Bridal Party Duties

This is a little go-to list for the duties of the Bridal Party for your wedding 2008. Remember every Bride and Groom are different and may wish to augment this list in order to fit their own Wedding. Basically the only constant is the Bridal Party are the closest friend and relatives of the Engaged Couple and will help them as great friends would. These are updated to keep with the 2008 Wedding trends.

Maid or Matron of Honor

* Assists bride in addressing envelopes, making favors and helping with shopping duties
* Pays for her own attire
* Hostesses a shower for the bride
* Makes sure all bridesmaids arrive on time
* Holds grooms ring until appropriate time in ceremony when ring is exchanged for the bride's bouquet
* Assists bride in dressing for the ceremony and before she leaves the reception
* Acts as legal witness and signs the wedding certificate
* Bustles the bride at the altar with arranging the train and veil
* Is seated to the right of the groom and may prepare a toast to the couple during dinner
* Attends to almost any other details that would help the bride
* Organizes Bachelorette Party (if it is the Bride's Wish)

Best Man

* Coordinates the bachelor party (Per the Groom's wishes)
* Pays for his own wedding attire
* Makes sure the groom is on time and is dressed properly
* Holds the bride's wedding ring and makes sure the groom has the marriage license secure in his breast pocket
* Receives officiant's fee from the groom and presents it to the officiant either before or after the ceremony. The payment can be conveniently enclosed in a sealed envelope.
* Acts as legal witness and signs the marriage license
* Makes a toast (last) to bride and groom during the reception. A well prepared toast usually goes over better than one "off the cuff."
* Sees that the luggage is packed into the honeymoon car, and that the groom has any necessary plane tickets or travel itineraries.
* Returns the groom's formal wear on the next business day following the wedding. Some best men are asked to gather all rented formal wear to return after the wedding.
* Acts as Grooms Representative in all matters
* Usually Walks the Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom Down the Aisle
* Dances with the Maid of Honor during reception
* Helps Maid of Honor transfers gifts to the location they are going

Bridesmaids

* May assist in pre-wedding errands and tasks(as assigned by bride or Maid of Honor)
* Pay for their own wedding attire
* Attend all pre-wedding parties and may hostess their own shower or assist the Maid or Matron of honor in planning a shower
* Often participate in the receiving line
* Helps Groomsmen, Bridal Party decorate the going away vehicle

Groomsmen & Ushers

* Pay for their wedding attire
* Help organize the bachelor party along with the best man
* Direct the placement of gifts
* Distribute wedding service programs as they seat the guests ( bride's on the left and groom's on the right)
* First seat the groom's parents in the right front pew and then the bride's mother in the left front pew. She is the last to be seated before the processional begins.
* Unroll isle carpet after all guests have been seated
* Escort the bridemaids
* Other duties as assigned by the Best Man or Groom

^In some instances there will be more Usher's than Groomsmen. This is to balance the Bridal Party at the Altar...In this case you can include them as much or as little as you want.

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