The Roles of the Maid of Honor and Best Man

The roles of the maid of honor and best man, what are they? Someone close to you has asked you to be their maid of honor or best man, a role you have cheerfully accepted. But what exactly does this entail?

The maid of honor role is part duty manager and part emotional lifesaver. She gives a short speech during the reception and offers practical and emotional support to the bride throughout the planning and organization of the wedding. She also takes care of a wide range of small but important details:

*help shop for dresses for the bride, bridesmaids. The MOH pays for her own outfit including shoes
*make sure everyone gets their bridesmaid dresses, go-to dress fittings, and find the right jewelry
*help with prewedding tasks like addressing invitations, picking out colors and decorations
*host or co-host a bridal shower
*make sure bridesmaids have their hair, nails, and makeup is done on time and they have the right bouquets
*arrange bride’s veil and train before walking to the altar
*hold groom’s ring during the ceremony – your thumb is the safest place
*hold bride’s bouquet while she is exchanging vows
*dealing with last-minute surprises

The role of the best man is virtually identical. On the big day, he helps the groom dress and accompanies him to the ceremony. Most importantly, he holds the wedding bands. Like any good host, he is the first to arrive at the reception hall in order to welcome the new married couple. He makes the first toast of the evening and dances with the bride as well as her mother and the mother of the groom.

Of course, the maid of honor is traditionally in charge of organizing the hen or bachelorette party, and the groom organizes the stag party. One innovative idea for a hen party is to organize a relaxing day at a spa to relieve accumulated stress, followed by a gourmet meal and an evening at a nightclub. For the men, the groom’s interests are a good indication for a suitable bachelor party; if he loves playing golf and going to the casino, then an afternoon on the golf course followed by an evening on a floating casino might be ideal.

In short, the privileged role of the maid of honor and best man is to ensure that everything runs smoothly, before and during the wedding. Don’t forget that if you have been invited to fill out one of these key roles, it is because you are trusted. That’s an honor in itself.