i am not sure but what are “shushvinim” discussed in Gemarrah and Halacha that would accompany the bride to the Chupa,
were these not the friends of the Kallah that took her to the chuap – or in modern terminology, bridesmaids??!!
so yes, bridesmaids is a “Jewish thing” much older than the non-jewish version.
and somehow i doubt that the Shushvinim who accompanied the kalla were wearing rags, they proabably put on their finest gowns to honor the occasion.
and as a postscript, Mazel Tov to seahorse, may you be zoche to build a bayis neeman beyisrael.