Bridal Club Magazine
Your Wedding Party’s Roles and Responsibilities
The role of an attendant is fun yet also carries a large
responsibility, which is why the bride and groom should choose
persons they are close to and trust to handle important details
before, during and after the ceremony.
Maid (unmarried)/Matron (married) of Honor Checklist:
• Share the bride's excitement and joy of the wedding
• Help choose dresses at the brides request (and pay for her own
attire including dress, shoes, jewelry and other accessories)
• Help with any other details of planning and preparing for the
wedding (as required by the bride)
• Throw a bridal shower and bachelorette party (if the bride
desires one) for the bride
• Purchase shower gift
• Attend all pre-wedding parties (per invitation)
• Purchase wedding gift
• Help bride with any last minute details
• Stay by the bride's side at the ceremony site to assist with any
preparation details
• Precede the bride down the aisle during the ceremony, hold the
groom's ring, the bride's bouquet, fold back the bride's veil and
straighten the train as needed.
• Stand in the receiving line next to the groom immediately
following the ceremony. Sign the marriage license as an official
witness
• Sit to the groom's left during dinner at the reception. Attend
to any details to help the bride, accompanying her to the washroom,
bustling the train and taking part in special dances with the
bridal party
• Attend gift opening party
Bridesmaid Checklist
• Share the brides excitement and joy of the wedding
• Help choose bridesmaids dresses if the bride requests and be
fitted once the choice is made by the bride (and pay for her own
attire including dress, shoes, jewelry and other accessories)
• Help with any other details of planning and preparing for the
wedding (as required by the bride)
• Assist the maid of honor in throwing a bridal
shower/bachelorette party for the bride
• Purchase shower gift
• Attend all pre-wedding parties (per invitation)
• Purchase wedding gift
• Help bride with any last minute details
• During the ceremony, lead the procession down the aisle, usually
return down the aisle after the ceremony escorted by a
groomsman
• Following the ceremony, stand in the receiving line next to the
maid of honor
• At the reception, sit at the head table during dinner in an
alternating pattern with the groomsmen. Attend to any details to
help the bride. Take part in special dances for the bridal
party
• Attend gift opening party
Personal Attendant Checklist
While this may be the least glamorous of all positions, it can be
the most important in helping the bride relax and enjoy her wedding
day, knowing this trusted friend/relative is there to help. The
bride should make a list of tasks up ahead of time for which the
personal attendant will be responsible for, these duties may
include:
• Assist the bride in getting dressed and ready
• Pin on the corsages and boutonnieres
• Prepare the bride to walk down the aisle, last minute touch-ups,
fluffing the train
• Gather people for pictures
• Make sure the wedding party has their belongings after the
ceremony
• Keep track of the toss bouquet until it's needed
• Oversee transportation of the gifts to the gift opening site or
the couple's home
• Attend the gift opening party and keep a record of gifts
Best Man Checklist
• Be measured for formal wear (pay for rental of his own formal
wear including shoes and accessories)
• Organize the bachelor party
• Buy wedding gift
• Be sure the groom arrives at the wedding site on time
• Carry the bride's ring
• Stand by the groom's side at ceremony
• Sign the marriage license as an official witness. Give clergy
member payment (provided by groom)
• At the reception, sit to the bride's left during dinner. Offer
the first "toast" to the bride and groom
• The day after the wedding may gather all rented clothing from
the groom's wedding party and return it to the formal wear
store
Groomsman Checklist
• Be measured for formal wear (pay for rental of his own formal
wear including shoes and accessories)
• Assist the best man in organizing the bachelor party
• Buy wedding gift
• Stand by the best man during the ceremony
• Escort bridesmaid down the aisle
• Decorate the wedding couple's "getaway" car (as guests file
through the receiving line)
• At the reception, sit at the head table during dinner in an
alternating pattern with the bridesmaids. Take part in special
dances for the bridal party
Ushers Checklist
• Be measured for formal wear (pay for rental of his own formal
wear including shoes and accessories)
• Buy wedding gift
• Attend the rehearsal, practice lighting and extinguishing the
candles, familiarize himself with entrance, exit and bathroom
locations for the guests' comfort and learn seating
arrangements
• Arrive at the wedding site an hour before to get boutonnieres,
ready the programs and help with any last-minute details
• If guests of the bride and groom are to be seated in separate
sections, ascertain the guests' relationship to the couple. Once
this is established the right arm is offered to the lady, who is
then escorted to the open pew closest to the front of the church.
The farthest-forward pews are traditionally reserved for immediate
family members
• Usher in the mother of the groom then the mother of the bride
last, and then unroll the aisle runner. Stay in the back of the
church during the ceremony, directing late guests to back or side
seats
• Immediately after the wedding party has walked down the aisle,
escort out the mothers of the bride and groom, and sometimes direct
the departure of guests in an orderly manner
• Decorate the wedding couple's "getaway" car (as guests file
through the receiving line)
• At the reception, sit at the head table and enjoy the rest of
the reception as a guest
Ring Bearer, Flower Girls, Junior Bridesmaids, Miniature Brides,
etc.
Children assume these roles which differ from wedding to wedding,
largely depending on the bride and groom's desires and the maturity
and capability of each child. Feel free to incorporate children
into your ceremony and celebrations as desired, or elect to let the
children enjoy themselves as guests.
Attendants' Gifts
After the bride and groom have chosen their attendants, they have
yet another decision to make: buying the attendants' gifts.
Tradition dictates that bridesmaids should receive similar gifts,
as should the groomsmen, although special gifts are sometimes given
to the best man and maid of honor. Similar need not mean exact,
however. Local gift shops offer gift baskets or boxes which can be
filled with an assortment of treasures, such as soaps, perfumes,
lotions, bath oil beads, powders, shower gels, candles, cheeses,
crackers, or liqueurs, just to name some of the choices. Baskets
and boxes can be decorated with lace, linens, dried flowers or
bows. Each basket or box can thus be personalized to fit the
recipient without giving "different'' gifts.
Other, more traditional, selections abound. Consider wallets, pen
and pencil sets, belt buckles, pewter mugs and silver key rings for
men; chains, necklaces, disc charms and silver bangle bracelets for
women.
More contemporary gifts might include exotic plants, recreational
accessories or handmade (preferably by the bride or groom) crafts.
Some couples prefer to pay for the rental or purchase of all
clothing and related items their attendants will wear.
A gift is a meaningful token of appreciation. It says "thank you"
for sharing, celebrating and attending the most joyous ceremony a
man and woman will ever plan together. After many years have
passed, the responsible attendants can look back at the wedding and
smile, proudly remembering the contributions that helped make the
wedding a success.
Article Source: Free Wedding
Articles
Rebecca Sherman - Rebecca Sherman is an editor at
ModernWeddingPlanner.com Our Free
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