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FOR THE MAIDS:
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
MAID OF HONOR:
Is the best friend and/or closest relative of the bride, who will assist her with the wedding planning in any way the bride sees fit. She is there to be a help and the bride's emotional support. She is not there to aggravate or to take charge of the wedding.
She is responsible to pay for her own travel to and from the wedding and her lodging. She must purchase all her own bridal attire and she is responsible to host a shower for the bride (which may be done in conjunction with the other maids). (If the bride's sister is MOH, she should host the shower, which once again, may be done in conjunction with the other maids.) She must also give a wedding gift to the couple.
Before the wedding, she stays with the bride to keep her calm and help her dress. She should also help her prepare for the honeymoon. She keeps the groom's ring and precedes the bride up the aisle (ahead of the flower girl, who directly precedes the bride). She stands with her at the altar and holds her bouquet. She signs all pertinent documents as a witness. She stands in the receiving line and at the reception, she may give a toast that follows the best man's. She is normally seated with the bride and groom at their table.
If there are TWO MOHs, the older one takes precedence. She directly precedes the bride up the aisle (ahead of the flower girl) and stands beside her at the altar. She holds her bouquet, although the younger may hold the groom's ring. She signs all pertinent documents as a witness and stands directly beside the bride in the receiving line, the younger MOH beside her. She may give a toast at the reception, after the older MOH.
MATRON OF HONOR:
Is the same as a maid of honor, but the title is given to a married woman. A divorced woman in this position is a maid of honor (she's no longer married).
BRIDESMAIDS:
Are composed of close friends and/or relatives of the bride and groom. They are a part of the wedding party. They should be there for the bride, and should not aggravate her.
They are responsible for their own travel to and from the wedding and their lodging. They must purchase all their own bridal attire and are responsible for one shower gift for the bride and a wedding gift for the couple.
They are a part of the wedding party and precede the bride up the aisle (normally the shortest to the tallest [except for the MOH]), and stand at the altar. At the reception, they may sit at the bridal table or in close proximity to the couple. At the reception? They celebrate!!
JUNIOR BRIDESMAIDS:
Include young women 9-17. They should wear the same color as the other maids, but their dresses should be young in style and not sophisticated or sexy. They may begin the processional and stand at the altar with the other maids--or along the altar rail.
FLOWER GIRL(S):
Are a beautiful addition to any wedding, but take note: They may steal the show with their cuteness--or ruin it with a tantrum :). They should include girls 4-8 years old and may either dress in white or ivory (the color of the bride), or wear the same color as the maids. Once they make their way up the aisle, they should be seated with relatives or parents, who are seated in the first row or pew.
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