What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of the Wedding Party?

The wedding party is the group of people the couple entrusts with important tasks during their big day. They typically help the couple plan, stay sane and cheer them on on their special day!

They also coordinate wedding gifts, attend major age-appropriate events leading up to the wedding, and sometimes help with photography or video.

Maid of Honor or Matron of Honor

The Maid of Honor, also referred to as the woman of honor or matron of honor (depending on her marital status), is typically the bride’s most trusted confidant. She is usually the one who takes charge of many of the important wedding planning tasks, like ordering and addressing invitations, assisting with bridesmaid dress selection, and coordinating any bridal shower or bachelorette party events. She’s the go-to person for bustling the bride’s gown and affixing her veil at the altar, and she often gives a toast during the reception.

While traditionally, the Maid of Honor has been an unmarried female, more and more brides are opting to have a Matron of Honor instead — or no Maid of Honor at all! A Matron of Honor is the bride’s older sister, best friend, or close family member who can help her navigate through some of the more difficult aspects of wedding planning.

A page boy or ring bearer typically walks alongside the flower girl as she heads down the aisle scattering petals. This can be a young boy from the couple’s family or friends, but it’s not uncommon for a beloved pet to be the ring bearer as well. This person is responsible for carrying the rings to the altar and is expected to have adult supervision.

Bridesmaids

The maid of honor or matron of honor (or man of honour if the bride is getting married to a male) is the bride’s right-hand person. They take on many responsibilities in the lead up to the wedding, including planning, paying for, and attending bridesmaid dress fittings, as well as giving their opinions on bridal accessories such as shoes, jewelry, and flowers.

They are also there to offer emotional support as the bride deals with the stress of wedding planning. On the big day, they are responsible for things like adjusting the bride’s train and affixing her veil. They also offer hands-on help throughout the day such as helping the bride bustle her gown and holding her bouquet during photos.

In addition to these duties, they often help plan and pay for the bridal shower and bachelorette party. They also run small errands for the bride and are available to answer any questions she may have. They also give speeches at the rehearsal dinner and/or reception.

Bridesmaids are the best friends, sisters, cousins, or other female relatives who will stand by the bride’s side on her big day. They are usually invited to all the major planning events and have a lot of fun with the bride during these times.

Groomsmen

A groomsman is the groom’s closest male friends and may help him with planning or run small errands. He is also there to support the groom during the day and can offer comic relief when needed. He can also be responsible for coordinating transportation and ensuring that guests get to the ceremony and reception on time and without problems.

Like the maid of honor, a groomsman is expected to arrive early on wedding day and be ready for photos. He should also help the best man if needed. Groomsmen can give speeches at the rehearsal dinner and/or reception if desired. They can also help the maid of honor or matron of honor plan and host any bridal showers or bachelorette parties and serve as master of ceremonies.

If the couple has elected to have ushers, groomsmen will help guests find their seats. Traditionally, this meant seating the bride’s family on the left and the groom’s on the right, but that is becoming less common.

During the cocktail hour and reception, groomsmen should mingle with guests and make sure everyone is having fun. They can help the bride and groom sign the guestbook or photo booth, and they can help the newlyweds sit down for their dinner and dessert. Lastly, groomsmen can be in charge of decorating the car, limousine, or horse-drawn carriage to ensure it looks its best when the couple is driven off.