As the Maid of Honor, you have a whole lot of stuff to do! You are the bride’s go-to person, helping her get things done and providing emotional support every step of the way. Acting as Maid of Honor and performing all the necessary duties also helps prepare you for your own wedding! Being chosen is a wonderful compliment, and it’s important not to underestimate your role. With that in mind, let’s look at the many duties of the Maid of Honor:
Before the Wedding
- Help choose invitations, flowers, gifts, other general prep
- Help address invites and place cards
- Assist in scouting wedding locations
- Go shopping for the wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dresses
- Ensure all bridesmaids, flower girls, etc. are at fittings, rehearsal dinner and the ceremony on time
- Oversee dress delivery
- Help the bride register, answer others’ gift-related questions
- Help with honeymoon planning
- Attend cake tastings and make recommendations
- Help arrange the seating
- Attend every catering meeting
- Plan and host the bachelorette party and bridal shower
- Maintain timetables
- Attend the rehearsal dinner
- Make list of gifts received
- Be in charge of bridal gown
- Be there for her and listen to her
Wedding Day Duties
On top of these duties, you get to deliver a speech!
- Keep smiling and be there for her throughout everything
- Help her dress, deal with hair and makeup, and jewelry
- Help her through wedding day nervousness
- Check last-minute details, such as photographer arrival time
- Act as the messenger between the bride and groom
- Handle all dress and veil issues, including helping the bride maneuver in the dress!
- Hold the groom’s ring–your thumb is good for this
- Hold the bride’s bouquet for most of the ceremony
- Witness the signing of the marriage license
- Be part of the reception receiving line
- Make your Maid of Honor speech
- Participate in the first dance with the best man
- Help the bride out of her gown and into her “going away clothes”
- Keep her on schedule
- Play hostess along with the bridesmaids during the reception
- Collect gift envelopes and keep them in a safe place
- Make sure the bride eats something, refresh her drink, etc.
- Dance with the best man, the groomsmen, the groom
- Make your toast after the best man makes his
- Keep the bride laughing, which will help her stress out a whole lot less
If the bride has help from family members, the groom or numerous bridesmaids, your maid of honor duties could be limited to wedding day and a few other helpful contributions.
The dynamic between you and the bride will influence how the planning process unfolds. If you’re a maid of honor, it never hurts to have a sympathetic ear, endless patience, a day planner and a sense of humor!
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