Marriage Minister: Bridal Party Responsibilities

As seen in:

Member:

Traditional Responsibilities of the Bridal Party

Maid of Honor:

Helps bride select attire and address invitations
Plans bridal shower for bride
Arrives at dressing site 2 hours before ceremony to assist bride in dressing
Arrives dressed at ceremony site 1 hour before the wedding for photographs
Arranges the bride's veil and train before the processional and recessional
Follows bridesmaids and precedes ring bearer or flower girl in the processional
Christian Ceremony: Stands to the left of bride facing the officiant
Jewish Ceremony: Stands to bride's right under the chuppah
Holds bride's bouquet and groom's ring, if no ring bearer, during the ceremony
Is escorted out by best man, to his right, following flower girl/ring bearer or bride/groom during the recessional
Christian Ceremony: Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate
Jewish Ceremony: May witness the signing of the marriage certificate, though this is not always possible since conservative and orthodox rabbi's do not let women sign
Stands to the left of groom in the receiving line
Sits to the left of groom at the head table
Keeps bride on schedule
Dances with best man during the bridal part dance
Helps bride change into her going away clothes
Financial Responsibilities typically include:
- Own attire except flowers
- Travel expenses

Best Man:

Responsible for organizing ushers' activities.
Organizes bachelor party for groom
Drives groom to ceremony site and sees that he is properly dressed before the wedding
Arrives dressed at ceremony site 1 hour before the wedding for photographs
Brings marriage license to wedding
Pays the officiant, musicians, and any other service providers the day of the wedding
Christian Ceremony: Stands to the left of the groom, facing the guests, during the processional
Jewish Ceremony: Stands to groom's left under chuppah
Stands to the right of groom facing the officiant
Holds the bride's ring for the groom, if no ring bearer, until needed by officiant
Escorts maid of honor, to her left, following flower girl/ring bearer or bride/groom during the recessional
Christian Ceremony: Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate
Jewish Ceremony: May witness the signing of the marriage certificate, though this is not always possible since some rabbi's specify that the witness needs to be a jewish male, and not a blood relative to the bride or groom
Drives newlyweds to reception if no hired driver
Offers first toast at reception, usually before dinner
Sits to the right of bride at the head table
Keeps groom on schedule
Dances with maid of honor during the bridal party dance
May drive couple to airport or honeymoon suite
Oversees return of tuxedo rentals for groom and ushers, on time and in good condition
Financial Responsibilities typically include:
- Own attire except boutonniere
- Travel expenses

Bridesmaids:

Assist maid/matron of honor in planning bridal shower
Assist bride with errands and addressing invitations
Participates in all pre-wedding parties
Arrives at dressing site 2 hours before ceremony
Arrives dressed at ceremony site 1 hour before the wedding for photographs
Walk behind groomsmen in order of height during the processional, either in pairs or in single file
Christian Ceremony: Stands to the left of maid/matron of honor facing the officiant
Jewish Ceremony: Stand behind bride's parents during the ceremony facing the rabbi
Are escorted out by groomsmen following maid of honor and best man during recessional
Stands to left of maid of honor in receiving line (optional)
Sit next to groomsmen at the head table
Dance with groomsmen and other important guests
Encourage single women to participate in the bouquet-tossing ceremony
Financial Responsibilities typically include:
- Own attire except flowers
- Travel expenses

Groomsmen:

Help best man with bachelor party
Arrive dressed at ceremony site 1 hour before the wedding for pre-ceremony photographs and to seat guests as they arrive
Distribute wedding programs and maps to the reception as guests arrive and for Jewish ceremonies: distribute skull caps
Seat guests at the ceremony
Two groomsmen may roll aisle runner down the aisle after both mothers are seated
Lead the procession in order of height, either in pairs or in single file
Christian Ceremony: Stand to the right of best man facing the officiant
Jewish Ceremony: Stand behind groom's parents during the ceremony facing the rabbi
Escort bridesmaids following maid of honor and best man during recessional
If pew ribbons are used, two groomsmen may loosen them one row at a time after the ceremony
Keep an eye out for items left in pews
Direct guests to the reception site
Sit at the head table next to bridesmaids
Dance with bridesmaids and other important guests
Encourage single men to participate in the garter ceremony
Financial Responsibilities typically include:
- Own attire except boutonniere
- Travel expenses

Mother of the Bride:

Helps prepare guest list for bride and her family
Helps plan the wedding ceremony and reception
Helps bride select her bridal gown
Helps bride keep track of gifts received
Selects her own attire according to the formality and color of the wedding
Makes accommodations for bride's out of town guests
Arrives dressed at ceremony 1 hour before the wedding for photographs
Christian Ceremony:Is escorted down the aisle by best man before the bridal party and is the last person to be seated right before the bridal party enters
Christian Ceremony: Sits in the left front pew to the left of bride's father during the ceremony and stands up to signal the start of the processional
Jewish Ceremony: Escorts the bride down the aisle to bride's right following flower girl/ring bearer and stands to the right of maid of honor during the ceremony. May stand beneath the chuppah during the ceremony along with the bride and groom and honor attendants
Is escorted out by bride's father following last bridesmaid and groomsman during recessional
Can witness the signing of the marriage certificate
Stands at the head of the receiving line
Sits to the right of bride's father at parents' table during reception
Dances with the groom after the first dance
Acts as hostess at the reception
Along with Bride's Father and/or Bride, Financial Responsibilities typically include:
- Engagement party
- Wedding consultant's fee
- Bridal gown, veil and accessories
- Wedding stationery, calligraphy and postage
- Wedding gift for bridal couple
- Groom's wedding ring
- Gifts for bridesmaids
- Pre-wedding parties and bridesmaids' luncheon
- Photography and videography
- Wedding guest book and other accessories
- Rental fee for ceremony site including flowers, music and accessories
- Total cost of reception including rental fees, food, beverages, music, cake, flowers, decorations favors, etc.
- Transportation for bridal party to ceremony and reception
- Own attire and travel expenses

