The Duties of your Wedding Party

You're engaged!
You immediately call your best friend and ask her to be your maid of honor.
With all the excitement, she says yes.
But as your wedding day arrives, your maid of honor hasn't done a single thing.
What's going on?
Sometimes, the people you choose to be in your wedding don't even realize that they have duties in your wedding!

When you select your wedding party, make sure each person understands his or her role and duties in your wedding. If members of your wedding party are unclear of what their duties are, you may end up having more stress. For each person you choose to be in your wedding party, sit down and explain what is expected of them and make sure they up for the role you are bestowing upon them. If they seem uncomfortable about their duties, or don't seem to care, you may want to offer to choose someone else and ask that they still attend your wedding as a guest.

Help make your conversation with your wedding party easier by being prepared, and consider making a list for each person in your wedding party with his or her specific duties.

When your wedding party is aware of their duties, your wedding will go smoothly and you can enjoy your day.
Just remember that each person in your wedding has their own life, so don't overload them with helping you plan every detail of your wedding. And make sure each person knows how much you appreciate them!

Duties of the Maid of Honor:
~Visits wedding locations with the bride.
~Attends all bridal fairs with the bride as well as cake and catering tasting.
~Helps the bride choose her wedding invitations as well as possibly address the invitations.
~Assists in choosing and ordering decorations and favors.
~Goes with the bride when she is shopping for her wedding dress as well as the bridesmaid dresses. Also attends the multiple fittings and gives some feedback on how the dress looks and fits.
~Purchases her bridesmaid dress and shoes.
~Helps bride register for gifts and keeps others informed of where the couple is registered.
~Helps the bride to create the seating arrangement.
Tip: Many times it makes it easier to draw out the tables and move people around until you have a close to perfect fit.
~Hosts and plans the Bridal Shower and the Bachelorette Party. Keeps a list of who gives what gifts so thank you cards can be personalized.
~Helps keep order and organization with the other bridesmaids.
~Attends and helps out during the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
Wedding Day
~Makes sure the bride arrives to the ceremony and that she has everything she needs.
~Attends hair and makeup appointments and makes sure bridesmaids are all ready on time.
~Assists the bride in getting into her dress and makeup.
~Acts as the messenger if the bride wants to communicate messages to the family or groom.
~Helps make sure the bride has privacy if she needs some quiet time before the ceremony.
~Acts as a witness and signs the marriage certificate.
~Poses for photographs with the wedding party. Helps round up the wedding party and relatives for photos.
~Helps the bride with her veil and train (includes bustling the train).
~Helps to keep the bride calm.
~Walks down the aisle and takes her place beside the bride for the duration of the ceremony.
~Holds the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony.
~Holds the groom’s ring until it is needed during the ceremony.
~Stands in receiving line, or mingles and greets guests.
~Makes a toast and/or speech during the wedding reception.
~Helps to ensure the gifts and cards are put away at the ceremony. Helps transport gifts to newlywed’s home after the reception.
~With the help of the wedding party, decorates the getaway car.
~Helps clean up, if needed.

Duties of the Best Man
~Plans the bachelor party, with help from the groomsmen and close friends.
~Attends tux fittings with the groom and helps him select his attire.
~Rents or pays for his own tux, and makes sure the groomsmen have theirs sized and picked up on time.
~Keeps the groomsmen organized and informed in the months leading up to the wedding.
~Attends the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
~Spreads word to guests about where the couple has a gift registry.
Wedding Day
~Helps the groom get dressed.
~Pays the officiant before the ceremony. (Groom typically gives his best man a sealed envelope for this while they're getting ready)
~Ensures the groom and groomsmen arrive to the ceremony location on time, usually 45 minutes before the scheduled start time.
~Walks down the aisle and takes his place beside the groom for the duration of the ceremony.
~Holds the bride's wedding ring until the ring exchange takes place.
~Acts as a witness and signs the marriage license.
~Poses for photographs with the wedding party. Also helps round up wedding party and relatives.
~Stands in receiving line, or mingles and greets guests.
~Gives tips to the appropriate vendors, such as drivers, the caterer, the band, etc. The bride and groom typically provide envelopes for this purpose.
~Sometimes acts as the master of ceremonies for the reception, announcing events and introducing toasts.
~Toasts the bride and groom and gives a short speech (usually the first toast/speech).
~Helps get the dance floor going.
~Acts as a messenger for the groom, communicating information to the wedding party as needed. Also acts as a runner for any last-minute errands that pop up during the reception.
~Helps decorate the getaway car and may possible arrange transportation for the bride and groom at the end of the night.
~Collects the groomsmen's tuxes and returns them, or ensures that each groomsmen does so himself.
~Helps clean up, if needed.

Duties of Bridesmaids:
~Attend dress fittings and ensure their alterations are completed on time.
~Assist in planning the bridal shower and bachelorette party and attend both events.
~Spread the word about the shower, the bachelorette party, and where the couple is registered.
~Help address invitations for the wedding and the shower, if needed.
~Attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
Wedding Day
~Run any last-minute errands the bride needs help with.
~Attend hair and makeup appointments and be ready on time.
~Walk down the aisle and take their places for the duration of the ceremony.
~Pose for photographs with the rest of the wedding party.
~Stand in the receiving line, or mingle with guests.
~Take photos during the reception with personal cameras to capture candid shots.
~Help get guests dancing and mingle.
~Help clean up, if needed.

Duties of Groomsmen:
~Attend tux fittings and have all alterations done on time. Pick up tuxes on time.
~Help the best man plan the bachelor party.
~Attend the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.
Wedding Day
~Help run any last minute errands and lend a hand to the best man, if needed.
~Get dressed on time and arrive to the ceremony location 45 minutes before the wedding starts.
~Escort guests to their seats (as ushers) unless extra people have been delegated for this task.
~Walk down the aisle and take their places for the duration of the ceremony.
~Pose for photographs with the rest of the wedding party.
~Stand in receiving line, or mingle with guests.
~Take photos during the reception with a personal camera to capture candid shots.
~Help get guest dancing.
~Help clean up, if needed.