Tommy McCart Photography

Maid/Matron of honor

• Helps bride with wedding activities, assists in addressing invitations, schedules appointments for bridesmaids, helps select dresses, lends an ear to the bride.

• Attends pre-wedding festivities and showers. Serves as hostess to bridal shower.

• Attends rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

• Pays for her own gown, accessories and travel (if from out of town).

• Supervises the bridesmaids, coordinates fittings and prepares them for the wedding day.

• Helps the bride dress before the ceremony and for departure from the reception.

• Checks bride’s, bridesmaids’ and flower girl’s attire before ceremony.

• May supply “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”

• Holds groom’s ring until needed in the ceremony and exchanges it for bridal bouquet.

• Lifts veil during ceremony and arranges train at appropriate times.

• Signs wedding certificate as legal witness.

• Stands in receiving line and sits at bridal table at reception.

Best man

• Plans bachelor party and ensures the groom gets home safely.

• Attends rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

• Pays for his own formalwear.

• Makes sure the groom arrives at the church on time.

• Supervises the groomsmen.

• Holds the bride’s ring until needed during ceremony.

• Oversees the return of rented formalwear.

• Gives the first toast at reception.

Bridesmaids

• Assist the bride with wedding activities.

• Attend pre-wedding festivities and showers.

• Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

• Pay for their own gowns, accessories and travel (if from out of town).

• Help on wedding day with running errands, helping each other get ready, etc.

• May participate in the receiving line.

Groomsmen

• Assist groom with wedding activities.

• Pay for their own formalwear.

• Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

• Escort guests to their seats prior to ceremony.

• Dance with other single ladies at the reception

Flower girl

• Carries a basket of flowers to scatter down the aisle. If not allowed, she may carry individual flowers to give guests seated along the aisle.

• Has gown and accessories paid for by her family.

• Attends rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

Ring bearer

• Carries the ring or rings tied with ribbons on a satin or lacy pillow. He may walk alone or with the flower girl.

• Attends the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

• Has outfit paid for by his family.

Mother of the bride

• Assists in handling details of ceremony and reception.

• Assists with selection of the bride’s gown, accessories and attendants’ attire.

• Helps develop guest list and assists in addressing invitations.

• Selects and purchases her own gown. Discusses color and style with groom’s mother so dresses will complement each other.

• Attends pre-wedding festivities and showers.

• Is last to be seated before ceremony and is first to greet guests in receiving line.

• Serves as hostess of reception with father of the bride.

Father of the bride

• Escorts his daughter to the ceremony and walks down the aisle with her.

• Serves as host of the reception.

• May stand in receiving line or mingle with guests.

Parents of the groom

• Serve as host and hostess of the rehearsal dinner.

• Attend pre-wedding festivities.

• Mother stands in receiving line; father may if he wishes.