How Many Shirts Should I Order for My Wedding Party?

How many shirts should I order for my wedding party? Most brides ask this question somewhere between the engagement and the bachelorette weekend, after realizing that “wedding party shirts” actually means several different orders for several different events. Bachelorette, rehearsal dinner, getting-ready morning, day-of family — each one is its own count, and the math gets confusing fast. Below is a clean breakdown so you can order the right number of shirts the first time.

This is for the bride, MOH, or wedding planner who’s trying to figure out exactly how many of each shirt to order without overshooting or running short.

The Four Wedding Shirt Orders (and How to Count Each)

Most weddings have at least one shirt order, and many have all four. Treat each as its own count — don’t try to combine. (For background on standard wedding party roles, The Knot’s guide to wedding party roles covers the basics.)

1. Bachelorette Weekend Shirts

Bachelorette shirts are usually the first order, placed 4–8 weeks before the trip. Count is straightforward: one shirt per attendee, plus 1–2 spares for last-minute additions.

• Typical bachelorette group size: 5–12 women
• Order 6–14 shirts total (group size + 1–2 spares)
• Common split: matching design for everyone except the bride, who gets a different “Bride” shirt

Our bachelorette party shirts guide covers design ideas and minimums for small group orders.

2. Rehearsal Dinner Shirts (Optional)

Not every wedding does rehearsal dinner shirts, but if you do, the count is the wedding party + immediate family.

• Typical count: bridesmaids + groomsmen + parents of the couple + close grandparents = 10–25 shirts
• Add 2–3 spares for late additions
• Often coordinated with welcome-bag swag or wedding favors thematically

3. Getting-Ready Morning Shirts

Bridesmaids and bride wear matching robes, pajamas, or button-downs while getting ready. Count is small and well-defined.

• Bride: 1 specialty shirt or robe (often “Bride” or “Mrs. [Name]”)
• Maid of Honor: 1 specialty version (often “Maid of Honor”)
• Bridesmaids: 1 each (often matching “Bridesmaid” design)
• Mother of the bride / mother of the groom: 1–2 shirts if including (often “Mother of the Bride/Groom”)
• Total: typically 4–10 shirts

4. Day-Of Family or Guest Shirts

The biggest order if you choose to do it. Common for casual weddings, destination weddings, or family-heavy events.

• Count: confirmed RSVP guest count + 10–15% buffer for late additions and incorrect sizes
• For a 100-guest wedding, order 110–115 shirts
• For a 200-guest wedding, order 220–230 shirts
• Adjust for whether kids get shirts (some weddings do, some don’t)

For larger family-themed orders, family reunion shirts covers similar quantity logic for big group orders.

Should You Order Extras?

Yes — almost always. Wedding planning is famously chaotic, and extras protect against the most common surprises:

• Late additions. Plus-ones who said no and then changed their mind. Family members who flew in unexpectedly.
• Sizing surprises. Someone ordered medium but actually wears large.
• Damaged or lost shirts. A spilled drink at the rehearsal dinner ruins the shirt for the morning.
• Photo gifts post-wedding. Extra shirts make great thank-you gifts for guests who couldn’t attend.

Standard buffer: 10–15% over the confirmed count. For very small orders (under 10), order 1–2 spare shirts. For larger orders (50+), 10% is usually enough.

How to Handle Sizes You Don’t Know Yet

For close family and the wedding party, ask each person directly — text the group chat with “what size shirt do you wear, S/M/L/XL.” For guest shirts where you don’t have individual sizes:

• Standard adult mixed-gender breakdown: 15% S, 25% M, 30% L, 20% XL, 10% 2XL — similar to most apparel ordering benchmarks documented across bridal industry resources like Brides.com
• Adjust for your guest demographics — older crowd skews larger, younger crowd skews smaller
• Always order 1–2 spare M and L — the most common sizes that get exchanged

What to Do With Leftover Shirts

Order extras intentionally and have a plan for them.

• Thank-you gifts for guests who couldn’t make the wedding
• Anniversary giveaways on the 1st or 5th anniversary
• Future family reunions — many couples order matching extras for the rehearsal-dinner shirt and use them at family events for years
• Extras for the photographer’s “after” shot — group hugs, group jumps, the post-ceremony casual portraits

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the minimum order for wedding shirts?

None. We have custom shirts in Austin with no minimum, so you can order one specialty bride shirt or 200 guest shirts in the same order. Per-shirt cost drops significantly at higher quantities.

How far in advance should I order each batch?

Bachelorette shirts: 4–6 weeks before the trip. Rehearsal dinner shirts: 4–6 weeks before the wedding. Getting-ready shirts: 4–8 weeks before. Day-of guest shirts: 6–10 weeks before to allow for sizing changes and shipping.

Can I exchange a shirt for a different size if it doesn’t fit?

Yes, on standard stock garments. Specialty fabrics or custom dyes are case-by-case. Order extras in mid-sizes (M and L) to handle exchanges in real time.

What if some guests don’t want a shirt?

It happens. Plan for an 80–90% take rate on guest shirts — not everyone wants one. Adjust your count down slightly if you have a sense of guests who’d politely decline.

Should I order matching shirts or different ones for different roles?

Both work. Most common combo: matching base design for the wedding party, with role-specific text variations (Bride, Bridesmaid, Maid of Honor, Mother of the Bride). Day-of guest shirts almost always use a single matching design.