What are the traditional jobs given out to the wedding party participants?

Question

Specifically, the bride's maide of honor and the groom's best man? also, any other tid bits of info for the other known participants of a wedding would be greatly appreciated. Going out of state to have wedding and I feel like the wedding party is getting off really easy with this wedding, and I( the bride-to-be) need some help and don't know exactly what to ask for from the friends I have chosen to be in the wedding. HELP!!

Answer 1

Congrats Lady! I wanted you to know I took this directly from www.theknot.com.


BRIDESMAIDS:

The bridesmaid is an integral part of any wedding, on hand to comfort, console, multitask, and party hearty at all bridal event(s). Whether it's your first bridesmaid gig or your 50th, here's a cheat sheet of your to-dos.


Offer to help with prewedding tasks. Try to be specific when you volunteer. For example, say, "Would you like me to help you shop for bridesmaid dresses/stuff invitations/pack for the honeymoon?" instead of just, "What can I do?"


Scout out bridesmaid dresses, shoes, jewelry, and other accessories. Pay for the entire ensemble. (Break in your shoes before the wedding day -- that will minimize slipping, blisters, and aching tootsies.)


Help to plan, cohost, and pay for the shower and bachelorette party with other bridesmaids.


If the maid/matron of honor isn't already handling this task, keep a record of all the gifts received at various parties and showers (so that the bride/couple can write thank-you notes); maintain RSVP lists.


Attend the ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. (Keep abreast of all prewedding parties, and go to as many as possible.)


Run last-minute errands. On the day of the wedding, be on hand to confirm flower delivery times, meet and greet the ceremony officiant, or satisfy junk food cravings.


Stand in the receiving line at the bride's request.


Serve as auxiliary hostess at the reception by introducing guests, making sure they know where the bar is located, and inviting them to sign the guest book.


Hit the dance floor when the music kicks in. Dance with groomsmen during the formal first-dance sequence. Also, be on the lookout for toe-tapping guests who might need encouragement and/or a dance partner.


Give the maid/matron of honor a break by helping to carry the bride's train whenever necessary. Bustle the train before dancing begins, and be ready to help fix it if it comes unhooked. Accompany the bride on visits to the restroom, if asked.


Purchase a wedding present perhaps with one or several of the other bridesmaids. This provides more buying power, and two heads are better than one when it comes to gift ideas. Sometimes the entire bridesmaid troupe pitches in for one knock-her-socks-off wedding gift.


Be a trooper, no matter how stressful the ordeal becomes. Try not to complain about the bridesmaid dress -- even if the color is horrendous. Be gracious and tactful.


Provide plenty of emotional support during the planning and on the wedding day.


~MAID OF HONOR~


The maid/matron of honor is part worker bee, part emotional lifeboat. Chosen for your energetic, get-the-ball-in-motion qualities, you should also remember that listening to the bride, making her laugh, and offering emotional and logistical support are also part of your honor attendant package. Here's what's expected:


Lead the bridesmaid troupe. It's the maid/matron of honor's (MOH) job to direct the other maids through their duties. Make sure all bridesmaids get their dresses, go to dress fittings, and find the right jewelry. Also provide them with the 411 on all prewedding parties.


Help shop for dresses (the bride's and the bridesmaids'). And the MOH pays for her own entire wedding outfit (including shoes).


Offer to help the bride with prewedding tasks, from addressing invites to choosing the wedding colors and nodding enthusiastically when she waxes poetic about wedding cake.


Spread the news about where the bride and groom are registered.


Help the bride change for her honeymoon and take charge of her gown after the ceremony. Arrange for storage in a safe place until she returns.


Lend an ear. Whether it's about the planning, the marriage, or the registry china patterns, the MOH should assure the bride that she has someone with whom she can share her thoughts. Even if she seems to dwell on the same subjects repeatedly, the MOH keeps listening.


Host or cohost a shower for the bride.


Attend all prewedding parties.


Keep a record of all the gifts received at various parties and showers (or delegate a bridesmaid to handle this).


Plan the bachelorette party with the bridesmaids.


See to it that all bridesmaids get to the rehearsal; coordinate transportation and lodging, if necessary.


Make sure that all bridesmaids get their hair and makeup done, get to the ceremony on time, and have the correct bouquets.


Hold the groom's ring during the ceremony. Safest place to put it? On your thumb.


Arrange the bride's train and veil before the ceremony begins and just after she arrives at the altar. The MOH might also need to help her bustle the train for easy dancing at the reception.


Hold the bride's bouquet while the couple exchanges vows.


Sign the marriage license as a witness, along with the best man.


Stand next to the groom in the receiving line (this is optional; the bride may decide to have attendants circulate among the guests instead).


Play hostess along with the other bridesmaids at frequent points during the reception: show guests where to sit, direct them to restrooms, tell them to where to put presents, invite them to sign the guest book, etc.


