Do you know your duties?

By tradition, members of the wedding party have specific duties. If they know what's expected, the event will run more smoothly.

• Maid or Matron of Honor
  Gives bridal shower.
  Helps bridesmaids with fittings and gets them ready for wedding-day assignments.
  Helps address invitations, plan the wedding and general shopping chores.
  Pays for her own gown and accessories.
  Coordinates bridesmaids' gift to the bride.
  Helps bride get ready on her weeding day and helps her leave reception.
  Acts as legal witness and signs wedding certificate.
  Holds groom's ring until proper time during wedding ceremony.
• Bridesmaids
  Help maid of honor give bridal shower.
  Help, when needed, with pre-wedding chores.
  Contribute to bridesmaids' gift to bride.
  Pay for their own gowns and accessories.
• Junior Bridesmaids
  Same general duties and privileges as bridesmaids, but are usually 8-16 years old.
  Precede bridesmaids down the aisle.
• Flower Girl
  Carries basket of flower petals to sprinkle down aisle.
• Best Man
  Gives bachelor party.
  Helps ushers with fittings and gets them ready for wedding-day assignments.
  Helps groom with wedding-day preparations.
  Buys or rents his own wedding-day attire.
  Responsible for coordinating ushers' gift to groom.
  Attends rehearsal.
  Pays officiant's fee before or after ceremony.
  Acts as legal witness and signs wedding certificate.
  Holds bride's ring until proper time in ceremony.
  May join bride and groom at head table.
  Proposes first toast to bride and groom at reception.
  Takes groom's tuxedo or attire back to rental shop or to cleaners after reception.
  Makes sure honeymoon car is ready to go.
• Ushers
  Help best man plan and give bachelor party.
  Contribute to ushers' gift to groom.
  Pay for their attire.
  Attend rehearsal.
  Get to wedding early and make sure everything is in order.
  Seat guests.
  Escort bridesmaids down aisle before and after wedding.
  Assist out-of-town or elderly guests from wedding to reception.
• Ring Bearer
  Carries ring pillow down the aisle.
  May escort flower girl.
• Mother of the Bride
  Helps compile guest list and sends invitations.
  May help with selection of bridal gown and accessories.
  First person to greet guests in receiving line.
  Be hostess at reception.
• Father of the Bride
  Traditionally pays for reception, but this is no longer an automatic custom.
  Escorts bride down aisle.
  May have first dance with daughter at reception.
• Parents of the Groom
  Give rehearsal dinner.

 
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