- A bride had 34 bridesmaids at her destination wedding.
- Singer/songwriter Casme Carter told INSIDER she “couldn’t imagine not sharing that moment” with her big group of female relatives and friends.
- She had actually planned to have 50 bridesmaids, but 16 of them couldn’t make it.
- She insisted there was no drama, though she did lose her engagement ring in the ocean.
- Visit INSIDER’s homepage for more stories.
Being a bridesmaid can be stressful at times, whether it’s due to financial obligations or clashing opinions with other members of the wedding party.
However, one bride managed to keep things drama-free, even with 34 ladies by her side.
Casme Carter, a singer/songwriter from New Orleans, had a whopping 34 bridesmaids at her wedding – and that’s only because the other 14 of the total 50 couldn’t make it.
She told INSIDER that she had 150 guests from across the US in attendance at her Destin, Florida destination wedding on June 2.
34 of them were bridesmaids because she "couldn't imagine not sharing that moment with them."
"They've all seen me in different places and stages in my life and they knew my desire for love and to be loved adored and married," she told INSIDER.
Carter is a mentor to young girls, and also runs a magazine showcasing women who use their power to positively impact the lives of others.
The group was made up of her six sisters, who were maids of honour, as well as friends and mentees.
"A few ladies couldn't make it," she added.
She said her now-husband Gary was shocked when she told him she wanted so many people in the wedding party.
"He was like, 'Are you serious?' [but] he never said 'that's too many' because he knows me. I'm surrounded by great women all the time. He sees the support and love."
Gary, meanwhile, had 12 groomsmen.
While all the bridesmaids had to fund their trips to Florida, Carter told INSIDER: "When I'm rich I'm doing a bridesmaids' retreat all on me!"
She added that she told her bridesmaids not to bring gifts, because attending the wedding was a gift in and of itself.
She also said the bridesmaids split accommodation to help save money.
However, the guests were all expected to pack certain clothing items for the different wedding events: a long neutral-colored maxidress or sundress for the bridemaids, African print for a "beach breakfast," a brown bathing suit for a beach party and photoshoot, and khaki shorts for the reception.
The couple also made shirts for all of the guests.
The ceremony took place at 5 a.m. for sunrise, which Carter said made things easier with such a big group.
She insisted no drama or problems arose among the wedding party - though she did lose her engagement ring to the ocean during the beach breakfast.
"We didn't find my engagement ring," she said. "It hurt, I cried for a couple of hours."
Otherwise, the wedding, which involved a sunset reception and "a jam session at the beach," was a success.
As far as how she maintains such strong relationships with her 34 bridesmaids, she said that social media makes it easy.
"I still travel often so I get to see them and we check on each other frequently," she said.
