Duties of wedding attendants:
These guidelines discuss the general duties of the Best Man, Maid or Matron of Honor, and other Wedding Party members. Your Attendant's duties may vary more, or less, from this list.
The Duties of the Best Man:
- To be the groom’s confidantGenerally to assist the groom during planning and on the wedding day
- To plan and organize the bachelor party assisted by the groomsmen
- To help select/coordinate formalwear with groomsmen
- To act as a liaison with groomsmen during planning, rehearsal, and on the wedding day
- To help dress the groom on the wedding day
Duties of the Maid/Matron of Honor:
- To be the bride’s sounding board and confidante
- Generally to assist the bride during her wedding planning and on the day
- To plan and organize the bridal shower and bachelorette party
(assisted by the bridesmaids)
- To help shop for the bride’s and bridesmaids’ dresses
- To coordinate fittings with bridesmaids
- To prepare an emergency kit for the day (assisted by the bridesmaids)
- To act as a liaison with bridesmaids during planning, rehearsal, and on the wedding day
- To help organize attendants at rehearsal and on the wedding day
- To help dress the bride on the wedding day
- To assist with veil and train, including knowing how to bustle train after the ceremony
- To hold bridal bouquet during ceremony
- To witness the signing of the marriage license
- To offer a toast at the reception
- To dance and socialize with guests at the reception
- To ensure ( with best man) the bride and groom have a drink and food throughout the day
- To arrange (with best man) to have a snack and champagne in the couple’s hotel room after the ceremony
- To assist (with the best man) with gift collection and delivery to the couple’s residence
- To assist the bride with her attire and personal items during transit from ceremony to reception and after
Duties of the Bridesmaids:
- To offer general support
- To help plan the bridal shower and /or bachelorette party
(under guidance of maid/matron of honor)
- To assist guest at the ceremony and reception
- To help prepare emergency kit (under guidance of maid/matron of honor)
- To assist the bride with pre-wedding tasks
(such as address invitations and assemble favors)
Duties of the Groomsmen:
- To offer general support
- To help plan the bachclor party (under guidance of best man)
- To assist guests at the ceremony and reception
- To direct guests to their seats, the restrooms, and other important locations
- To dance and socialize with guests at the reception
- To perform ushering duties( see below)
Duties of the Ushers:
- Groomsmen often act as ushers, but for a large wedding, additional ushers may be deemed neccessary. There should be at least one usher for every fifty guests
- To greet guests and walk them to their seats prior to processional
- To distribute ceremony programs
- To hand out written directions to the reception venue after the ceremony or to direct guests to the reception
Roles for Other Important People
Flower girls; aged between four and eight.
They immediately precede the bride down the aisle, often dropping flower petals. There may be any number of flower girls.
Ring bearers; also aged between four and eight.
They precede the flower girls and often carry a ring pillow with “rings” tied on. (Never give a four year old the real rings!)
Junior bridesmaids; aged between nine and sixteen.
They may precede or follow the bridesmaids(depending on the order of your processional)
Junior groomsmen; aged between nine and sixteen.
They may precede or follow the groomsmen
(depending on the order of your processional)
Page/train bearers: aged between six and nine years old.
They follow the bride down the aisle carrying her train. They may be boys or girls.
INFORMATION GATHERED FROM (THE WEDDING PLANNER) BY HOLLY LEFEVRE
