Best Man Mistress of Ceremonies
Bridesmaids MC / DJ
Flower Girl Parents of Bride
Greeters Personal Attendant
Groomsman Readers
Guest Book Attendant Ring Bearer
Maid/Matron of Honor Ushers
   
A wedding party is comprised of the people. who help with the wedding and play special roles during that day. Each person has specific responsibilities. Here are a few responsibilities to get you started. Some may not apply to your wedding or you may have other responsibilities to delegate.
 
 

Best Man

  • Spread the word about where the couple is registered 

  • Give groom bachelor party (plan, invite guests)

  • Pay for rental of own tux

  • Ensure groom arrives on time at the ceremony

  • Keep bride's ring until minister asks for it on day of wedding

  • Help groom get dressed before wedding  

  • Help groom remain calm prior to ceremony  

  • Stand beside groom during ceremony  

  • Make first toast at the reception  

  • Offer to return the groom's wedding attire to the formalwear store 

  • Check out more Duties of the Best Man from WedNet.com

 

Bridesmaids

  • Help choose the bridesmaid dresses if possible (geographically)  

  • Spread the word about where the couple is registered  

  • Buy own bridesmaid dress and accessories  

  • Stand beside maid of honor during ceremony

 

Flower Girl

  • Precedes the bride, tossing paper flowers or fresh flower petals down the aisle (ask if your ceremony site allows fresh flowers to be dropped)  

  • Stand beside the bridesmaids during ceremony

 

Greeters

  • Pick up the guest book and pen at the end of the ceremony and put at entrance of reception hall 

  • Make sure reception area setup looks OK (cake? band/DJ there? centerpieces set out?) 

  • Greet guests as they enter reception and tell them where party, gift table, and guest book are located

 

 

Groomsman

  • Spread the word about where the couple is registered 

  • Pay for rental of own tux

  • Stand beside best man during ceremony

 

 

Guest Book Attendant

  • Stand by guest book for people to sign prior to ceremony 

  • Give out favors and birdseed roses at reception

 

Maid/Matron of Honor

(A Matron of Honor is married; a Maid of Honor is not.)

  • Help bride choose a wedding dress  

  • Help choose the bridesmaid dresses  

  • Buy own bridesmaid dress and accessories  

  • Assist bride with wedding plans if asked  

  • Help the bride address invitations, if she needs it  

  • Spread the word about where the couple is registered  

  • Give bride a bridal shower and be present at any other showers that may be thrown for her 

  • Help bride get dressed before wedding  

  • Help bride remain calm prior to ceremony  

  • Keeps groom's ring until minister asks for it on day of wedding 

  • Stand beside bride during ceremony         

  • Rearrange the bride's wedding gown train during the ceremony as necessary 

  • Hold the bouquet and possibly gloves during the exchanging of the rings until after the kiss  

  • Help the bride get out of her gown and into traveling clothes, if the bride and groom are leaving for their honeymoon right after the reception 

  • Help the bride's mother get all the wedding gifts to the couple's new home while the couple is on their honeymoon

 

Mistress of Ceremonies

  • Make sure attendants know what they're doing, where and when at the rehearsal

 

Ceremony duties:

  • Help florist give out corsages; ensure everyone gets a flower that should  

  • Ensure centerpiece flowers, unity candles, pew bows, etc. are in place 

  • Get lighter from minister for unity candles  

  • Put guest book and pen at church entrance  

  • Make sure videographer/photographer are set up OK  

  • Give programs to the ushers  

  • Tell family members to hang around for quick pictures immediately after the ceremony

 

Reception duties:

  • Try to ensure that no one leaves with disposable cameras  

  • Bring basket of birdseed/bubbles/etc. and give to person who will hand them out 

  • Help mother of bride stay sane and get everything to take home afterwards

 

MC (Reception)

family member, friend, DJ, or band leader

  • Announce wedding party when they arrive at reception  

  • Do announcing of the dances, garter and bouquet toss, and final dance

 

Parents of Bride

  • Put couple's luggage in limo  

  • Bring home items from ceremony (flowers, leftover programs, unity candles, etc.)  

  • Bring home items from reception (toasting glasses, cake knife and server, gifts, disposable cameras, leftover birdseed roses and favors, centerpieces, cake topper, top layer of cake, etc.) 

  • Ensure caterer puts food basket in limo at end of reception for couple to eat at hotel

 

 

Personal Attendant

  • Help bride get dressed  

  • Carry bride's emergency kit to the reception  

  • Give out favors and birdseed/bubbles/etc. at reception  

  • Give emergency kit to bride's mom at the end of reception

 

 

 

Readers

  • Read scripture, poetry, or prose selections during the wedding ceremony

 

 

Ring Bearer

  • Walk down the aisle carrying the rings (or fake ones) secured to a satin pillow  

  • Stand beside groomsmen during ceremony      

 

 

Ushers

  • Pay for rental of own tux (or they could just wear suits)  

  • Greet all guests at the ceremony, then ask which family they represent and seat accordingly (optional - traditionally bride's family/friends on left and groom's family/friends on the right of the center aisle; however, if it is expected that this seating arrangement will be very uneven, the ushers can seat guests wherever) 

  • Unroll the aisle runner after the bride's mother is seated

  • Usher mothers and grandmothers out after ceremony and dismiss guests aisle by aisle (optional - guests can be left to dismiss themselves too)