Boise Idaho Wedding Party Blog

Bridesmaid Responsibilities

The Maid of Honor/Matron of Honor:  When accepting the honor of being the bride’s primary attendant, the maid/matron of honor should be prepared to pay for her dress and shoes and hair styling, unless the bride indicates otherwise.  She may also need to pay for her transportation and lodging if she is from out of town.

If the maid/matron of honor lives near the bride, she may want to take an active role in helping the bride plan the wedding, including going shopping, helping make decorations and decorating the wedding and/or reception sites.  It is also appropriate for the maid/matron of honor to host a bridal shower and be involved with the planning of a bachelorette party if she chooses to do so, but it is not required.  If the bridesmaids’ dresses are rented, the maid/matron of honor may be asked to pick them up the day before the wedding and return them after the wedding.

The maid of honor should be well acquainted with the details of the wedding plans so she can assist the wedding coordinator in handling any last-minute problems that might occur.  In order to fully understand the plans, she may want to attend at least one of the bride’s meetings with the wedding coordinator, if possible.  She should also work closely with the best man at the rehearsal and on the wedding day to be sure everything goes smoothly.

On the day of the wedding, the maid/matron of honor will be expected to do the following:

• Help the bride dress
• Precede the bride down the aisle
• Arrange the bride’s train during the ceremony, if needed
• Hold the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony
• Carry the groom’s ring, or get it from the ring-bearer’s pillow, and hand it to the bride at the appropriate time (unless the best man holds both rings)
• After the ceremony, she may stand in a receiving line, but she is not required to do so
• Communicate closely with the wedding coordinator on any necessary matter
• Sign the marriage license
• Give a toast at the reception if asked

After the wedding, the maid/matron of honor should assist in clean-up and removal of decorations.  She should collect and return any rented dresses or other items, and do anything else that the bride might request.

-© 2006 Glenna Tooman, Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC; all rights reserved