Planning a wedding is a pretty daunting task for any bride and groom, which is why traditionally the bridal party have a number of jobs to help with the process, and to ensure smooth wedding planning at all times…
Bride and groom
The bride and groom’s biggest responsibility is obviously to seal the deal and get married, but they have some crucial planning decisions to make first. It’s important that the bride and groom work on these decisions together and share the workload fairly, and that both are happy with each decision made.
- Set the budget
- Compile a guest list (this will be influenced by the budget)
- Choose a theme, date and venue – make the necessary reservations and deposits
- Organise invites, flowers, a photographer and wedding entertainment
- Choose the wedding rings
- Write the wedding vows
- Thank-you notes for the guests
- Greet everyone at the reception
- Dance the first dance at the reception – some couples have lessons beforehand
In addition to the bride and groom’s joint responsibilities, each traditionally have tasks to handle on their own. The bride needs to choose her bridesmaids and maid of honour and their dresses, and choose a gift for her hubby-to-be. The groom needs to choose his groomsmen and best man and their attire, and also choose a gift for his wife-to-be.
Bride’s parents
In past traditions the bride’s parents have always paid for the majority of the wedding, but today the cost is usually distributed between mainly the couple, the bride’s parents and the groom’s parents. However there are still certain responsibilities for the bride’s parents to take care of.
- Help the bride and groom with the guest list
- Offer assistance and moral support with the wedding details
- Attend any wedding rehearsals
- The bride’s father escorts her to the ceremony and usually walks her down the aisle
Groom’s parents
The groom’s parents have very similar responsibilities to the groom’s parents:
- Help the bride and groom with the guest list
- Offer assistance and moral support with the wedding details
- Attend any wedding rehearsals
Maid of honour
The maid of honour is traditionally a sister or best friend, and is the member of the bridal party that the bride relies most on. The maid of honour’s responsibilities include:
- Organising any bridesmaid-related activities
- Coordinating the hen do
- Most importantly, organising the wedding dress shopping and any fittings
- Helping the bride and groom with any ad–hoc tasks or errands (keeping record of RSVPs, etc)
- Attend any wedding rehearsals
- Help the bride dress and get ready on the morning of the wedding
- Arrange her veil and train during the processional and recessional
- Holds the bride’s bouquet at the altar
- Sign the marriage license as the bride’s witness
- Helps the bride during the reception with the dress
Bridesmaids
There is no minimum or maximum number when it comes to bridesmaids and you can have as many as you want for your wedding. Bridesmaids can be single, married and any age.
- Assist the maid of honour with the wedding planning duties and help the bride when needed
- Help organise the hen do
- Attend any wedding rehearsals
- Walk in the processional and recessional
Best man
The best man is the groom’s go–to man during the wedding planning and his biggest support. The best man is traditionally the groom’s brother or best friend, and can be single, married and any age again.
- Organise the stag do
- Help to organise the groomsmen’s suit fitting and pick this up before the wedding say
- Write a speech for the wedding reception
- Attend any wedding rehearsals
- Make sure the groom gets to the ceremony on time
- Brings the rings to the ceremony
- Signs the marriage license as the groom’s witness
Groomsmen
Apart from assisting the best man, the groomsmen don’t actually have many responsibilities before the wedding.
- Help the best man with any wedding planning duties
- Attend the stag do
- Attend any wedding rehearsals
- Arrive early at the ceremony on the wedding day and help to greet and seat guests
