Being a bridesmaid is a great honor. You get to help a loved one, whether she’s a friend or a family member. The Bride will be forever grateful that you were by her side on her best day ever! However, being a bridesmaid means agreeing to a fairly long list of responsibilities. As a part of the Bride Tribe, a bridesmaid is expected to plan and attend all pre-wedding parties, help out with aspects of the wedding planning as needed, and be totally present and available to the bride on the wedding weekend.
Here is a breakdown of Bridesmaid Duties You Need To Know:
Before the Wedding
Be there for the bride:
We all know planning a wedding can be stressful, so a big bridesmaid responsibility is simply lending a helping hand or attentive ear to the bride when she needs it.
Be positive and offer to help with planning:
Be that sounding board for the couple to bounce ideas off of. Look at the Brides Pinterest board and give her feedback is she asks. Wedding planning can be overwhelming at times, she will appreciate having a friend or friends to lean on for support.
Buy your bridesmaid dress, shoes, and accessories on time.
A big thing on the list of bridesmaid duties is just simply being on top of it — especially when it comes to your attire. While there are a number of reasons why you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to order your bridesmaid dress, shoes, and accessories, the biggest is that if you do, it probably won’t all arrive in time. An upset like this will not only stress you out but also the bride and other members of the wedding party. Avoid the drama (and the potential that you’ll stick out like a sore thumb in the photos), by ordering your bridesmaid dress.
Go wedding dress shopping with the bride-to-be.
Wedding dress shopping is a unique experience for every bride and the number of people in the entourage will likely differ from bride to bride. However, it can be a lot of fun the bride wants you to attend. Just remember, be supportive and positive!
Help plan and organize the bridal shower and bachelorette party
While planning most of the pre-wedding events falls onto the maid of honor, keeping track of details can be incredibly overwhelming, so add “offering event planning assistance” to your list of bridesmaid duties.
Attend pre-wedding events
One of the best items on the bridesmaid duties list is celebrating with the bride-to-be. So try to be available to participate in the bridal shower, bachelorette party, and especially rehearsal dinner.
Buy a wedding gift
It’s a proper wedding etiquette for guests to buy the couple a wedding gift. With all the other details of being a bridesmaid, try not to let this fall by the wayside.
Hair and Makeup
Many brides will hire a hair and makeup people or schedule a day at a salon for bridesmaids to get professionally coiffed and made up before the wedding. If you choose to partake in this hair and makeup session, expect to pay for the cost yourself.
Wedding Day:
The big day is here! As a bridesmaid, you should help ensure everything goes smoothly for the bride, her maid of honor, and the majority of the wedding guests. Here’s how:
Get Ready With the Bride
Bridesmaids should plan on showing up at the designated getting-ready location on time, with all of their gear (bridesmaid attire, shoes, jewelry, makeup, undergarments, etc.) in hand. Besides getting themselves aisle-ready, the bridesmaids should do whatever they can to assist the bride during this time, such as:
- Keeping her smiling, laughing, calm, and collected
- Answering any incoming texts, calls, or logistical questions for her
- Making sure she eats something and stays hydrated
- Pouring celebratory bubbly for everyone to enjoy
- Keeping hair and/or makeup appointments on track
- Helping her into her dress
- Assisting her with her shoes, jewelry, or veil
Assist the MOH
The maid of honor has a pretty big job on the wedding day. Bridesmaids should serve as her right-hand ladies, helping out with whatever tasks are needed—whether that’s making a last-minute run to the drugstore, coordinating with the photographer or wedding planner,
Be the bride’s support crew
Bridesmaids should embody the concept of being the support crew for the bride and the maid of honor in all ways during the big day. They can also serve as a point of contact for guests and vendors when it’s helpful. Here are some tasks the bridesmaids can cover to be of service:
- Double-check that all members of the wedding party and any special family members have their personal flowers (bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, flower crowns, or toss petals). Assist with pinning on boutonnieres or other floral accessories as needed.
- Help guests navigate the venue, such as directing them to parking areas, bathrooms, handicap access, exits, and if applicable, the bar or refreshments station.
- Standing near the gift table, guest book, or wedding favors helping direct and facilitate guests’ participation.
Participate in the Ceremony
Bridesmaids should be in place at the ceremony venue on time, (most likely hidden out of sight), and ready for their cues to process down the aisle. Keep chatter to a minimum and be respectful of the planner, officiant, or whoever is running the show. Be ready for group photos directly after, and help point guests in the right direction for the cocktail hour. The DJ can help as well. Don’t be afraid to ask him to make announcements and have him help direct guests, that’s what he is there for. Our team DJ with Complete Weddings + Events Melbourne is used to this and will have a full timeline of events and where to direct guests.
Be the Perfect Wedding Guests
Bridesmaids should mingle and chat with other guests, enjoy the food and drinks offered, sit down at their dinner table when asked, participate in guest-related activities like signing the guestbook or visiting the photo booth, listen to, applaud, and/or give any speeches (that have been pre-arranged), witness the special dances, and boogie down (tastefully) when it’s dance floor time.
Maintain a Stress-Free Send-off
Finally, bridesmaids should help the maid of honor, coordinator, or the couple’s parents assemble any items then need to be transported out of the reception venue at the end of the night. This might include:
- Any getting-ready clothing or gear
- Extra/unused ceremony programs, favors, or sparklers
- Leftover alcohol
- Any decor or signage that was personally provided (not rented)
- The bride and/or bridesmaids’ bouquets
- Wedding cards and gifts
- The guest book
- Special toasting flutes, cake servers, or cake plate
- A basket of late-night leftovers (packaged by the caterer)
- The top tier of the wedding cake
- A few slices of late-night wedding cake (packaged by the caterer)
- The bride and/or groom’s wedding attire, if they’ve changed into getaway clothes
In addition to making sure the above items leave the venue in the right vehicle(s), bridesmaids can lend a hand with these final logistical tasks:
- Make sure all guests make it onto the right shuttle buses, find their cars, or otherwise make it safely out of the venue.
- Hand out pre-addressed tip envelopes to the vendors.
- Make sure the bride and/or groom’s overnight bags make it to their wedding night hotel room.
- Organize guests to the after-party, if there is one.
Being a bridesmaid is a great honor and tremendous responsibility. The most important piece of advice though is to live in the moment with the couple and enjoy the experience. They have just asked you to be by their side for one of the biggest days of their life. You will forever be a part of their fondest memories.
Complete Weddings + Events in Melbourne, FL
Our team at Complete hopes that this Blog on Bridesmaid duties you need know, helped prepare you for what you have signed up for. Our team is always here to answer any questions you may have as well. Contact us today. Complete Weddings + Events, Melbourne’s leading provider of event and wedding photography, videography, lighting, DJ services & photo booth rental.
