Being asked to be someone’s maid of honor is a big deal. It means that this person thinks of you as one of their closest friends. When accepting this job, you must realize you are now responsible for helping the bride with whatever she needs to create and execute the perfect wedding.
Photo by Phuong Nguyen on Unsplash
You are also the leader of the wedding party, making sure all the bridesmaids are involved with pre-wedding festivities, such as the bridal shower and bachelorette party. And let’s not forget, you have a toast to give on the big day.
You can scour the Internet and find maid of honor checklists. But simply following these lists doesn’t make you the very best person for the job.
Here are ways to rock your title of maid of honor:
1. Be There For The Bride
From consulting her on wedding dress essentials to reception hall visits and minor (and major) breakdowns, being there for the bride is your No. 1 priority.
She picked you for a reason. Probably because you know her best. So make sure you use your knowledge to direct the bride to the right choices when she gets overwhelmed. There may be appointments where she won’t need you to attend, but for the ones she does, show up with a smile. Planning a wedding is stressful, and as a maid of honor, you should be making things fun and light. This will create beautiful memories for you two to share, and it may even bring you closer than ever before.
2. Keep The Bridesmaids Up To Date
Whether the bride has chosen three or thirteen bridesmaids, make sure everyone is one the same page. Planning a get-together so everyone can meet is always a great way to create excitement for the bridal party activities. If everyone is scattered across the map, it makes planning this a little harder, but not impossible.
Schedule a spa day or fancy dinner the weekend of the bridal shower when everyone is together. The bridesmaids are there to help; include them in on planning the bridal shower and bachelorette party. Creating a mass email or group text messaging thread will keep everyone informed on what’s next on the to-do list.
3. Rock Your Maid Of Honor Role On The Wedding Day
Now that the big day is here, it’s your time to shine. The bride has so much on her mind, and your job is to ease all her worries. Ask her what she wants you to check on. Delegate some tasks too. When you’re getting your hair and makeup done, have a few bridesmaids double-check that everything is perfect.
And to keep things light and fun, play music as the wedding party gets ready. Dance around the room. Make sure the bride is smiling (and not stressed). Packing an emergency kit is helpful too. You never know when you might need tissues, breath mints, or bobby pins. After the ceremony, see if the bride needs anything. Tell her to enjoy every moment, because it goes by fast.
4. Prepare An Awesome Maid Of Honor Speech
Another important duty of the maid of honor is giving a toast at the reception. Some people find public speaking terrifying, but whether you do or don’t, be prepared. It’s smart to write down what you want to say on note cards so you can reference them. Or memorize your speech. Either way, don’t wing it. It never ends up well. Talk about your relationship with the bride, shared memories that you two share, funny stories about the wedding planning, and how much your friendship means. And make sure to give well wishes to the bride and groom.
Thanks to Sarah Hayden with Yummie for contributing this article!
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
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