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Bridesmaid Duties
Every bride has different expectations of what she would like her bridesmaid to help with. Typical duties are to:
- Assist the chief bridesmaid in organising the hen party
- Help the bride with any pre-wedding arrangements
- Attend the wedding rehearsal (if church wedding)
- Help any flower girls get ready
- Assist the bride during her wedding day and ensure she looks perfect throughout the day
Some brides choose to appoint a chief bridesmaid to help oversee the rest of the bridesmaids and to assume specific bridesmaid duties. The term ‘chief bridesmaid’ is a modern name for the ‘maid of honour’. Traditionally, a married chief bridesmaid was (and sometimes still is) referred to as the matron of honour. If there is no chief bridesmaid, the bridesmaids should share the duties of chief bridesmaid between them.
In addition to the bridesmaid duties above, the chief bridesmaid will usually be expected to:
- Support the bride before and during the wedding day
- Organise the hen party
- Help the bride choose her wedding dress. If she loves a dress that you think doesn’t do her any favours – be honest (but tactful) and let her know.
- Help the bride choose the bridesmaid dresses
- Help the bride get ready on her wedding day and help her into her dress.
- Keep track of time and ensure that the bride, bridesmaids and mother of the bride keep to the scheduled timings
- Check and arrange the bride’s dress and veil and ensure the bridesmaids/page boy/flower girl are lined up in the right order before walking down the aisle
- Hold the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony
- Provide assistance to the bride if she needs to go to the bathroom
- Help the bride with her going away outfit (if applicable) and take care of the wedding dress and outfit.
- Help the best man to look after the wedding presents – ensuring they are taken home at the end of the evening and stored safely