Maid of Honor Responsibilities
When it comes to your wedding, your maid of honor is your go-to. Between “Yes!” and “I Do”, they will be by your side through it all. How do you pick who will have these important responsibilities? To some, it might come as an easy, obvious decision. To others… not so much.
If you’re struggling with who to pick as your maid of honor, base your decision on who you think will best handle the duties that come along with this role and you who feel confident will remain calm, supportive, helpful, and excited throughout the planning.
Keep in mind that not every wedding is exactly the same and yours might be unique. Want to have a maid and a matron of honor? Do it! Have two sisters you simply can’t pick between? Ask them both! It’s your big day, so you have the final call when it comes to what you do.
When it comes to picking your maid of honor, understand what they are responsible for before and after the wedding so you can pick the best suited.
MMG Photography
BEING THERE FOR THE BRIDE
Your maid of honor will be your first phone call every time. She knows you better than anyone else. Whether you are stressed, overwhelmed, need an opinion or simply can’t make up your mind, your maid of honor will be your voice of reason and shoulder to lean on when you need it. You will confide in your maid of honor, so make sure you feel comfortable having conversations about budget or family dynamics with each other.
Brittaney Brandt Photography
POINT OF CONTACT
The Maid of honor is often the one who works with the rest of the bridesmaids to make sure everyone is on the same page. She might not be friends with everyone, but she is definitely well-liked and friendly with all.
She’ll help coordinate appointments the ‘maids need to be at. She’ll help resolve any issues that may arise between the group. She’ll take ownership of the parties she throws and delegate tasks to others. Make sure you pick a leader, but not one that wants to steal the show.
Not only does MOH deal with the bridesmaids, but she might also be a great person to step in and help with guests and family members who are interrupting you during the planning process.
Twenty Two Photography
Wedding Dress Shopping and DIY PrOjects
While it’s completely up to you who comes to the dress appointment, brides typically include their maid of honor. Your maid of honor will be honest, and that’s exactly what you need when picking out the most important (and expensive) gown you’ll ever wear. You appreciate her opinion and that’s why she’s standing by your side. If you try something on a little too revealing or something too modest, she’ll tell you! She knows how important this day is and wants you to look and feel your best.
Along with dress shopping for both the bride and bridesmaids, your maid of honor is also going to be there to help with all those DIY projects you pinned on Pinterest. While we think you should hire local professionals for all your wedding needs, some sought to stay under budget and do it themselves. Guess who won’t complain about staying up ’til midnight helping you address your invitations or finish those centerpieces?
PlanNING the Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party
Maybe the biggest responsibility of all, planning your bridal shower and bachelorette party. Make sure your MOH is on top of her party-planning game! Pick someone who doesn’t get overwhelmed when making decisions… When should these events take place? Where should they be? How much should each person contribute? Who should be included and not included? These are two parties that you will not have a part in the planning, so make sure your maid of honor is reliable!
The maid of honor should also keep notes about the gifts received at these two events. She’ll write down who got you to want at both so you can easily personalize each thank you card. Maybe your maid of honor will even suggest having guests write their own addresses on envelopes when they arrive or at their place setting to help get those thank you cards out even faster!
GETTING READY, HOLDING THE BOUQUET, FIXING THE DRESS
Jay Kossman Photography
While most of the maid of honor’s work is done before the wedding, she still has a few big jobs while at the wedding. First, she will help you get ready and feel beautiful on your special day. She’ll keep the hair and makeup running smoothly with the rest of the bridesmaids. She’ll help you step into your gown and get those buttons fastened. She might even have to help lift your gown to use the restroom. Remember why it’s important to pick someone you feel comfortable around?
While you are getting ready, your maid of honor will be rushing around the morning of to make sure all the little details are taken care of. Give her items to hold for the photographer so they can capture a beautiful flat lay. She might even get a hold of the rings from the best man and have to keep those safe until the ceremony.
During the ceremony, your maid of honor will fix your dress once you get to the end of the aisle (must be picture perfect!) and will hold your bouquet. She’ll also keep your bouquet safe after the ceremony while you’re greeting guests. Throughout the night, your maid of honor should bustle your dress so you don’t step on it while walking or dancing! She’ll also make sure you’re always hydrated or have a cocktail in hand!
MAID OF HONOR SPEECH
Sabrina Hall Photography
One of the most important responsibilities if speeches are a go at the reception, the maid of honor speech. Make sure your maid of honor doesn’t get stage freight because delivering a speech in front of hundreds of guests isn’t for the faint of heart. She should start preparing her speech about a month before the wedding and make sure she doesn’t bring up any embarrassing stories about you or your fiancé that you do not want to be shared.
However, don’t let the fear of public speaking stop you from picking someone as your MOH. Not everyone is perfect at public speaking and that is okay. Just make sure you have this conversation before the wedding so no one is caught off guard.
Have Fun
One of the most overlooked parts of selecting a maid of honor is making sure you pick someone you have fun with. You’ll be spending a lot of time with your MOH, so make sure it’s someone you enjoy being around. Pick someone who will stand by your side from the very beginning of the engagement all the way to the end of the reception dancing the night away. She’ll even be there the next morning to help load the car with gifts, get you ready for the honeymoon and fix those post-wedding blues.
Genevieve Nisly Photography
Jodi Hutton Photography
There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to knowing who to pick as your maid of honor. Knowing the maid of honor responsibilities will make it easier to decide who would be the best fit for this role, but pick someone who will make your day that much memorable.
