The ladies you choose to stand beside you on your wedding day represent the nearest and dearest of friends and family who have supported you in life and in wedding planning. Selecting your bridesmaids can prove to be challenging if you must narrow it down from numerous choices, but with help from the following tips, you're sure to make the perfect selection for your bridal party.

Bridal responsibilities. When choosing your bridesmaids, remember these ladies will serve as your support system throughout the wedding planning process. Whether they are accompanying you during vendor meetings, tying ribbons on favors or acting as a soundboard for important wedding related decisions, these ladies must be willing to offer time and effort as a bridesmaid.

This isn't to say you are hiring them for a well-paid, full time job in which they are on call 24/7, but you should choose ladies who are logistically and emotionally available during your engagement. With this in mind, perhaps you shouldn't ask a friend to be in your wedding knowing she will be eight and a half months pregnant around your wedding day. This isn't an insult to her, your friendship and especially not her pregnancy, but you know she'll be "busy" with other very important things.

Stealing the show. We all have a friend (or friends) who love to be the center of attention at all times. This is fine the majority of the time, but it is simply not acceptable when she is stealing your bridal thunder. If you know a particular friend will demand to standout amongst the other bridesmaids or fight your bridesmaid dress choice merely for the sake of argument, it's best to let her sit this one out. She might be a great source of entertainment but on your special day, you must be the star of the show.

Keeping it in the family. Every family dynamic is unique but as a general rule of thumb, if you include one sister in your bridal party, you should include them all. Sure, there are caveats and exceptions to this "rule", such as where to draw the line with half-siblings, step-siblings or if you happen to have ten sisters. As I mentioned, there is no absolute right or wrong choice, but within reason, it's best to be all inclusive. Your wedding is a momentous family occasion and excluding siblings, especially due to any familial discord, makes a less than graceful statement.

Brutal honesty. One of the most important traits of a bridesmaid, and a great friend for that matter, is total honesty. While it might hurt in the moment, you want a bridesmaid to tell you that your over-the-top, riding in on a painted pink elephant grand entrance idea is absolutely ridiculous. You need your ladies to keep you grounded and sane throughout the planning process, and choosing a true friend should do the trick.

The good, the bad and the ugly. Whether they are blood related or sisters of the soul, your bridesmaids are a representation of what brought you to this point in your life. They've seen you through the best of times as well as the worst (think about all the tears and gallons of ice cream you've shared), and they should be honored to celebrate the most important day of your life by your side. It's important to choose ladies who have been there for you and will continue to stand by you as you take this next step in life.

It's difficult to take a lifetime of friendships and narrow it down to a handful of bridesmaids, but with careful thought and consideration, your choice will come without tremendous effort.