How To Choose Your Wedding Party: Roles & Responsibilities
How To Choose Your Wedding Party: Roles & Responsibilities
It seems natural that you would want to spread the joy to your loved ones, as getting married is one of the most significant days of your life! Organizing a wedding party is an excellent method for involving your closest friends and family in the planning process and dividing up the duties.
However, what are the precise tasks people perform during a wedding, what are their duties, and how do you select your wedding party? We've gone in-depth on wedding party duties to give you confidence when organizing your wedding party and to ensure that everything runs smoothly for all guests!
What roles can you give in a wedding: wedding party roles & responsibilities
Being asked to join a wedding party is a fantastic honour, but it carries much responsibility. Here are the expectations for the various positions in the wedding party, regardless of whether you are the one being married or have been invited.
Remember that while this list addresses the customary roles of bridal party members, there are no hard and fast laws. Your wedding party can consist of as few or as many people as you choose of any gender, and you can even create your roles! Make your wedding party a representation of the individuals who mean most to you; follow your instincts, and don't let this list dictate your choices.
Maid of honour
The most significant position in a wedding party is the maid of honour, matron of honour, or man of honour, typically the bride's best friend or brother. The maid of honour's job is to support the bride in all wedding-related decisions and preparations, including helping her select a wedding gown and setting up shopping excursions and bridesmaids' dress fittings. In addition to planning the bachelorette party with the other bridesmaids, the maid of honour's duties as the "lead bridesmaid" include assisting with the bridal shower arrangements with the bride's mother.
The maid of honour is the bride's right-hand person on the wedding day. Their responsibilities include:
- Emotional support.
- Ensuring a seamless getting-ready process.
- Helping with minor matters like bustling the dress or mending the veil.
And the maid of honour comes to the bride's aid if she can't quickly get her dress into a bathroom!
Bridesmaids
The bride's other close friends or relatives, typically around the same age, are called bridesmaids or bridesmen. Their responsibility is to assist the maid of honour and bride in organizing the wedding and on the big day. Before the bride appears, the bridesmaids typically go down the aisle and stand by her side throughout the ceremony.
The bridesmaids may take on extra tasks to help the bride's day go successfully, such as picking up breakfast before the wedding or assisting the elderly guests to their seats.
Best Man
Serving in many of the same capacities as the maid of honour, the best man (or woman) supports the groom. The best man, also called the "lead groomsman," is crucial to the wedding and plans everything from the bachelor party to the speech at the welcome cocktail. The groom's best friend or sibling is typically the best man, standing by him before and on his wedding day.
Groomsmen
Like bridesmaids, groomsmen, also known as groomspeople, are typically the groom's closest friends. They are responsible for supporting the groom on his wedding day and assisting with planning wedding-related activities like the bachelor party and suit fits. At the start of the wedding ceremony, the groomsmen and bridesmaids typically walk down the aisle together and stand beside the groom as the groom says his vows.
Flower Girl & Page Boy
Little children who are close to the couple getting married—such as their child, their niece or nephew, or a friend's child—typically fill the roles of flower girl and page boy. The page boy is the equivalent of the flower girl, who is usually a young girl who walks down the aisle while the wedding party scatters petals around her. These positions are somewhat flexible, so you can ask any little children to toss petals at the start of your ceremony. Adorable!
Ring Bearer
The best man is usually responsible for being the ring bearer, who holds the wedding rings until the ceremony. On the other hand, your dog or an adolescent relative you wish to include in the wedding can be perfect for this position!
Parents of the Bride & Groom
Seeing their kid get married is one of the most memorable days in the lives of many parents. In observance of this, the engaged couple's parents have a significant role on the wedding day.
FATHER OF THE BRIDE
Although it used to be customary for the bride's father to cover the wedding cost, this expectation is eroding. Alternatively, he could decide to cover the cost of the drinks, the flowers, or nothing at all!
Nonetheless, it is still customary for the bride's father to give a speech at the reception, escort his daughter down the aisle, and participate in a father-daughter dance.
MOTHER OF THE BRIDE
Usually, the bride's mother assists her daughter in choosing the location, caterer, and attire during the wedding planning process. In addition, the bride's mother frequently throws the bridal shower, inviting close friends and family to celebrate the bride, provide presents, and offer guidance on this new chapter in her life.
