A Stress Free Bridal Party

THE TRADITIONAL ROLES.

When you know exactly what is expected from the beginning, there are no surprises. Help your bridal party be prepared for your day day. It is expensive to be in a wedding. They are responsible for a bridal shower/bachelorette party at their own expense! You are asking your friend to spend upwards of $1,000 before they even buy you a gift! Their dress, shoes, jewelry, and travel expenses are not always covered by the wedding couple, so have a conversation right up front about what is expected.

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Bride/Groom DUTIES

Most importantly, get married. Ideally the bride and groom work together on these decisions:

• Set budget. • Buy wedding bands (each pays for the other’s).

• Choose date, style and site for wedding. • Write wedding vows

• Meet with ceremony officiant to discuss details. • Send thank-you notes for all gifts.

• Coordinate invites, flowers, photographer, etc. • Make sure his or her family compiles a guest list.

The bride chooses her bridesmaids and honor attendant. She plans and hosts the bridesmaids’ luncheon and gives her attendants thank-you gifts, and buys a gift for groom.

The groom chooses his groomsmen and best man and picks their attire. He buys thank-you gifts for his attendants and for the bride. He arranges and pays for the marriage license and the officiant’s fee, and he reserves a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.

Maid/Matron of Honor

Bride’s Honor Attendant

Bridesmaids

• Helps the bride with wedding plans. • Coordinates the bridesmaids’ dress fitting.

• Organizes the bridal shower and bachelorette party. • Holds her bouquet at the altar.

• She signs the marriage license as the bride’s witness. • Helps the bride dress/undress.

• Arranges her veil/train during the processional and recessional.

• Helps with errands or tasks, like addressing the invitations and keeping records of gifts.

• At the reception, she dances with the best man and organizes the bridesmaids for formal pictures.

• Makes sure her dress and bouquet are safe until she returns from honeymoon.

The maid/matron of honor pay for their own attire, as well as transportation and lodging if they travel to the wedding from elsewhere.

• Assists the maid of honor with her wedding-planning duties and help the bride as needed.

• Helps with addressing invitations.

• Helps plan the shower and bachelorette party (and contribute to the cost).

• Bridesmaids walk in the processional and recessional.

• During the reception, they mostly mingle and dance with the groomsmen and other important guests.

They pay for their own attire, as well as transportation and lodging if they travel to the wedding from elsewhere.

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Best Man/Woman

Honor Attendant

Groomsmen DUTIES

• Coordinates the groomsmen’s formalwear fitting. • Picks up the groom’s attire before the wedding.

• Confirms the honeymoon travel reservations. • Orchestrates the toasts.

• Gets the groom to the ceremony site on time. • Brings the bride’s ring.

• Holds the officiant’s fee until after the ceremony. • Signs the marriage license.

• Organizes the groomsmen for formal pictures. • Dances with the maid of honor.

• Makes sure the getaway car is ready. • Returns all rented formalwear.

The best man’s main role is to organize the bachelor party.

• Get fitted for a their formalwear. • Pay for their own attire.

• Ask if they can handle any other tasks. • Arrive early at the ceremony site to greet guests.

• They are expected to remain at the reception for the duration.

• Are responsible for being fitted for and picking up their clothing from the formalwear shop.

They pay for their own travel and lodging expenses. Also help the best man plan and host the bachelor party.

Mother of the Bride

Father of the Bride

Mother of the Groom

Father of the Groom

Flowers Girl

Ring Bearer

• Host the first engagement party. • Help the bride with the guest list.

• Chooses her attire, then informs groom’s mother of her choice so they can complement each other.

• Gets fitted for formalwear. • Escorts bride down the aisle.

• Dances with Bride at reception. • He is the last to leave the reception.

• Settles outstanding bills with the caterer, bandleader and coat-check, restroom and parking attendants.

• Speaks with the mother of the bride and selects a dress that compliments her selection.

• Dance with her son at the reception.

• The groom’s parents contact the bride’s parents after the engagement.

• They may host an engagement party (after the bride’s parents do).

• They provide a list of guests to the couple - sticking to an agreed-upon number.

• They host the rehearsal dinner and they may contribute to some wedding expenses.

• Usually between the ages of four and eight

• During the processional, she walks ahead of the bride.

• Included in the wedding rehearsal so that she is comfortable with her role.

• Her parents are expected to pay for her attire and arrange for her transportation.

(The parents of the flower girl are invited to attend the rehearsal dinner.)

• The ring bearer is traditionally a boy who carries the wedding rings down the aisle.

(The ring bearer’s parents pay for his attire and arrange for his transportation.)