I’ve by no means been in a bridal line-up earlier than. So, it was with nice pleasure that I obtained an attraction from my finest pal to be her maid of honor. Right here’s the problem, although. I don’t fairly know what the duties of maid of honor are. I do know that it appears to be essentially the most glamorous job, seeing that I would be the right-hand girl to the bride at this vital occasion.

So, I got down to discover out what a maid of honor duties and tasks are. However that’s not all, I needed to know what accepting maid of honor function meant, the foundations to being a maid of honor, in addition to the maid of honor duties for bachelorette occasion and the marriage ceremony. Truthfully, my seek for information uncovered loads.

Who Is The Maid Of Honor?

The very first thing I did was to get readability on who the maid of honor truly was. In some locations, she goes by the title head bridesmaid or chief bridesmaid. Different acceptable titles are right-hand girl or honor attendant. Oftentimes, the honored function goes to a detailed feminine pal or a relative that the bride chooses. Most significantly, whoever the bride-to-be chooses should be somebody she trusts and feels near. On this case, I suppose I match the invoice. Nevertheless, there was nonetheless one query the reply to which eluded me: what’s the maid of honor imagined to do?

I used to be useless set on discovering the reply as a result of it held the important thing to determining how you can be a very good maid of honor. In any case, my finest pal had bestowed this honor on me and I wasn’t going to disappoint her by not rising to the event or lacking out on sure key tasks of the maid of honor. So, I dove head-first into researching in regards to the function of maid of honor.

I discovered that the maid of honor is a key element in a marriage ceremony and the bridal occasion. I’d be in control of numerous vital maid of honor duties, together with however not restricted to:

• Execute the wedding ceremony planning course of, together with the marriage planner
• Set up occasions just like the bridal bathe, bachelorette festivities, and rehearsal dinner — the coveted maid of honor function within the bridal bathe and bachelorette occasion is the stuff of flicks
• Help with the bridal occasion and wedding ceremony costume procuring
• Make the ribbon bouquet and another equipment the bride will want
• Give the maid of honor speech or toast on the marriage day — one of the crucial vital duties of a maid of honor on the marriage day
• Maintain the bridal bouquet in the course of the wedding ceremony ceremony
• Regulate the bride’s veil if vital
• Be an emotional help to my pal as she goes by way of the stress of planning for the marriage and even afterward as she survives the primary yr of marriage, which is the toughest 

Associated Studying: 21 Qualities Of A Good Man To Look For To Get Married 

The considered being the top bridesmaid is a bit intimidating, however one thing I appeared ahead to with nice pleasure. Fairly clearly, the maid of honor tasks are many and a few aren’t essentially the most glamorous duties. “Do bridesmaids have related duties, too?” a pal witnessing my analysis requested me. This received me desirous about the maid of honor vs. bridesmaids duties and tasks.

What Is The Distinction Between A Maid of Honor And Bridesmaids?

Maid of honor vs. bridesmaids — Is there a distinction? Properly, it seems there’s. Bridesmaids are additionally usually chosen by the bride and will comprise buddies or members of the family. As a part of the bridal occasion, bridesmaid duties embody:

• Addressing wedding ceremony invites
• Attending bridesmaid costume fittings
• Help in organizing pre-wedding occasions just like the bridal bathe, rehearsal dinner, and bachelorette occasion
• Holding the bridal bouquet
• Help with the bride’s prepare on the marriage day
• Assist the bride and bridal occasion the place vital  

To summarize the maid of honor vs. bridesmaids debate, that is what it comes all the way down to. Although the bridesmaids are an integral a part of the marriage ceremony, the duties of a maid of honor on the marriage day in addition to within the run-up to the massive day carry extra weight since they’re very particular. Please enable me to preen for a second. Bridesmaids will be as many because the bride wishes. However there’s, usually, just one unique maid of honor. She is the go-to useful resource for the marriage planner and different wedding ceremony distributors involved with the pre-wedding logistics; she might even counsel the finest month to get married.

The maid of honor tasks make her the right-hand girl who totally represents the bride. Certainly, the bride depends upon her to offer the marriage company one thing to speak about for a very long time afterward. She should additionally make sure the bridesmaid duties are carried out properly. Additionally, as a maid of honor, my costume might differ barely from what the opposite bridesmaids will put on. Though, admittedly, that is as much as my pal on whether or not she needs a unique type, colour, or embellishment for me. She’ll take my consolation into consideration, after all.

Associated Studying: 10 annoying issues that I learnt about whereas planning my very own wedding ceremony

What Are The Maid Of Honor Duties Earlier than The Marriage ceremony

As soon as hand-picked for this job, one might spend a variety of time questioning, “What to do as a maid of honor?” So, first issues first, let’s see if the maid of honor place is as glamorous because it appears to be. Properly, this Reddit person had a horrible expertise. Based on her, “The bride’s mother was horrible to me. I didn’t know the itinerary and needed to cater for bills I couldn’t afford. Whereas everybody went on vacation, I needed to keep behind selecting out decorations for the marriage ceremony.”

