Wedding Responsibilities: Who Does What?

 Favorite

Many brides and grooms need a little help in regards to the wedding responsibilities. They both have their own responsibilities to carry out and so does their bridal party and groomsmen. Read our guide to help you through your journey.

Photo credit: D.Clow - Maryland via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Who Does What?

1

Bride and Groom:

  • Set a budget.

  • Decide a wedding date and theme.

  • Meet your vendors and talk about your wedding schedules.

  • Choose bridal party and groomsmen, as well as their attire.

  • Pick the bridal gown and groom’s attire.

  • Prepare gifts for parents, bridal party and groomsmen.

  • Order stationery and send out the invitations (optional).

  • Enjoy the wedding day and send thank you notes.

2

Mother of the Bride:

  • Help plan the wedding.

  • Help prepare the guest list.

  • Order stationery and send out the invitations (optional).

  • Decide on her own outfit. Discussion with the groom’s mother is necessary, in this way they can maybe match in colors on the day.

  • Stand at the head of the receiving line.

3

Father of the Bride:

  • Walk his daughter down the aisle.

  • Help with the greetings during the day.

  • Dance with the bride on wedding day.

  • Be the last person to leave at the end of the wedding reception.

4

The Mother and Father of the Groom:

  • Keep in contact with the bride’s mother and father during the whole process, and offer help when necessary.

  • Organise their son’s engagement party.

  • Host the wedding rehearsal dinner. The father needs to propose the first toast at dinner.

  • Greet guests in the receiving line.

5

Maid/Matron of Honor:

The MOH's wedding responsibilities are far more than a bridesmaid.  

  • Plan and host the bridal shower.

  • Organise the bachelorette party and help with any ad-hoc tasks that need to be done.

  • Communicate with the bridesmaids and ensure all the finer details are taking care of, such as fittings and rehearsal schedule.

  • Keep track of all the gifts received.

  • Act as a witness for the bride on the marriage license.

  • Hold the brides bouquet at the altar.

  • Dance with the best man.

  • Always be there for the bride. If the bride needs any assistance before she goes on her honeymoon, she will be by her side, ready to help.

6

Bridesmaids:

  • Help plan (with the MOH) the bachelorette party.

  • Attend all pre-wedding activities.

  • Walk down the aisle behind or ahead the bride, depending on the layout of the wedding.

7

Junior Bridesmaid:

If a girl who is under the age of 14 years old, is to be a bridesmaid, she’s generally called junior bridesmaid.  

  • Wear something a little different but the same colour theme as the bridesmaid, but more age appropriate.

  • Walk alongside the bridesmaid during the wedding ceremony.

  • Attend the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

  • Stand in the receiving line (optional)

  • Attend the bridal shower (optional)

8

Flower Girl:

 A flower girl is usually aged between three and eight years old.

  • Scatter rose or flower petals down the aisle, ahead of the bride.

  • Attend the wedding rehearsal with her parents.

9

Best Man:

The best man’s wedding responsibilities are similar to the MOH.  

  • Organise the bachelor party

  • Help with the groomsmen’s fittings and outfits.

  • Have an active role at the wedding rehearsal dinner and ensure that the groom gets to the wedding on time.

  • Hold the rings and hand them over to the pastor at the ceremony.

  • Act as a witness on the marriage license

  • Dance with the MOH

  • Toast at the reception.

10

Ushers and Groomsmen:

  • Help the best man plan the bachelor party.

  • Attend all pre-wedding activities.

  • Arrive at the wedding ceremony before anyone else so they can meet and greet the wedding guests and lead them to their seats.

11

Ring Bearer:

  • Carry “representative” rings on a pillow down the aisle to either the MOH or the best man.

  • Attend the wedding rehearsal with his parents.

Who Pays for What

What we listed here are more traditional ways of splitting the bills, nowadays rules may change. So feel free to use this article as reference, but make sure you discuss with both families about the expenses. The same goes for the wedding responsibilities, talk with your wedding party and make sure they understand their jobs.
1

Bride and Bride’s Family:

  • Engagement party (optional)

  • Wedding venue and ceremony

  • Wedding stationery, including invitations and programs

  • Decorations and entertainment on the day

  • Wedding reception including rental products, wedding cake, food and drinks

  • Any flowers that are needed

  • Photography and videography on the day

  • DJ or band

  • Bridesmaid bouquets

  • Bride’s wedding dress and the accessories

  • Wedding gift

2

Groom and Groom’s Family:

  • Engagement party (optional)

  • Marriage License and officiant’s fee

  • Rings

  • Wedding rehearsal dinner

  • Groom’s Attire

  • Bride’s bouquet

  • Boutonniere

  • The honeymoon

  • Wedding gift

3

Maid/Matron of Honor and Bridesmaid:

  • Bridal shower

  • Bachelorette party

  • Dress and accessories

  • Transportation

  • Wedding gift

4

Best Man and Groomsmen:

  • Bachelor party

  • Attire

  • Transportation

  • Wedding git

5

Others:

  • Attire

  • Transportation

  • Wedding gift