PLANNER
advice ASSIGNING ROLES The bride and groom handle most of the preparations for their wedding day, in the knowledge that, on the actual day, they can trust certain responsibilities to be handled by a handful of dependable individuals. These are the primary roles you’ll need to assign to those who’ll form part of the wedding party.
Bride’s parents Gone are the days when the bride’s parents are expected to foot the entire bill – although if they want to, it’s something you should be discussing with them directly. When it comes to the mother of the bride’s attire, she generally informs the groom’s mother of her choice of outfit (predominantly colour and style), in order to avoid any clashes, and to complement each other on the day. The father of the bride gets fitted for formalwear along with the rest of the groom’s party and, traditionally, escorts his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.
Groom’s parents The groom’s parents may discuss with the bride’s parents the option of contributing to the wedding or hosting another engagement party. They’ll need to provide a list of guests, based on an agreed number with the couple, and may offer to host a dinner closer to the date of the wedding. 102
Maid of honour The maid of honour is the bride’s closest and most trusted attendant, typically a sister or best friend, who coordinates a number of bridesmaid-related activities, such as organising the bride’s bachelorette party, while also helping the couple with any errands or tasks that need to be done prior to the day. She’s generally also asked to attend wedding gown appointments with the bride. The majority of her tasks come into play on the wedding day itself, however. She helps out with any last minute arrangements while getting ready, and arranges the bride’s gown while she readies herself to enter the church. During the ceremony, the maid of honour often gets up to fix the bride’s gown and veil, and may also hold her bridal bouquet. During the reception and throughout the rest of the day, the maid of honour coordinates the bridesmaids to ensure their duties (if any) are carried out, coordinates with the best man, and collects gifts passed on by guests, which she then stows away in a secure room at the venue. She may also need to help the bride change out of her wedding dress and into a more comfortable going-away outfit, and ensures the bride’s belongings are kept safe once they leave the venue.