Collect any gift envelopes brought to the reception and keep them in a safe place.


Make sure the bride takes a moment to eat something -- refresh her drink, get her a plate of food from the buffet table, or instruct the wait staff to keep her entree warm.


Dance with the best man during the formal first-dance sequence and possibly be announced with him at the beginning of the party. Also dance with other groomsmen, the groom, and others.


Toast the couple after the best man. (This is optional, but it is a nice touch.)


Troubleshoot emotional crises. In most cases, this will require lots of tissues, hugging, and hair-smoothing. The MOH continues to be a trusted friend, a good listener, and a smart advisor.


Keep the bride laughing. For the stressed-out bride, laughter can be as effective as venting.


~BEST MAN~


As best man, you may think you're just a glorified groomsman, but guess what? You actually have special responsibilities -- you'll be a combination valet and hand-holder as you help the groom come through this nerve-racking experience with flying colors. As leader of the groom's posse, you'll:


Serve as the groom's personal aide and adviser before and during the wedding. This can include helping him pack for the honeymoon (the valet part).


Help the groom choose and rent (or buy) wedding formalwear, and coordinate the other groomsmen's rentals. You guys are supposed to match, after all! You may be expected to arrange accommodations for out-of-town groomsmen.It's your job to corral
the other groomsmen and make sure
they're performing their duties.



Organize the bachelor party. Don't be shy about enlisting other groomsmen to help you out -- most guys don't mind this duty! Put financial worries out of your mind -- the cost should be split among everyone who attends the bash.


Attend the rehearsal with the bride and groom and all the other attendants. This is your chance to figure out how you're supposed to walk down that aisle.


Stand beside the groom at the altar and keep the bride's ring until vows are exchanged. Find a safe place for the ring (and triple check that your pockets don't have holes) -- you don't want to fumble around when it's time to whip it out.


Corral the other groomsmen and make sure they're performing their duties.


Sign the marriage license as a witness after the ceremony, along with the maid of honor.


Give the officiant a sealed envelope with his or her fee (the groom's responsibility) just after the ceremony.


You may be announced with the maid of honor when the reception begins.


Dance with both the honor attendant and the bride during the wedding party dances.


Give the first toast to the bride and groom at the reception. This is your biggest -- and probably most frightening -- duty. Read our article about toasting, and remember the cardinal rule: Mum's the word on the bachelor bacchanalia.


Collect any gift envelopes guests bring to the reception. You may be asked to deposit them in the couple's bank account or at least to keep them until the couple returns from their honeymoon.


Decorate the getaway mobile. Grab the other groomsmen and the bridesmaids for this one.


Drive the couple to the wedding-night hotel or airport after the reception. If you perform this service, you'll need to stay sober throughout the reception. If you have a feeling this may not be possible, hire a limo to drive the couple into the sunset.

The wedding will be over in the blink of an eye, so remember to enjoy yourself at the reception. After all, you're there to celebrate the happiest day of your best friend's life.



GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 2

Typically, the maid of honor plans the bridal shower and helps the bride in any way she needs. She keeps back up things in case of an emergency during the ceremony (ie, torn stockings, needing more lipstick, etc.) The best man is supposed to do the same kind of thing for the groom...like the bachelor party. He's also supposed to decorate the car you'll be leaving in. The wedding party is there to help out the bride and the groom. Mine helped me decorate the church, and because I had a simple reception, they helped with that too. Just ask your friends to help you get things together. they should be willing to help you do anything you need. Congratulations!

Answer 3

Try websites like www.blisswedding.com or google free wedding planners etc. Bliss wedding has a printable wedding planner that includes duties of the wedding party and more. I used it for mine last year. It was a great help.

Dont forget to get someone to take charge of the signing of the guest book and taking/organizing of gifts. Guest book can be a younger cousin or something but you want to get someone you trust to take care of the gifts and cards coming into the reception.

You will also need to designate a MC - master of ceremonies for the reception. An uncle/aunt or someone you know who isn't afraid of public speaking works best. They are the ones that introduce the bridal party, announce the events of the evening as they come about (ie. first dance, cake cutting, boquet toss, toasts).

Lastly, if you are not having live music for the ceremony, you will want to also get someone you trust to run sound system and they will need to be there for the rehersal so they know when to play what. (ie. what music to play during seating, bridesmaids/groomsmen walking, your walk, signing of the marriage agreement, and lighting of candles if you chose that step)

Congradulations and enjoy your day!

Answer 4

First of all, don't expect your bridal party to do everything for you. If you need help, just simply ask.

I needed help getting some wedding music, and my maid of honor helped on that.

As for invitations, my bridesmaid helped with a portion of that along with my mother.

I guess all I can say to you is don't expect anything, and if you're the type of person who wants it done right...just do it yourself.

Make yourself a time line out...what all do you really need done?

I did it pretty much all on my own, and my fiance is doing a great job helping me.