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i definitely wouldn't be offended. the bride and groom at a wedding mr. bee and i attended two years ago did something similar to what you're thinking. they had their siblings be their official bridesmaids/groomsmen. then they gave their honorary bridesmaids orange pashminas to wear, and the honorary groomsmen all wore khaki pants with navy blazers.
In my humble opinion I would not do this. Your friends can attend your bridal events, be in pictures, without having to pledge their help to you. I think instead of asking, you should let them offer. I know your intention is to have them near, but they can be near without imposing on them.
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Ah "honorary bridesmaid" is much better than "faux bridesmaid"!
I would totally understand if a friend only wanted to have family up there. The one tricky thing is, does your FI want to pick groomsmen? If he doesn't, then the honorary bridesmaid idea probably wouldn't work...
This is a great idea! I would totally understand if I was a close friend of yours, and I would want to help out with everything even if I couldn't stand at the ceremony. Standing at the ceremony is just a small part of it all. Plus, you could still have photos of them, your "faux" bridal party! How cute is that?? I wouldn't feel imposed upon at all, in fact I expect my bestest of best friends to have the same dilemma! I like Mrs. Bee's suggestion that they wear something different than the bridal party, but matching each other. They are your closest friends, afterall, so being there for you should be a treat!
IMO, I don't like the idea too much. I see a BP as the people you are recognizing, because you are close to them AND who are busting their butts, (hopefully) to help you get ready for/on your wedding day. It doesn't sound wonderful to ask them to do work like planning your shower and bach party (which often means they shell out money) and help you get ready. You really shouldn't be asking people to throw you a shower anyway. (Although I don't really think you quite meant that you'd simply ask them to throw you a shower.) And yet they don't get that honor of being a BM. A corsage is nice, as is mention in the program, but it is a sad alternative to being honored as a BM.
You mentioned that these girls were expecting to be BMs. That makes it much worse, IMO. If they are really looking forward to it, I think that asking them to do the duties, but saying I really can't recognize you properly, is not going to go over well. But you're the only one who knows them well enough to know how they might react. If they weren't looking forward to being BMs, and didn't care, they'd probably be happy to help out. But it sounds like, even if they do agree to help you, they will be really hurt (maybe more so than if you just let things be.)
You said you'd loke them to be BMs. They seems to want to be BMs. I think the easiest solution, is to find a way to make them BMs. I bet if you tried you could squish 6 girls at the ceremony somehow.
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I've been an honorary BM before, and my FI's been an honorary GM. I see nothing wrong with that. It tells these people that you love them enough to include them. Just explain what you said about having to have family stand up with you and your limited space. You can ask them to wear any black dress of their choosing and give them matching corsages to set them apart from the crowd. They can walk in after the guests, but before the BMs and sit in the first or second row. I wouldn't expect them to do as much helping as I would the "real" BMs, out of courtesy and respect for their feelings, but inviting them to all the lunches, dinners, parties, and to be in pics is an exellent way to make them feel included. Personally, I was thankful to be a special part of my friend's day and not have to buy the dress. 
If they are really great friends of yours, then they are going to want to be there for you anyways, reguardless of what the title is.
Mr. Sushi and I are not even having a bridal party, but I still wanted my bestests to be there. They totally understood why we're not having a bridal party (none of the mister's friends were able to make it to our DW and it didn't seem fair for me to have girls standing next to me and no one next to him so we exed out the whole idea) and wanted to be there for me too. One of my friends wanted to be a bridesmaid sooo bad that she and our other best friend went shopping together to find similar dresses, they will be my honerary bridemaids.
Frankly, I hate being a bridesmaid - I know that sounds horrible, but it's true. However, on more than one occassion I've been asked by friends to help out with special wedding things or be there when she is getting ready, and it's great. I felt very special and important- but I didn't have to buy an ugly dress or spend time with the groom's sister who I've never met before. I think it will be fine (and maybe even a relief!) to tell your friends that you're only asking family to be in the bridal party, but that you would love for them to help you get ready and keep you sane the morning of the wedding. No special gifts or outfits are necessary!
