Wedding Party Tips & Responsibilites

What fun! Tossing the rose petals from the hot air balloon...Talk about a send off for the bride & groom! WOW!

General Tips

* The maximum number of bridesmaids and groomsmen should be seven. Any number above that gets unmanageable.

* Flower girls and ring bearers should be at least 4 years old, any younger, they are just too unpredictable.

* Your wedding planning should include at least three ushers for every 100 guests.

* Candle lighters light the candelabras and the unity candles (if the mothers don’t do this function). This is a good way to include special friends. There are two candle lighters.

* Another way to include someone special in your wedding is to ask them to read a poem or the scripture.

* Include all of your guests and wedding party in the fun with a rose petal toss after the ceremony, at the reception or during the first dance.

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Specific Duties

Responsibilities of the maid of honor include:

· Helps select bridesmaids' attire and wedding dress

· Helps address invitations

· Host a shower, but not mandatory

· Organizes bridesmaids' gifts

· Pays for own wedding attire

· Attends the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

· Ensures all bridesmaids, flower girls & ring bearers are at the rehearsal and the ceremony on time

· Walks in processional and recessional

· Carries the groom's wedding ring

· Helps with the bride's gown, veil & train, especially before she walks down the isle

· Holds the bride's bouquet during the ceremony

· Witness to marriage certificate signing

· Makes sure the bride is on schedule

· Helps the bride change into other outfits

· Responsible for the bride's gown and accessories after the reception

· Pays for own dress and transportation

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The traditional duties of a bridesmaid include:

· Assists the bride and maid of honor

· Responsible for own dress fittings

· Assists with a shower for the bride

· Helps the bride with other tasks

· Contributes to bridesmaids' gift to the bride and usually gives an individual gift to the couple

· Attends the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

· Walks in processional and recessional

· Assists to gather guests for the first dance, cake cutting, and bouquet toss

· Pays for own dress and transportation

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Duties of the best man include:

· Organizes pre-wedding parties or events for the groom

· Coordinates the ushers' gift to the groom

· Attends the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

· Helps get the groom dressed and to the ceremony on time

· Responsible for making sure the groom has the marriage license

· Delivers payments to the officiant, sexton, and ceremony musicians

· Enters the ceremony location with the groom

· Holds the bride's ring during the ceremony until vows are said

· Ensures ushers are properly dressed and in place on time

· Walks in the recessional

· Witnesses signing of the marriage certificate

· Welcomes all guests at the wedding reception

· Announces first toast to the couple at the wedding reception

· Dances with the bride, maid of honor, bridesmaids, mothers and other guests

· Responsible for the groom's wedding clothes after the reception

· Has transportation ready for the bride and groom after the reception

· Pays for own wedding attire and transportation

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Duties of an usher include:

· Gives a ushers' gift for the groom and gives an individual gift to the couple

· Attends the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner

· Ensures people who are suppose to receive flowers or corsages do

· Greets guests as they arrive to the ceremony

· Asks guests if they’d like to be seated on the bride's side or the groom's side

· Follows any special seating arrangement for guests

· Hands out the programs & rose petals

· Puts out the aisle runner after guests are seated and before the processional begins

· Memorizes the order for seating of the couple's family members

· Be available to direct guests to the wedding reception site

· Helps elderly guests

· Pays for own wedding attire and transportation

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Naturally, this is your special day & you can choose to do it much differntly than outlined here. This is a very general list of tips that you may or may not wish to follow.

Whatever you do decide...Enjoy every moment.