Bridesmaids Galore: Exploring The Diverse Roles They Play

There are several different types of bridesmaids, each with their own unique roles and responsibilities. The principal bridesmaid, or chief bridesmaid, is typically called the maid of honor if she is unmarried, or the matron of honor if she is married. She is usually a close friend or relative of the bride and has a wide range of duties, including planning the bridal shower and bachelorette party, as well as providing emotional support to the bride. In some cases, the bride may choose to have both a maid and a matron of honor to split up these responsibilities.

Then there are the bridesmaids themselves, who are also usually close friends or relatives of the bride. They are expected to help plan and attend pre-wedding events, provide emotional support, and assist with various wedding planning tasks. On the wedding day, they walk down the aisle ahead of the bride and may take on other responsibilities such as showing guests to their seats or handing out favors.

Finally, there is the junior bridesmaid, who is typically a young girl who is too young to be married but is included in the bridal party anyway. In some cultures, such as in Norway, the Netherlands, France, and Victorian Britain, it is customary for bridesmaids to be small girls rather than grown women. They may carry flowers during the wedding procession and pose for bridal photos.

Maid of Honour

The role of the maid of honour is to be the bride's right hand, providing practical and emotional support throughout the wedding planning process and on the day itself.

The maid of honour is typically the bride's closest friend or relative, such as a sister, and is responsible for leading the bridal party. This includes planning pre-wedding events, such as the bridal shower and bachelorette party, and keeping the rest of the bridal party organised and on track.

In the lead-up to the wedding, the maid of honour will be expected to help the bride with various tasks, such as addressing invitations, shopping for the wedding dress, and helping with any DIY projects. She may also be asked to lend a sympathetic ear if the bride needs to let off steam about any wedding-related stress.

On the day of the wedding, the maid of honour's duties include providing emotional support, helping the bride get ready, and making sure she eats and drinks enough. She may also be asked to hold the bride's bouquet and the groom's wedding ring during the ceremony, and to sign the marriage license. The maid of honour is also responsible for keeping the other bridesmaids organised and making sure they are where they need to be when they need to be there.

After the ceremony, the maid of honour will often be expected to give a speech during the reception. She may also be asked to act as a back-up hostess, and to help with packing up gifts, centrepieces, and other items at the end of the night.

Bridesmaids' Duties

Being a bridesmaid is a huge honour and a major responsibility. Bridesmaids are generally the most important people in the bride's circle of loved ones, such as best friends or relatives (sisters, sisters-in-law, etc.). They are part of the wedding party, which usually consists of the maid or matron of honour, best man, groomsmen, and other attendants chosen by the couple.

The main role of a bridesmaid is to assist the maid of honour with her big wedding-planning duties and offer additional help to the bride as needed. However, the list of bridesmaids' duties doesn't end there. They are all responsible for many other aspects that go into planning and executing the bride's dream wedding.

Pre-Wedding Duties:

• Emotionally support the bride at all times throughout the wedding planning and ceremony.
• Assist the maid of honour in planning and paying for the bridal shower and bachelorette party, and of course, assist the maid of honour throughout the wedding day.
• Attend all pre-wedding events, like the engagement party, wedding shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner.
• Run necessary errands during wedding planning, at pre-ceremony events, and even on the day of the wedding, if needed.
• Keep a record of gifts at the bridal shower so the bride knows who to thank for what.
• Work with the bride and maid of honour to help address, seal, and stamp bridal shower thank-you cards.
• Offer extra hands in making items for the wedding, such as DIY favours, place cards, etc.
• Purchase their own gowns and accessories, including shoes, jewellery, and undergarments. Bridesmaids are also responsible for attending all fittings for their dresses.
• Help the bride get ready on the morning of the wedding: double-check her hair, straighten her veil, make sure she doesn’t miss any accessories, and ensure she eats and drinks.
• Assist with decorating at all events: engagement parties, bridal showers, reception venues, church or ceremony sites, etc.
• Coordinate any day-of communications with vendors, guests, etc.
• Walk down the aisle and stand in the receiving line.
• Organise wedding gifts and keep them in a safe place throughout the day/night.
• Attend to wedding guests and encourage dancing and interactions among them.