This is EXACTLY what we're doing. My four closest girlfriends have been absolutely indispensable in helping me plan, but we're only having family in the ceremony. My girls are invited to the "events," but don't have to buy dresses, etc. I'm buying them each something special for the tremendous amount of work they've put in as a thanks, but it's not matchy-matchy or typical.
I wanted my girls to feel special and a part of my day, and they're even putting together the slumber party the night before for me--and they'll all be there to help out the morning of.
I think it's a great idea.
There is a Southern tradition that addresses this, but I can't remember the name. Basically the bride's close friends who are not bridesmaids are still asked to be part of the ??? party. (Maybe the Hostess Party? Help me Southern brides..) They help the bride the day of the wedding with getting ready or setting up and are usually given a corsage or something to signal that they are part of the group. (Much like Ushers are close friends or family but not Groomsmen.)
I personally would prefer to be part of that because it means that I get to help with all the things that I like (throwing the shower and other parties, helping the bride get ready, helping set up) but not have the extra expense or hassle of purchasing the BM dress (and shoes and hairdo and makeup...)
hmmm..i'm a southern bride, and i would probably call them Hostesses, but that seems so...Ruby Tuesday's or Olive Garden employee....
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in the S this can be called a "house party"
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I went to a wedding that had what I think they called the "house party" or something like that. Those ladies all wore black dresses of their choosing and they got to sit up in the first or second row with the families.
I think they were all really honored to play a role, so I wouldn't hesitate to do it, especially since you just have your siblings standup with you.
Just make sure to tell them in a special way that conveys that it is an honor. I sent my bridesmaids flowers with personal notes explaining why I want them to be part of my day and asking if they would do it.
Good luck!
We have decided to only have our siblings stand with us as well (my sister and his brother), plus my son and daughter. My close friends all know of the decision and were totally okay with it. They are still chatting with me about wedding plans, helping me shop for stuff and overall being my friends. They just won't be standing up with me the day of my wedding.
If I were you, I would just tell them how you feel and make sure they stick around for pictures.
So I'm kinda in love with this idea. I don't think I'll go full blown and ask my other friends I couldn't make a part of the bridal party, BUT it got me to thinking, what about if for those women who mean so much to us but we couldn't make them a part of the bridal party for whatever reason, you gave them a special "invite" into the bridal room before the wedding. To see you, to take some pics, etc... The wheels are now turning in my head and I think that is exactly what I'm going to do. I think at the wedding shower, since it'll be closer to the wedding and therefore my mind should be set by that time on who these special people will be, I'll write them a card telling them how much their friendship means to me and that even though I was not able to make them a part of the bridal party doesn't mean that I don't want to have them there to see me beforehand, to help me get ready, and to be honorary bridesmaids. Then I'll give them each a little corsage when they come in to the room beforehand! Ok thank you for posting this and getting my wheels turning! I have quite a few close friends that I really, really want to make a special part of our day but we limited our bridal party to four each. This gives me a perfect medium to still include them in some small way!
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We both decided to only ask our siblings to be in the wedding party. He has two brothers and I have two sisters. However, I feel that I am missing out on the whole purpose of having bridesmaids - having my close friends (in addition to my sisters) with me up until and throughout my wedding day. Our ceremony won't have any readings and there isn't a lot of room where it will be held to have a lot of people up there.
Is it cheesy or offensive to ask 4 close friends to be my "faux bridesmaids" meaning that I won't ask them to dress in the same dress or be in the ceremony, but I will ask if they can come help me get ready, come to the rehearsal dinner, be in photos, and help plan my bachelorette party and bridal shower.
Maybe I can give them corsages to wear? and mention them in the program? I think they expect to be bridesmaids and are probably wondering why I haven't asked them yet.
Would you be offended? Is anyone facing a similar situation?