...speaking as someone with a large social circle who did have twelve bridal party members*, comprising primarily people I couldn't imagine my wedding without, I also know that I had a few friends who I would have liked to have in the wedding party but it didn't work out. I also had a lot of anxiety about this. Obviously the other people were invited to the wedding (I didn't have a bridal shower), but it wasn't so much about "I love my cousin more than I love this friend", it was also "who do I trust to stand firm against my mom" and similar considerations.

* the average in my friend group was 8.