need suggestions on bridal party

I have 5 sisters (who I adore) and 5 best friends (and I'm talking - true-have been through everything with me- best friends). Of those ten, two are my maids of honor, which works out bc my fiancee has two best men. That leaves 8 more females. I want to officially include everyone in my wedding party, but if I do, having one guy for every two girls, that would be about 16 people, not including the flower girl and ring bearer. I'm a bit frazzled about the crowd growing impatient, waiting for the bride... 16 or 18 people later. Any ideas for creative processionals that might not look so overwhelming?

anjer, i just had to say, i love your avatar picture! what a great movie.

amanda, i'm having 7 bms, and 7 ushers, but i have no good ideas.

Do they have to be bridesmaids? Can they do a reading...ususally you have 3 readings if it's a catholic ceremony. If you're having a mass then you can have people to bring up the gifts.

You can't go by me only because I have my MOH and 1 BM so it's just the three of us so I wouldn't know what a huge bridal party would look like. Good Luck!

We had 8 BMs and 8 GMs, as well as a Flower Girl and Jr. GM. Not to mention the fact that we're Jewish and EVERYONE goes down the aisle, including the Grandparents, Rabbi/Cantor, Chuppah Bearers, AND the Groom and his parents! Each attendant walked down by themselves. 22 entrances were made in all.

No one said ANYTHING about it. In fact, I'm still getting compliments on our ceremony.

Maybe it would seem less overwhelming if you had just the girls (and the FG/RB) walk down the aisle. I want my processional to be the traditional Catholic kind, where just the girls go down the aisle alone. All the men are already at the front of the church when the music starts.

If you do it this way, the groom and best man wait at the front/side of the church while everyone is coming in. When the ushers are done ushering, they walk up the side aisle to the front. Then the music starts and the BMs start processing.