Clearly, whereas she might have given a variety of thought to how you can be a very good maid of honor, the bride-to-be and her household didn’t return that favor. Sadly, because of the expertise, her friendship with the bride didn’t survive. The lesson I discovered from her story is to obviously talk with the bride-to-be so that everybody is on the identical web page so far as expectations and necessities are involved.

Talking of necessities, the maid of honor duties timeline within the wedding ceremony planning course of can vary from six months or perhaps a yr. Certainly it comes all the way down to the bride’s desire, the maid of honor’s availability, and size of engagement. I’m underneath no phantasm of the truth that the consideration of being a maid of honor does include a big time funding. I went forward and put this into perspective by creating an honor duties guidelines to see what could be required of me within the coming days.

Maid of honor duties and tasks — A couple of months earlier than the marriage

The function of maid of honor required me to be current a number of months earlier than the marriage. There have been tons of pre-wedding occasions to see to. And, after all, I needed to get the most effective bridal bathe reward of lace lingerie to boost the marriage evening. My pal trusted me to:

• Help with the marriage planning course of by deciding on the marriage day theme and colours, and creating the marriage timeline
• Help, if vital, with getting related licenses and permits 
• Ship out the marriage company’ invites 
• Assist the bride and bridal occasion with wedding ceremony costume procuring or choice
• Along with all of the bridesmaids, manage and host the bridal bathe and bachelorette occasion. The maid of honor duties for bachelorette occasion embody making certain every thing is well-planned and that the bride has the time of her life. To be sincere, nothing would make me happier than suggesting naughty video games to play on the bachelorette occasion 
• Attend costume fittings and, after all, present helpful suggestions
• Store for the proper maid of honor current for bride

I wanted to put aside adequate time properly upfront to meet my function because the chief bridesmaid. However hey, I’ve by no means been one to again down from a very good problem. I additionally favored this tip from a Reddit person on the bachelorette occasion and put it to good use. She says, “Customise issues to what the bride needs. Make it customized in order that she has a very good time. Don’t be pressured into doing what a member of the family of the opposite bridesmaids need.”

Maid of honor duties guidelines — A couple of weeks earlier than the marriage

Right here’s what I’m starting to comprehend in my journey of embracing the function of maid of honor: as you start to get a dangle of what to do as a maid of honor, time begins to expire. The stress of the marriage planning might be attending to the bride-to-be and the long run groom. At this level, I need to bear in mind to share with them my favourite record of hobbies for {couples} to strengthen their bond. I’m positive she’s going to respect the gesture so long as she is aware of that every thing is operating properly. At this stage, my duties within the function of maid of honor entailed the next:

• Double-check with wedding ceremony distributors that the marriage day planning goes because it ought to (Think about the marriage cake not being prepared on time!)
• Help with any related pre-wedding duties, even when it means some DIYs, to see that the day is a powerful success
• Guarantee all of the bridesmaids have every thing they want, together with attire, schedules, and so forth.
• Assist the bride-to-be create her wedding ceremony vows. Figuring out my pal, she is fairly witty and really loving, so this half might be a variety of enjoyable
• Put collectively an emergency package with primary necessities like security pins, make-up, tissues, and so forth. The marriage emergency package can turn out to be useful on the most opportune second, like if the bride’s make-up begins to run because of the feelings she might be experiencing. And also you by no means know when these security pins or style tape can turn out to be useful

This was the time to start out tying up any free ends. As we received nearer to the marriage day, issues wanted to fall into place. Ensuring that they do is without doubt one of the largest tasks of the maid of honor.

Associated Studying: A Spring Marriage ceremony Guidelines You Simply Can’t Go Improper With

Maid of honor tasks — Every week earlier than the marriage

We have been now attending to the homestretch. There was loads of pleasure for the massive day. However on the identical time, there was a variety of stress and fear for everybody concerned. That’s why I knew I wanted to take a position, upfront, in some rest presents to alleviate stress. Not just for myself however for the bride-to-be as properly. The maid of honor has the next roles and tasks per week earlier than the marriage:

• Take part within the wedding ceremony rehearsals
• Coordinate the pre-wedding festivities such because the rehearsal dinner
• Guarantee the protection of vital bridal objects just like the costume and equipment
• Lock down the bridal suite and manage all of the requirements that the marriage occasion will want
• Make sure the bride-to-be has all of the emotional help she wants. If she is a ball of nerves six months to the marriage day, I do know that it’s going to solely worsen  

Maid of honor tasks — On the marriage day!

