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.