Wedding Day Duties:

• Get ready with the other bridesmaids and ensure the bride is smiling, laughing, calm, and collected.
• Answer any incoming texts, calls, or logistical questions for the bride.
• Pour celebratory bubbly for everyone to enjoy.
• Keep hair and/or makeup appointments on track.
• Help the bride into her dress and assist her with her shoes, jewellery, or veil.
• Provide getting-ready snacks.
• Be the "bride tribe" and act as a point of contact for guests and vendors when it’s helpful.
• Participate in the ceremony and be photo-ready.
• Be model guests and the life of the party: mingle and chat with other guests, enjoy the food and drinks offered, sit down at the dinner table when asked, participate in guest-related activities like signing the guest book or visiting the photo booth, listen to, applaud, and/or give any speeches (that have been pre-arranged), witness the special dances, and dance tastefully.
• Check in with the newlyweds throughout the party to ensure they are getting enough water and food.
• Maintain a stress-free send-off: help the maid of honour, coordinator, or the couple's parents assemble any items that need to be transported out of the reception venue at the end of the night.

Post-Wedding Duties:

• Attend the farewell party (if there is one).
• Organise miscellaneous or leftover wedding items.
• Settle outstanding payments and other bills.

Emotional Support

Bridesmaids are expected to be the bride's emotional rock, providing support and a listening ear throughout the entire wedding planning process and on the day of the wedding. This includes being there for the bride when she needs to vent about wedding-related stress or issues with her in-laws, groom, or vendors. Bridesmaids should also be mindful of keeping tensions low and avoiding any friend drama that could add to the bride's stress.

On the wedding day, bridesmaids should help the bride get ready, keeping her smiling, calm, and collected. They may also be tasked with ensuring the bride eats and stays hydrated, and helping her with her dress, shoes, jewellery, and veil. Bridesmaids should also be prepared to lend a hand with any last-minute tasks, such as running to the drugstore or coordinating with vendors.

In addition to providing emotional support to the bride, bridesmaids also play a role in supporting the maid of honour. They assist the maid of honour in planning and paying for the bridal shower and bachelorette party, as well as helping with any other wedding-related tasks that may arise.

Overall, the role of a bridesmaid is to be a good friend to the bride and provide practical and emotional support throughout the wedding planning process and on the big day itself.

Planning and Paying

Planning:

Bridesmaids play a significant role in the planning process, assisting the Maid of Honor and offering additional help to the bride as needed. They may be involved in various planning tasks, such as addressing invitations, assembling favours, and helping with DIY projects. They also lend their ideas and feedback for the bridal shower and bachelorette party.

Paying:

Bridesmaids are generally expected to pay for their own attire, including the dress, shoes, jewellery, and accessories. They also contribute to the bridal shower and bachelorette party expenses, chipping in with other bridesmaids to cover the bride's costs. Additionally, bridesmaids are responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs for the wedding, including any necessary travel for pre-wedding events.

It is important to note that bridesmaids should communicate openly with the bride about their financial capabilities and set clear expectations to avoid resentment or strain. Being a bridesmaid can be a costly endeavour, so it is essential to be mindful of one's budget and communicate any limitations.

Overall, the planning and paying responsibilities of bridesmaids are integral to the wedding process, and it is a role that requires dedication, support, and financial commitment.

Pre-Wedding Events

Being a bridesmaid comes with a long list of responsibilities and duties, and it is important to be aware of these before agreeing to take on the role. Bridesmaids are usually the bride's closest friends and family members, and they play a significant role in the planning process and on the wedding day itself.

One of the main pre-wedding duties of a bridesmaid is to support the Maid of Honour with her wedding planning duties and to offer additional help to the bride as needed. This includes assisting with planning and paying for the bridal shower and bachelorette party, as well as attending all pre-wedding events such as the engagement party, wedding shower, rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner.

Bridesmaids are also expected to help with any necessary errands, such as running to the store for last-minute supplies or picking up decorations. They may also be asked to keep a record of gifts at the bridal shower so that the bride knows who to thank.

In addition to practical tasks, bridesmaids are there to provide emotional support to the bride at all times during the wedding planning and ceremony. They should be prepared to lend an ear and offer a shoulder to cry on if needed.

Bridesmaids are also responsible for purchasing their own gowns and accessories, including shoes, jewellery, and undergarments. They should attend all fittings for their dresses and be prepared to pay for any necessary alterations.

Another important duty of a bridesmaid is to help the bride get ready on the morning of the wedding. This includes checking her hair and veil, and making sure she has all her accessories.

Finally, bridesmaids often assist with decorating at events such as engagement parties, bridal showers, and reception venues. They may also be asked to coordinate communications with vendors and guests on the day of the wedding.

Frequently asked questions