Maid of Honor? You’re at the Right Place!

bridesmaids, maid of honor, maid of honor duties, miami, miami wedding, miami wedding coordinator,

So a beautiful bride has chosen you to be her maid of honor.  Out of all the girls she knows, she chose YOU.  What an honor and privilege.  Although I have never been a maid of honor myself, after being involved in a few weddings, I’ve seen some girls thrive and others fall apart with their duties.  It is important to be prepared as well as present and available to the bride the entire duration of the wedding.  That may mean skipping some drinks and partying or chitchatting in order to be fully “there” for her when she needs you.  It doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice fun, but don’t get lost and forget your duties while you’re celebrating away.  She wants to know she can depend on you, whether she’s in the middle of the dance floor, or having a break down in the bathroom because her hair drooped and she doesn’t know how to fix it. In any case, here are some straightforward tips for you, as her maid of honor, to keep in mind.

bridesmaids, maid of honor, maid of honor duties, miami, miami wedding, miami wedding coordinator,

Pre-Wedding:

  • Assist the bride and listen to her.  She may need to confide in someone and you’re that person.  Be sensitive and understand it’s an emotional time for her.  It’s also a time to celebrate and you’re the number one girl she wants to celebrate with!
  • Go with her as she shops for her dress and then try to attend every fitting with her (especially if no one else is going with her).  Learn to bustle her dress!
  • Be available for anything she needs (such as searching for vendors, addressing envelopes, coming up with ideas for bouquets, and even assist her with her choices for her registry)
  • Fill in the bridal party with any necessary information (make sure everyone has their outfits, knows where they are going on the day of the wedding and how they are getting there)
  • Be aware of all wedding and registry details in case any guests have questions
  • Host or co-host the bridal shower
  • Plan the bachelorette party
  • Attend all necessary events such as rehearsal, final fittings, etc.

bridesmaids, maid of honor, maid of honor duties, miami, miami wedding, miami wedding coordinator,

THE BIG DAY!

Ceremony:

  • Get dressed with the bride and help her into her dress and with any necessary details (if her mother or another special lady is not planning to do this)
  • Prepare a small emergency kit for the bride (i.e. lipstick, pain reliever, bobby pins, nail polish, tissues, etc).  Keep in mind your day of coordinator will likely have a much more thorough kit if needed.
  • If you don’t have a coordinator who is already doing this, keep all vendor contact information and contracts nearby.
  • Arrange the bride’s veil, train and dress as she’s ready to walk down the aisle and then again when she arrives to the altar
  • Hold the groom’s ring as well as the bride’s vows (if they’re doing personalized ones) along with some tissue in case there are tears
  • Hold the bride’s bouquet throughout the ceremony
  • Be a witness at the signing of the marriage license

Reception:

  • Walk into reception with best man when announced
  • Help bustle the bride’s train and remove her veil before the partying begins (also be ready to assist with restroom runs and hair and makeup touch up)
  • Encourage guests to sign the guest book and take pictures at the photo booth if there will be one
  • Give a toast to the newlyweds and have a nice little speech prepared (bring some tissue along for the tears!)
  • Make sure the bride and groom get a moment to eat (consider planning step 2 for the newlyweds in THIS POST for a nice surprise)
  • Give bride and groom their envelope gifts before they leave (these will likely have cash or checks they can take on their honeymoon)
  • Decorate the car the bride and groom will be leaving in

bridesmaids, maid of honor, maid of honor duties, miami, miami wedding, miami wedding coordinator,

Post-Wedding

  • Make sure gifts are transported to a safe place and any personal items from the bride (including decor) are returned to you for safe keeping until the bride’s return from her honeymoon
  • Ensure everything is in order with the venue before leaving

These are some of the main responsibilities of a maid of honor, as well as a few special ones to add a personal touch.  If you think of more, be sure to prepare accordingly.  Anything you can do to make sure the bride enjoys her day and ensure the day goes smoothly will be a blessing to the couple.  It will be memorable and she will be so grateful to you.

bridesmaids, maid of honor, maid of honor duties, miami, miami wedding, miami wedding coordinator,

If you are looking for more wedding posts like this one, check out THIS post!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

0 Shares
Share
Tweet
Pin