Wedding Attendants
As an attendant, whether you are a bridesmaid or groomsman, you have been chosen to be a loving, supportive witness to the couple's marriage. Although attendants' duties will vary based on the size and style of the event, here is a brief overview of certain tasks common to most weddings.
Typical Responsibilities of Attendants
- Pay for their wedding attire and accessories (excluding flowers).
- Arrange and pay for their own transportation. (Wedding hosts should provide the accommodations.)
- Be timely and communicative regarding travel arrangements and acquiring attire.
- Understand the specific duties involved (see below).
- Arrive at specified times for all wedding-related events.
- Attend the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner; attend other pre-wedding events when feasible.
- Give an individual wedding gift to the couple, or contribute to a group gift from all the attendants.
- Assist the bride and groom whenever possible.
- Be attentive to other guests at the wedding and reception.
Specific Duties
Maid or Matron of Honor
- Helps the bride select the bridesmaids' attire.
- Organizes the bridesmaids' gift to the bride.
- Makes sure bridesmaids have their attire.
- Holds the groom's wedding ring and the bride's bouquet during the ceremony.
- Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate.
- Stands in the receiving line, if there is one.
- Helps the bride during the reception (gathering guests for the cake cutting, dancing, the bouquet toss).
- Helps the bride change into her going-away clothes, and takes care of the bride's wedding dress and accessories after the reception.
Nice, but optional:
- Helps address invitations and place cards.
- Assists in hosting or organizing a pre-wedding party, if the bridesmaids decide to have one.
Bridesmaids
- Attend the bridesmaids' luncheon, if there is one.
- Supervise flower girl(s) and ring bearer(s) if asked.
- Assist the bride at the reception as requested.
- Participate in activities such as a receiving line and a bouquet toss.
- Contribute to the bridesmaids’ gift to the bride.
Nice, but optional:
- Host a shower, bridesmaids’ luncheon, bachelorette, or other pre-wedding party or get-together.
Best Man
- Coordinates the groomsmen and ushers' gift to the groom.
- Organizes the bachelor party for the groom, if there is one.
- Makes sure that the groom's wedding-related payments are prepared; delivers prearranged payments to officiants, assistants, musicians, and singers at the ceremony.
- Sees that the groomsmen and ushers arrive on time and are properly attired.
- Instructs the ushers in the correct seating of guests.
- Keeps the bride's wedding ring during the ceremony.
- Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate.
- Drives the bride and groom to the reception if there's no hired driver; has the car ready for the couple to leave after the reception and may drive them to their next destination.
- Offers a toast to the bride and groom at the reception; dances with the bride, the mothers, the maid of honor, and other single female guests.
- Gathers and takes care of the groom's wedding clothes (returning rental items on the next business day).
Groomsmen and Ushers
- Attend the bachelor party, if there is one.
- Contribute to the ushers' gift to the groom.
- Lay the aisle runner, if one is used, before the processional.
- Greet guests and escort them to their seats.
- Know the seating order; review special seating arrangements prior to the ceremony.
- Hand each guest a program, if programs are provided.
- Remove pew ribbons, close windows, re-roll the aisle runner, retrieve any programs or articles left behind after the ceremony.
- Help guests who need directions to the reception site.
- Be on hand to assist any guests who are infirm or disabled.
- Dance with the bride, the mothers, the bridesmaids, and other single female guests.
- Coordinate the return of rental clothing with the head usher or best man.
