Attendants' Duties
While you may be counting on help from the wedding party, oftentimes the bridesmaids and groomsmen aren't sure what they're supposed to do before or at the wedding. At one time, the bridesmaids' main functions were to guard the bride from evil spirits and bear witness that she was not being forced into marriage against her will, and the best man was charged with the task of keeping potential abductors from absconding with the bride prior to the wedding day. But that was then, this is now, and the attendants have a much more modern set of duties to attend to.
The Maid of Honor
What are the maid of honor's duties? The maid of honor is the bride's legal witness and personal assistant throughout the wedding process.
Her more specific duties include:
Helping the bride with addressing envelopes and recording wedding gifts
Arranging/hosting a bridal shower
Assisting with shopping and other pre-wedding tasks
Collecting funds and organizing a group gift to the bride
Bringing the groom's ring to the ceremony and holding it until the ring exchange
Signing the marriage certificate as a witness
Standing in the receiving line (optional)
Making sure the bride looks perfect for all the pictures
Dancing with the best man during the attendants' dance at the reception
Participating in the bouquet toss if single
Helping the bride change into getaway clothes
The Bridesmaids
What are the bridesmaids' duties? The bridesmaids are an additional support system for the bride and groom. Their specific duties include:
Assisting the bride and maid of honor with pre-wedding errands and activities
Helping organize and run the bridal shower
Assisting the bride in any way on the wedding day
Participating in the bouquet toss if single
Standing in the receiving line (optional)
The Best Man's Duties
What are the best man's duties? As the groom's legal witness, the best man should help the groom in any way possible. His other duties include:
Helping the groom get ready and arrive on time for every wedding-related function
Driving the groom to the ceremony and getting the groom to his wedding on time
Bringing the bride's ring to the ceremony site
Giving the officiant his fee immediately before or after the ceremony (provided by the groom's family)
Holding the bride's ring during the ceremony
Escorting the maid of honor in the recessional
Signing the marriage certificate as a witness
Dancing with the maid of honor during the attendants' dance at the reception
Proposing the first toast at the reception
Mingling with the crowd
Giving other service providers, such as the chauffeur, their fees (optional)
Assisting with distributing final payments and tips at the wedding
Driving the couple to the reception and/or the hotel if there is no hired driver
Overseeing the transfer of gifts to a secure location after the reception
Returning the groom's attire (if rented)
Giving the groom moral support, words of wisdom, or assistance of any kind
Essential
The head usher is an optional attendant. He performs and participates in all of the ushers' duties, but is mainly responsible for organizing ushers' activities, and making sure the ushers know their duties and arrive on time on the wedding day.
The Groomsmen and Ushers
What are the duties of the groomsmen and ushers? Like the bridesmaids, the groomsmen are an additional support system for the bride and groom. They participate in pre-wedding festivities and assist the couple on the wedding day. Many times the groomsmen and ushers are one and the same. In larger weddings, additional ushers may be needed to seat the guests. There should be one usher for every fifty guests. Their duties also include:
Arriving at the wedding location early to help with setup
Assisting in gathering the wedding party for photographs
Attending to last-minute tasks such as lighting candles, tying bows on reserved rows of seating, etc.
Escorting guests to their seats
Rolling out the aisle runner immediately before the processional
Directing guests to the reception and handing out preprinted maps and directions to those who need them
Collecting discarded programs and articles from the pews after the ceremony
Helping decorate newlyweds' car (optional)
The Mother of the Bride
Does the mother of the bride have any specific duties? The mother of the bride is a special position that many mothers look forward to from the moment they give birth to their daughter. It is typical for the mother of the bride to want to be involved and participate in the planning. As an official member of the wedding party, she does have standard duties. These duties include:
Assisting the bride in selecting her gown, accessories, and trousseau
Helping the bride select bridesmaid's attire
Coordinating her attire with the mother of the groom
Working with bride, groom, and groom's family to devise a seating plan
Helping address invitations
Helping attendants with coordinating the bridal shower
Assisting the bride with wedding errands and activities
Standing in the receiving line
Acting as hostess of the reception