The D-day arrived, and all of the arduous work was put to the check. Even earlier than the ceremony started, tensions have been prone to run excessive, and I wanted all of the concepts to get my girlfriend to cheer up and smile. There have been nonetheless so many issues to do because the duties of a maid of honor on the marriage day embody the next:

• Make sure the bridal suite has every thing the bride and her bridal occasion will want
• Assist with getting my pal and the bridal occasion prepared
• The maid of honor duties in church embody holding the bridal bouquet too 
• Turn into my pal’s assistant in the course of the wedding ceremony ceremony, catering to her each want
• Regulate vital particulars like how she seems to be, or any last-minute preparations 
• Give the maid of honor speech on the reception. This half has me sweating buckets as a result of public talking is just not my factor. I’m planning to jot down down a humorous wedding ceremony toast to get everybody laughing 
• Be certain that the vital wedding ceremony company just like the groom’s and bride’s mother, father, and household are taken care of — That is a necessary a part of the duties of maid of honor too

Neglect about having fun with the marriage like all the opposite company. However seeing a smile on my pal’s face was definitely worth the operating round. I felt I had lived as much as the tasks of the maid of honor.

Maid of honor duties within the church

Except it’s a non-religious wedding ceremony, the church ceremony is an integral a part of the occasion. The maid of honor has the vital function of making certain every thing goes properly for the bride. So what are the duties of a maid of honor in church? Right here’s what to do as a maid of honor to ensure the ceremony goes as flawlessly as probably:

• Holding the bride’s bouquet
• Serving to the bride placed on the marriage robe and all of the related equipment
• As a part of the processional, strolling down the aisle with the bridesmaids
• Standing by the bride in the course of the vow ceremony
• Helping with the bride’s prepare and veil 
• Witnessing the signing of the paperwork
• Coordinating the motion of the ring bearer who carries the bride’s and the groom’s rings
• Helping with post-wedding images, and so forth.

Can the maid of honor be the ring bearer? Most often, that job goes to the most effective man who’s tasked with holding the marriage rings and presenting them on the proper time. But when the bride needs the maid of honor to do the job, then she will be able to.

And when can the maid of honor go away the marriage? I discovered that it depends upon the occasion planning and whether or not my pal wanted me all through the occasion. To ensure I might be by her aspect, I had to make sure all my tasks have been fulfilled and stayed by her aspect till the formal wedding ceremony ceremony was over. That’s the crux of how you can be a very good maid of honor — all of it comes all the way down to dependability.

Associated Studying: Premarital Counseling – 12 Causes You Ought to Decide For It

What Are The Maid Of Honor Duties After The Marriage ceremony

I’m beginning to notice why the bride entrusts this responsibility to somebody she really trusts. Marriage means a variety of issues to a girl and he or she wouldn’t give the duty to only anybody. The maid of honor tasks don’t finish with the marriage day. Nope, I cannot put up my ft and relaxation as a result of the bride might be relying on me to tidy issues up after the company have left. The maid of honor tasks instantly after the marriage are quite a few, equivalent to:

• Guarantee any private objects belonging to my newly married pal are faraway from the bridal suite and the marriage occasion venue and put in a secure place
• Assist the bride get out of her wedding ceremony costume. After this, I want to make sure secure storage and cleansing of the costume
• Guarantee all of the presents are taken care of and transported to the bride’s new dwelling

Maid of honor duties and tasks proceed for days or even weeks after the marriage day. Issues get much less hectic by then. For example, my pal is already on her honeymoon now. By the point she returns, she might even have discovered some harsh truths about marriage and can want my help. Now’s the time for the final stage of the maid of honor tasks:

• Help in sending ‘thanks’ notes to company
• Coordinate the return of any rented/borrowed objects used in the course of the wedding ceremony occasion
• Assist my finest pal acquire and protect recollections from the marriage day, e.g., images and presents, or different keepsakes like the marriage invites 
• Help with managing all monetary obligations
• Supply ongoing help to my pal if she wants me

Associated Studying: 42 Reward Concepts To Say Thank You For Being A Bridesmaid

The duties could appear daunting laid out like this and make it appear to be it isn’t essentially the most glamorous job. However I cherished being within the thick of issues. I spotted there was nothing I wouldn’t do to make my pal’s wedding ceremony occasion a powerful success.

It’s solely honest to say that I used to be the right-hand girl to the bride as I took on the maid of honor tasks. I used to be, mainly, her eyes and ears for something associated to the marriage and the occasions round it. These included coordinating the bridal occasion, logistics, bridal bathe, bachelorette occasion, and extra. I hope that provides you a transparent reply to what’s the maid of honor imagined to do.

Creating an honor duties guidelines actually helped give me a sensible image of what the bride anticipated from me. I additionally know now that clear communication is vital to make sure that the maid of honor and the bride-to-be are on the identical web page about their needs, considerations, wants, and limitations. However what? I gave my 110% to the marriage occasion preparation as a result of I do know the day my wedding ceremony day rolls round, my finest pal will do the identical for me.

FAQs