It’s not an easy job being a maid of honor. You have duties to uphold, responsibilities to fulfill, and expectations to meet. But it’s also a lot of fun! In this blog post, we will discuss what you need to know about your duties as the Maid of Honor so that you can be prepared for any situation on the big day.

You are so happy that your best friend has asked you to be her maid of honor. But now you need to answer another question. What does a maid of honor do?

Pre-Wedding Maid of Honor Duties

A maid or matron of honor is the person who helps the bride get ready for her wedding. This person also has some responsibilities.

This is a checklist of things you need to do to be the best maid of honor. Cross everything off the list, and you will be considered the greatest maid of honor ever.

1. Wedding Planning Support System

Your BFF is getting married, and you are the bride’s maid of honor. You will help her plan the wedding. This means that you will have to listen to talk about wedding invitations, centerpieces, and bridesmaids.

The bride might want to do most of the planning independently, but she will ask her maid of honor for different ideas. When you give advice, remember that this day is not about you.

2. Leader of the Bridal Party

It’s simple to be your best friend’s best friend. But being the boss of all of the bridesmaids can be difficult. Some bridesmaids are friends, but others are not.

No matter what role you play, you must help the bride. It is best to keep up with everyone’s responsibilities by sending messages through text or email.

Because the bride is consumed with wedding planning, your job as a mediator between her and the bridesmaids relieves stress.

3. Wedding Dress Shopping and Fittings

One of the best jobs you can do as a maid of honor is to help pick out your best friend’s wedding dress. It will be fun for you because you can see clothes that no one else has seen and it is like watching your best friend’s dream come true.

Whether you try on one or 100 wedding dresses, it will be really special when the bride sees herself in the dress.

If your friend says yes to the dress, it is your job as a maid of honor to help her find other things for the wedding. This includes shoes, jewelry, and a veil.

4. Bridesmaid Dress Shopping and Alterations

Now it’s your turn to have some fun. You can pick out a dress similar to what the bride picked out for you, or if she doesn’t tell you, you can pick one yourself. If you’re not sure, try on some dresses and see which one is most comfortable and flattering for you.

You must ensure that the bride has a stress-free wedding day as a maid of honor. You should keep the other bridesmaids in line and make sure they pay for any alterations they need to do.

5. Go-To Girl For Wedding Guests

This is one of those things that may not happen to you, but if it does, you should be ready for any questions.

There is a lot of information about the wedding day in invitations and on their website. But there may be some guests who will need more help than others. Your friend is busy with wedding planning, so you can help by taking care of things that are hard for them to do.

6. Plan and Host the Bridal Shower

Being the maid of honor entails a significant amount of duty. One of your most important jobs is to plan a wonderful bridal shower for your bride-to-be. When most people are in this position, they remember that it was the first time they realized that this wedding was actually happening. Make sure you do an amazing job with the party!

When you are getting ready for the wedding, you will have help from the other bridesmaids. They will share responsibility and split costs. Here is some advice: Delegate a task to each bridesmaid, whether it be bringing a dish or providing plates, cups, or utensils.

7. Plan and Book the Bachelorette Party

We have been waiting for an event: a grown-up girls-only weekend. You are the maid of honor, and it is your turn to shine.

These days, the bride usually has a destination bachelorette party. They need help with the planning. Sometimes the bride might stay closer to home, so they do not have to plan for travel and accommodations.

Either way, it is one of your maid of honor duties to help the bride choose the location and lodging that she wants. When you have found these things, find out what restaurants or bars are in that area to go to them. This will make the trip more fun.

Maid of Honor Duties on Wedding Day

1. Take Care of the Bride

A maid of honor’s job is similar to being a mother to a friend on their wedding day. Friends will ask you questions, and you should answer them. Friends might cry, so you can try to make them feel better by drying their tears or wiping their noses. You might even have to help the bride go to the bathroom.

If you are a maid of honor, carrying an emergency kit is a good idea. This is in case something happens to the dress or other small things happen. You can also carry around a playlist to help keep the bride happy on her wedding day.

2. Stick to the Wedding Day Schedule

As we mentioned before, wedding days make brides nervous. You can help her by taking care of the clock and ensuring she does not get behind schedule. Something else you should do is to make sure that everyone has their matching robes on and they are all ready for the wedding to start.

One way to keep everyone moving is by scheduling who will do their hair and makeup next. If it is close to the time for the wedding, you can make announcements to each person. This way, they know how much time they have left.

