Congratulations! You’ve said yes to be the maid of honor at your dear friend or sister’s wedding. Now what? Like the bride herself, the maid of honor plays an important part in making sure the wedding goes smoothly. A maid of honor doesn’t have a specific role. You are the bride’s part-minion, who might be putting together DIY wedding table signs and helping her decide on the perfect wedding dress. You are also part-therapist and entertainer, who deals with potential meltdowns and is there to cheer the bride up. The bottom-line is your job is to support your bridezilla or bridechilla throughout the entire wedding process.
Sometimes this party can feel overwhelming or unclear, which is why we’ve created a simple guideline of duties for you to follow before, during, and after the wedding ceremony. Of course, nothing is set in stone, and your role could ultimately depend on your bride, but here are some typical responsibilities.
Maid or Matron of Honor?
A matron of honor holds the same exact role as a maid of honor except they are already married. Recently, brides with a maid of honor have also been adding in a matron as well for their mother or sister to participate in. Otherwise, if your bride has selected both a maid and matron of honor, then the responsibilities will typically be split between the two of you.
Before
Now that you’ve said ‘yes’ to the dress being the maid of honor, the real fun begins. Your bride will have selected some other women to be in her bridal party, and they are now your responsibility along with many other things. If you are feeling overwhelmed with bachelorette party planning or decorating, you can ask the bridal party to share some of the workload as well.
Wedding Dress Shopping
Some brides know the exact wedding dress they want, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on if they find it. Either way, you will be at your bride’s side while she tries on dress after dress until she finds the perfect one. While the choice is ultimately up to her, be honest with her so that she can pick the dress that will make her feel the most beautiful.
Bridesmaids Dresses
Now that you’ve helped your bride pick her dress, you can help her pick out the bridesmaids dresses as well. Help her choose gowns that will be both flattering and comfy for the bridal party.
Bachelorette Party or Bridal Shower
Who doesn’t love a good party? As the maid of honor, you might have the opportunity to throw one your bride will never forget. Discuss with the bride and her family which event(s) you will be hosting. Often the bride’s family will host the bridal shower, while her friends take her on a wild bachelorette party. Explore some of our bachelorette party ideas to find the perfect one for your bride.
Wedding Prep
Break out your glue guns and Pinterest boards. As a maid of honor, you will most likely be helping the bride tackle any DIY projects or decorations for the wedding. Whether it’s arranging flowers, lettering table settings, or making brunch the day of the wedding, volunteer to help with all of these projects. Don’t forget the bridal party can help too!
During
The big day has finally arrived and with it are more maid of honor responsibilities to fulfill. Thankfully, this is the fun part of the job where you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor and see the bride say, ‘I do.’
Be in the Know
If the caterer, great uncle, or band has a question, then be able to help them! Discuss the wedding with your bride, so that she can enjoy her time, while you deal with the little pieces. Know the rain plan, entire schedule, and locations like the back of your hand.
Stay Nearby
Stick around to help your bride out during the wedding. Maybe she needs a buffer between her and a guest or she needs someone to pin her bustle. Whatever she needs, make sure that you’re an arm’s length away.
Ceremony Duties
Witness and sign the marriage certificate to help the newlyweds make it official. Also be ready to hold your bride’s bouquet and the groom’s wedding rings during the ceremony.
After
Now that the ceremony is over, you can celebrate. Remember that this is your loved ones special day. Be there for her and most importantly have fun! That said, you still have to tie up any final maid of honor responsibilities and help out the bride.
The Toast
Here’s your chance to deliver a comedic or heartfelt toast to the happy couple. Just be yourself and leave them with a message they’ll never forget.
Party Time
Did someone say dancing queen? Hit the floor and enjoy the party with everyone. Encourage guests to get up and join you. Help your bride pin her bustle so she can dance the night away too.
Be My Guest
Collect the wedding presents for the bride and groom from the guests so that they’re all in one place. Also help guide the guests when it’s time to cut the cake, throw the bouquet, or other activities.
Maid of Honor Duties 101
While every bride may not expect these maid of honor responsibilities, they should hopefully help you get a better understanding of your role. Talk to your bride about her vision of the wedding and see what you can do to fulfill that picture. As the maid of honor, your most important job is to just be helpful at all times.