Father of the Bride:

Helps prepare guest list for bride and her family
Selects attire that complements groom's attire
Arrives dressed at ceremony site 1 hour before the wedding for photographs
Escorts bride down the aisle
Christian Ceremony: After giving bride away, sits in the left front pew to the right of bride's mother. If divorced, sits in second or third row
Jewish Ceremony: Stands to the right of bride's mother during the ceremony. May stand beneath the chuppah during the ceremony, along with the bride and groom and honor attendants
Escorts bride's mother following last bridesmaid and groomsman during the recessional
Can witness the signing of the marriage certificate
Stands to the left of bride's mother in the receiving line (optional)
Sits to the left of bride's mother at parents' table during reception
Dances with bride after first dance
Acts as host at the reception
Along with Bride's Mother and/or Bride, Financial Responsibilities typically include:
- Engagement party
- Wedding consultant's fee
- Bridal gown, veil and accessories
- Wedding stationery, calligraphy and postage
- Wedding gift for bridal couple
- Groom's wedding ring
- Gifts for bridesmaids
- Pre-wedding parties and bridesmaids' luncheon
- Photography and videography
- Wedding guest book and other accessories
- Rental fee for ceremony site including flowers, music and accessories
- Total cost of reception including rental fees, food, beverages, music, cake, flowers, decorations favors, etc.
- Transportation for bridal party to ceremony and reception
- Own attire and travel expenses

Mother of the Groom:

Helps prepare guest list for groom and his family
Selects attire that complements mother of the bride's attire
Makes accommodations for groom's out of town guests
With groom's father, plans rehearsal dinner
Arrives dressed at ceremony site 1 hour before the wedding for photographs
Christian Ceremony: is escorted down the aisle by groom before the mother of the bride is seated and sits in the right front pew to the right of groom's father during the ceremony
Jewish Ceremony: Escorts the groom down the aisle, to his right, following the best man during the processional and stands to the left of best man during the ceremony. May stand beneath the chuppah during the ceremony, along with the bride and groom and honor attendants
Is escorted out by groom's father following bride's parents during the recessional.
Can witness the signing of the marriage certificate
Stands to the left of bride's parents in the receiving line
Sits to the right of groom's father at parent's table during reception
Along with Groom's Father and/or Groom, Financial Responsibilities typically include:
- Own travel expenses and attire
- Rehearsal dinner
- Wedding gift for bridal couple
- Bride's wedding ring
- Gifts for groomsmen
- Bride's bouquet and going away corsage
- Mothers' and grandmothers' corsages
- All boutonnieres
- Officiant's fee
- Marriage license
- Honeymoon expenses

Father of the Groom:

Helps prepare guest list for groom and his family
Selects attire that complements groom's attire
With groom's father, plans rehearsal dinner
Offers toast to bride at rehearsal dinner
Arrives dressed at ceremony site 1 hour before the wedding for photographs
Christian Ceremony: Follows mother of the groom as she is escorted and sits in the right front pew to the left of groom's mother during the ceremony
Jewish Ceremony: Escorts the groom down the aisle (to groom's left) following the best man during the processional and stands to the left of groom's mother during the ceremony. May stand beneath the chuppah during the ceremony, along with the bride and groom and honor attendants
Escorts groom's mother following bride's parents during the recessional.
Can witness the signing of the marriage certificate
Stands to the left of the groom's mother and to the right of the bride in the receiving line (optional)
Sits to the left of groom's mother at parent's table during reception
Along with Groom's Father and/or Groom, Financial Responsibilities typically include:
- Own travel expenses and attire
- Rehearsal dinner
- Wedding gift for bridal couple
- Bride's wedding ring
- Gifts for groomsmen
- Bride's bouquet and going away corsage
- Mothers' and grandmothers' corsages
- All boutonnieres
- Officiant's fee
- Marriage license
- Honeymoon expenses

Flower Girl:

Attends rehearsal to practice her role but is not required to attend pre-wedding parties
Arrives dressed at ceremony site 1 hour before the wedding for photographs
Carries a basket filled with loose rose petals to strew along bride's path during processional, if allowed by ceremony site
Follows ring bearer or maid of honor and precedes bride during processional
Stands in front of Maid of Honor during ceremony
If very young, may sit with her parents during ceremony
Walks beside ring bearer following bride and groom during the recessional
Sits with her parents during the reception
Her Family's Financial Responsibilities typically include:
- Flower girl's attire except flowers and flower basket
- Travel expenses

Ring Bearer:

Attends rehearsal to practice his role but is not required to attend pre-wedding parties
Arrives at ceremony site 1 hour before the wedding for photographs
Carries a white pillow with rings attached
If younger than 7 years, carries artificial rings
Follows maid of honor, can walk with flower girl or precede her during the processional
Stands in front of Best Man during ceremony
If very young, may sit with his parents during ceremony
After the ceremony, carries ring pillow upside down so artificial rings will not show
Walks beside flower girl following bride and groom during the recessional
Sits with his parents during the reception
His Family's Financial Responsibilities typically include:
- Ring bearer's attire except ring pillow
- Travel expenses