Responsibilities of the Wedding Party

Maid of Honor/Personal Attendant: (Usually special friend or sister of the bride.)

• Helps bride with shopping, invitations and other details as requested. Attends all pre-wedding events
• Pays for own wedding attire
• Takes charge of groom's ring during ceremony
• Witnesses, signs wedding certificate
• Helps bride in arranging veil and dress at ceremony and reception
• Returns bride's gown to designated place after wedding.

Bridesmaids:

• Purchases and completes fittings of gowns
• Performs tasks as assigned by bride
• Attends rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

Best Man: (Assists groom with all details of the wedding day.)

• Pays for own attire
• Transports groom to the church.
• Supervises the groomsmen, regarding their dress and duties at ceremony
• Takes care of bride's ring until ceremony.
• Presents the clergy person with fee.
• Signs and witnesses the marriage certificate
• Offers the first toast to the bride and groom.
• Dances with the bride after the groom and both fathers have danced with her
• Prepares the honeymoon car, packs suitcases in car.
• Holds for safekeeping, any tickets, keys, etc. for the groom.
• Returns groom's tuxedo to rental shop.

Groomsmen:

• Pays for their own wedding attire
• Attends rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
• Attends bachelor dinner if there is one
• Escorts bridesmaids during the ceremony

Ushers:

• Pay for own wedding attire
• Make sure principles have flowers before being seated. (Unless this task is assigned to another)
• Distribute wedding programs. (Unless this task is assigned to another)
• Seat guests on appropriate side of church.
• Assist elderly guests to seats.
• After all guests are seated, unroll aisle carpet.
• Check church or synagogue for any items left behind.

Ring bearer and Trainbearer Responsibilities

Neither of these is required positions and may be boys or girls. Usually only one ring bearer is used, but two with one ring per pillow will work if you have an abundance of four or five year children that you would like to have involved in the ceremony. Although the rings on the pillows are usually not the actual wedding rings, you could have two ring bearers if you are having a double ring ceremony, one for the bride and one for the groom. Trainbearer or pages usually walk in pairs but a single trainbearer can be used.

Advance Help

If ring bearers and trainbearer are little boys they are not likely to be interested in any pre- wedding parties. If they are girls, they might want to attend the shower and some other parties. They attend the rehearsal and may attend the rehearsal dinner with their families.

At the Wedding

The ring bearer(s) carries a pillow with a ring or rings sewn to it. (These are usually not the real wedding rings but symbolic ones for show only.) They walk either directly in front of or beside the flower girl(s) in the processional and the recessional. If real rings are tied to the pillow, the ring bearer takes the pillow directly to the maid of honor and the best man who will remove the rings. The trainbearers follow the bride in the processional and recessional, and carry the bridal train. During the ceremony, the ring and trainbearers may stand near the groomsmen or sit with their families. They are in the formal photographs of the bridal party.

At the Reception

Ring and train Bearers do not usually stand in the reception line. They usually sit at a table of honor with their families.

Expenses

Families of ring and trainbearers are expected to pay for attire. If travel expenses are involved, the children's families pick up these costs. Ring and train bearers are not expected to bring gifts to any pre-wedding parties they may attend. If their parents attend, gifts expectations would be the same as any other guest. If they attend more than one party, only one shower gift is expected.