Attendant's Responsibilities

Since the maid of honor is usually the sister or closest friend of the bride, she plays a key role in helping the bride prepare for the wedding. Some of her customary responsibilities include:

• Assisting the bride with preparation of wedding invitations

• Assisting in selection of the wedding gown and bridesmaids' dresses

• Assisting in the selection of wedding flowers

• Organizing fittings for bridesmaids' dresses

• Arranging bridal showers and pre-wedding parties with the bridesmaids

• Assisting in making party and wedding favors

• Safe-guarding the groom's wedding ring and is responsible for bringing it to the ceremony and giving it to the bride during the ceremony

• Helping the bride as she dresses for the wedding and as she changes into her going-away outfit

• Acting as a legal witness to the ceremony by signing the marriage certificate

• Assisting with running errands and helping the bride with pre-wedding tasks

• Honoring the bride with a bridal shower, either as a group or as individuals

• Making sure the bride has "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a lucky sixpence in her shoe" as she dresses for the ceremony

Since the best man is usually the father, a brother, or best friend of the groom, his role in the wedding is significant. Not only is he the groom's right hand in organizing activities, he also offers the groom moral support during the frantic preparations of the wedding. On the wedding day, he is the groom's guardian and perhaps the busiest person in the wedding party! His traditional responsibilities include:

• Organizing formalwear fittings for groomsmen

• Honoring the groom with a bachelor party

• Ensuring the groom's honeymoon luggage is packed and that his traveling wardrobe and documents (tickets, passports, etc.) are available after the wedding.

• Picking up the brides honeymoon luggage and packing it in the going-away vehicle with the groom's luggage or delivering it to a local hotel, if appropriate.

• Verifying all local hotel arrangements have been carried out as requested, registering the couple, and picking up the room key in advance of the wedding. Then delivering the key to the groom.

• Chauffeuring the groom to the ceremony and assisting him as he dresses

• Organizing the groomsmen on the wedding day

• Safeguarding the bride's wedding ring and giving it to the groom during the ceremony

• Safeguarding the marriage certificate and acting as a legal witness.

• Collecting the officiant's fee from the groom and making sure it is delivered after the ceremony

• Ushering the couple from the ceremony to their waiting vehicle

• Making the first toast to the bride and groom at the reception

• Dancing with the bride at the reception

• Returning the groom's formalwear, if rented, or taking it to the dry cleaners after the ceremony

• Seating guests in reserved or special sections as instructed in rehearsal

• Head Groomsman - Escorting the mother of the bride to her seat unless one of her relatives is among the other ushers

• Instructing guests where to place wedding gifts brought to the ceremony

• Escorting the bridesmaids after the recessional