone in just to make them happy this day is about what the bride and groom want not the rest of the fam.

I also had a destination wedding and while I was getting ready i kept it to a minimum so it wasn't so caotic. I had my mom, mother-in-law, maid of honor and bridesmaid. It was awesome to share it with them and everything went smoothly. I allowed people to check in and come by to say hi but that was it.

~MLF~

Well, I got ready at home, because that's where we left from. It was just me, my mother, my sister, and my cousin. All the rest stayed in the living room, and ate hordoeuvers, and had punch. I don't like too much comotion and fanfare.