FATHER OF THE GROOM
The groom's father only has a few official duties on the wedding day, though occasionally, they will host the rehearsal dinner. But he might decide to give a speech, greet visitors, or usher the bridal party onto the dance floor!
MOTHER OF THE GROOM
The groom's mother is there to support her son both before and on his wedding day, just like the father does. She might also throw the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, which gets the bridal party thrilled and talking about the big day! Typically, the bridegroom and his mother engage in a mother-son dance.
Ushers
The ushers direct attendees to their seats during the wedding ceremony. Although they are typically other friends or male relatives of the bride or groom, the ushers can also be groomsmen. The ushers don't wear suits to match the groomsmen; they usually sport boutonnieres.
Wedding party vs bridal party
There is numerous terminology to be familiar with when organizing a wedding. What is a bridal party? What is a wedding party? Is this a real celebration?
In this instance, a group of individuals participating in your wedding are referred to as both the bridal party and the wedding party, but they differ slightly.
Anyone who participates in the wedding with the couple is considered part of the party. It can include bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ushers, the officiant, and anybody else who has a specific function in the wedding, using the above list as a guide. But the group of bridesmaids picked to stand by the bride is all that makes up the bridal party.
How many bridesmaids is normal?
Although most brides choose to have three bridesmaids, it's important to remember that there is no "normal" number for your bridal party. You can have a big group of bridesmaids—5, 8, or even 12—or a tiny one—just the maid of honour or none!
After determining the bridal party's size, you can move on to selecting the bridesmaids' bouquets and designing their dresses.
How many groomsmen is normal?
Once more, there is no set guideline, but it is customary for couples to attempt to balance the number of bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Are all wedding party roles mandatory?
Not at all! You can choose what feels most comfortable for you regarding the number of guests at your wedding party if that's a question that has crossed your mind. The rest is just a bonus; all you need to get married is your significant other and an officiant!
How do you determine roles in a wedding party?
Selecting your wedding party members is a significant choice. These are the folks you want to celebrate and express your gratitude to for their years of support; they will be by your side on your special day.
Start with siblings
Since they have supported you, siblings make sense choices for your wedding party, whether as maid of honour or best man. That being said, they are not required to be present! Choose the folks you genuinely feel the closest to, following your instincts.
Closest friends
Naturally, your closest friends follow. You want the folks in your wedding party to be your supporters, whether they are old pals from school, new friends, or both.
Consider your relationships with the person.
Even while it can be difficult to select just a few people for your wedding, keep in mind that it's your wedding, and you don't need to include everyone! Make sure you are selecting friends, family, or even your sibling to be at your side at the end of the aisle, not just those you think ought to be there. There are no guidelines!
Some wedding party roles FAQ
Your maid of honour should be who?
It's a privilege to select your lady of honour! Choose the person you feel most connected to after thinking about your closest friends and relatives. A maid of honour should ideally have known you for a long time and be able to assist you in thinking back on your life before getting married.
A maid of honour, is she a bridesmaid?
Yes, the "lead bridesmaid" title goes to the maid of honour. The maid of honour is still the bride's right-hand lady, even if the bridal party now shares many responsibilities like organizing the bachelorette party and selecting gowns.
What age is ideal for a flower girl?
A flower girl can often range in age from 4 to 10. Of course, she could be younger, but remember that small children might find weddings intimidating!
How many ushers are enough?
Larger weddings will typically have more ushers because the standard rule of thumb is one usher for every 50 guests. This will facilitate the visitors' seamless arrival at the event.
Wedding roles that reflect you
Selecting your wedding party is a crucial phase in wedding planning. The process of selecting your bridesmaids, groomsmen, and other wedding party members should be very personal, even if you are aware of the customary roles and obligations.
There are no restrictions on your wedding party, whether you're organizing a major celebration with a large bridal party and several activities or a small wedding with just your closest friends and family.
Now that your wedding party has been selected, the good times can start! You can start choosing your attire and wedding accessories. Remember to visit Flowersarch for exquisite wearable arrangements, bouquets, and artificial flower arrangements.