The following is a list of the most important duties each wedding party member is responsible for. In addition, there is a list outlining the financial responsibilities for each wedding party member. Please note, these lists are only basic guidelines. You can change or adapt these responsibilities to meet your individual needs and goals for the wedding you wish to have.
Maid or Matron of Honor back to top
When a bride asks you to be the Maid or Matron of Honor it is a very special honor. The maid or matron of honor is a person who the bride trusts and feels she can rely on to ensure that everything on her wedding day goes as planned. The maid or matron of honor carries more responsibility than the other bridesmaids. Responsibilities include:
• Host the bridal shower
• Helps bride to select her wedding apparel and accessories
• Helps bride coordinate wedding vendors and plans
• Supervises and organizes the other bridesmaids
for their wedding apparel
• Attends all prenuptial parties
• Coordinates purchase of bridesmaids' gift to bride
• Coordinates purchase of bridesmaids' gift to couple
• Assists in wedding day plans and preparation
• Picks-up last minute items for bride
• Keeps bride on schedule and assists her throughout her wedding day
• Assists bride in dressing for the ceremony and last minute touch ups.
• Witnesses wedding license
• If there is no ring bearer, she will hold the groom's ring until needed
• Holds the bridal bouquet during the ceremony
• Adjusts the bride's veil and train before the processional and the recessional
Bridesmaids back to top
Bridesmaids are usually the bride's closest friends and select family members.
Responsibilities include:
• Assists maid or matron of honor with her duties
• Attends all prenuptial parties
• Assists with bridal shower
• Assists the bride throughout the wedding planning process
• Assists the bride throughout her wedding day
Best Man back to top
The best man is the groom's closest friend.
He plays a very important role.
Responsibilities are varied but may include:
• Coordinates and oversees all ushers' activities and duties
• Coordinates all logistics (rental and fittings) for ushers'
wedding apparel
• Picks-up and returns all rented wedding apparel for the
ushers and the groom
• Organizes bachelor dinner or party
• Organizes purchase of groom's gift from ushers
• Organizes purchase of couple's gift from ushers
• Attends all prenuptial parties
• Helps with honeymoon travel plans
• Attends all prenuptial parties
• Helps groom to dress on his wedding day
• Drives groom to ceremony
• Witnesses marriage license signing
• Brings marriage license to ceremony
• On wedding day, pays any and all service providers as per groom's instructions (i.e. officiating authority, photographers, musicians, etc.)
• If there is no organized transportation, drives bride
and groom to reception
• Conducts "toast" to couple during reception
• If there is no ring bearer, holds bridal ring until needed
• Assists groom with changing his clothes after ceremony
Ushers back to top
Ushers are usually the groom's closest friends and select family members.
Responsibilities include:
• Seats guests at the ceremony
• Rolls and unrolls aisle carpet
• Assists best man with bachelor dinner or party
• At ceremony, provides guests with wedding programs and
maps to reception
• Head usher seats mother of the groom and bride at the reception
• Transports bridesmaids to reception
Flower Girl back to top
• Carries basket with rose pedals, rice or confetti to be thrown before bride's path during processional (Flower girl may carry a bouquet instead of the basket)
• Attends rehearsal dinner
Ring Bearer back to top
Carries pillow with rings attached ( If young child, you may want to attach "mock" rings so that the actual rings do not get lost)
Attends rehearsal dinner
Bride's Parents back to top
• When engagement announced, notify groom and groom's parents to congratulate them
• Holds engagement party for bride and groom
• Prepares guest list for bride
• If necessary, coordinates all lodging arrangements for brides'
out-of-town guests
• Provides bride and groom with special gift
• Provides groom with gift
• Serves as host and hostess of reception
• Mother helps bride choose her wedding gown
• Mother selects her own wedding apparel
• Mother helps bride to keep track of gifts received
• Mother is last person to be seated at ceremony
• Mother stores top layer of wedding cake for bridal couple while they are on honeymoon
• Mother arranges for wedding gown to be dry cleaned and preserved
• Father coordinates his wedding apparel with other men
of the wedding party
• Father rides to ceremony with bride in limousine
• Father gives bride away at ceremony
Groom's Parents back to top
• When told of engagement, notify bride and bride's parents
to congratulate them
• Hold tea or party to introduce bride to family and friends
• Prepare guest list for groom
• If necessary, coordinate all lodging arrangements for
groom's out-of-town guests
• Organize rehearsal dinner (This is one of the most important responsibilities for the groom's parents)
• Provides bride and groom with a special gift
• Provide bride with a gift
• Mother coordinates wedding dress with bride's mother
• Father gives "toast" to bride at rehearsal dinner
• Father coordinates wedding apparel with other men in wedding party
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Bride and her Family back to top
• Engagement photo
• Engagement party
• All stationary including invitations, announcements, thank-you cards, printing, etc.
• Bridal gown and related apparel
• Photographer and photographs
• Videographer
• Bridal bouquets and reception and ceremony arrangements
• All decorations
• Ceremony music
• Reception music
• All ceremony expenses
• All reception expenses
• Wedding guest book
• Groom's wedding ring
• Groom's wedding gift
• Bridesmaids' gifts
• Lodging for bridesmaids
• All transportation of bride, groom and wedding party to and from wedding ceremony and reception
• Bridesmaids' lunch and dinner
• Medical exam and blood tests
Groom and His Family back to top
• Bride's engagement ring
• Bride's wedding ring
• Bride's gift
• Marriage license
• Wedding apparel
• Gifts for ushers
• Fee for officiating authority
• Bride's bouquet
• Bride's going away corsage
• Boutonnieres
• Corsages
• Rehearsal dinner
• Honeymoon
• Ushers' accessories
• Medical exam and blood tests
Maid/Matron of Honor and Bridesmaids back to top
• Own wedding apparel and accessories
• Bridal shower
• Bride's gift
• Couple's gift
Best Man and Ushers back to top
• Own wedding apparel (groom pays for accessories)
• Bachelor dinner or party
• Groom's gift
• Couple's gift |
Who does what?