3. Fluff the Train and Hold the Bouquet

Hooray! You have walked down the aisle without falling on your face. When your friend gets married, you get to be by her side and help her look beautiful.

Your job is to arrange the bride’s dress so that it stretches behind her as soon as she stands next to her future husband. You may need to adjust the veil too.

Once a bride is ready, she will have a flower in her hand. You will hold it the whole time. When the bride walks down the aisle, you will give it back to her.

4. Bustle the Train and Any Other Adjustments

Did you think making train fluff was difficult? Just wait until you see the commotion. Believe us when we tell that regardless of how many times you rehearse during fittings, getting it correctly on your wedding day is a whole other story. You and the bride will be very excited, so make sure to stay calm and follow the seams.

If there is a planner at the wedding, ask for her help. Additionally, you’ll want to ensure that your friend looks well by assisting her with her appearance and clothing. This way, she can go into the cocktail hour and reception looking good.

5. Make Sure the Bride is Fed

Don’t forget what we said about force-feeding. We were not joking around. It is too often that the bride will skip the wedding reception dinner because she is nervous and excited.

It is part of your duty as the maid of honor to ensure that your best friend has enough food for her wedding. You should also make sure that her new husband eats too.

6. Make a Maid of Honor Speech—Toasting and Roasting

To give someone a speech at their wedding is the most important part of being a maid or matron of honor. You are responsible for saying some nice words about the couple. It can be scary to do this, but it is also important.

You need to give a toast. You can either do it well or not well. But you are obligated to do the best you can.

The only thing the bride and groom want is for you to speak from your heart. They do not want you to say anything embarrassing to their new parents-in-law.

It is okay to drink alcohol. Just make sure you don’t drink too much and get drunk.

7. Be the Life of the Wedding Party

Every bride’s biggest fear is that some people who came to her wedding did not enjoy themselves or remember it as a great wedding. As a maid of honor, it is your job to make sure this does not happen. How can you make sure this does not happen? DANCE!

If you need to get everyone up and to dance, then do it. It is your job to make sure that people have a good time at the wedding. If you see somebody looking bored or tired, ask them what song they would like to hear and mention it to the DJ.

You are the maid of honor. You need to report any problems with the music or changes that the bride and groom want. Your friend needs to spend time on the dance floor. The reception goes by quickly, so she cannot miss out on all of the fun!

8. Help Clean Up

The wedding reception is over, and it’s your job as a maid of honor to clean up the bridal suite and the reception area. You are tired, but you need to make sure that everything is cleared out. This also applies to the remainder of the bridal party. Before returning to the hotel or going out to an after-party, make sure everyone looks in their car for anything they could have forgotten. It would be wrong if you had to return in the morning to pick up forgotten items.

Frequently Asked Questions About Maid of Honor Duties: A Checklist of Roles and Responsibilities

What Is the Tradition of Maid of Honor?

Traditionally, bridesmaids assisted the bride with wedding preparations. As weddings became more of a planned occasion, the maid of honor position was formed to oversee the preparation of presents and clothing.

What Do the Maid of Honor and Best Man Pay for?

The maid of honor is the bride’s best friend. She will help the bride get dressed and iron out any problems during the wedding. The best man will help make sure all of the ushers are ready for the wedding and take care of getting the groom there on time. During the ceremony, he will hold onto his wife’s bouquet to do her part in the ceremony.

Does the Maid of Honor Walk Alone?

The maid or matron of honor will walk alone behind the other wedding party members. The flower girl and the ring bearer can walk in unison. They can then sit with their parents.

Does the Maid of Honor Give a Speech?

It is usually customary for the maid of honor to speak to the newlyweds at their wedding reception. It is unnecessary, but it is a good idea, especially if the best man (or another honor attendant) gives one too.

Why Are They Called Maid of Honor?

The maid of honor is the woman who helps out the bride. She might dress like the bride and take care of her, too. The term “maid of honor” means she helps the queen.

Who Pays for a Bridal Shower?

Today, it is usually the maid of honor and the bridal party or the bride’s mother who throws a bridal shower. Whoever throws the event usually pays for it as well. Frequently, the maid of honor and other bridesmaids will cover the cost. And if the groom’s mother helps out, that is good too!

Does the Maid of Honor Give a Wedding Gift?

As the maid of honor, you are expected to give a bridal shower and wedding gift. You already have plenty of expenses, so don’t feel like you need to spend too much money on this.

Click here for more information about the maid of honor’s duties checklist.