Maid of honor duties
Filed under: Etiquette, Wedding party
So, your best friend is getting married, and you get to be the maid of honor. Congratulations to both of you! Now what?Different brides will want different things from their bridesmaids. Sometimes all you've got to do is wear the dress she picks out and stand next to her for fifteen minutes while she says her vows. Other brides will want you involved in every step of the planning (there's a fine line between wanting your bridesmaids to be involved and demanding their help -- don't cross this line into bridezilla territory!). You know your best friend much better than we do, so you probably already know how she's going to be. But if neither of you has planned a wedding before, you may be lost on what it means to be a bridesmaid. Don't worry -- we've got you covered with this list of common maid of honor responsibilities:
- Party Planning -- Is the bride having an engagement party? Who is throwing her shower(s)? It is not your responsibility to throw these parties yourself, but you will probably be involved in the planning. Find out who will be throwing these parties and be on hand to help coordinate. The one party that is definitely your job is the bachelorette party. Work with the other bridesmaids to be sure you send the bride off with one last wild night!
- Be The Bride's Secretary -- Someone needs to record gifts at showers so thank you notes go to the right places. You will also help with other boring but necessary tasks like addressing and stuffing invitations. Bring a good movie and a bottle of wine.
- You Are Her Right Hand Woman on the Big Day -- Getting around in a wedding dress is no easy feat, and the bride will be incredibly busy. Help her get into her dress and accompany her to her hair and makeup appointments on the day of the wedding. Be there to help her in the bathroom if her dress is too much to handle. Hold the rings before the vows and hold her bouquet while the couple exchanges rings. You'll stand in the receiving line after the ceremony and sign the marriage certificate as a witness. Help bustle the bride's train for the reception, and at the end of the reception, you'll help her change out of her wedding dress, and make sure the dress gets to the cleaners and safely home if the bride is leaving directly for her honeymoon.
- Set The Mood -- Sometimes it takes a while for people to get comfortable dancing. If the music starts and no one goes to the dance floor, you and the others in the wedding party should break the ice by getting out there yourselves. Don't be shy.
- Toast The Bride -- You can either toast her at the rehearsal dinner or at the reception, but make sure you've got something prepared.
Some of these tasks can be delegated or shared among other members of the wedding party, but as maid or matron of honor, it is your job to make sure they are all getting done. The bride is much less likely to turn into a bridezilla if she doesn't have to do everything herself.
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