One of the most important tasks at the start of your Wedding Planning journey (and another one of my favourites!), is selecting your Wedding Party and assigning roles to your nearest and dearest. Your Wedding Party are the group of people that you and your partner will choose to support you in the lead up to and on your Wedding day. These people will have varying roles, each important but with varying degrees of responsibility. They will be your go-to people for any help, support or advice that you need about anything Wedding related (or otherwise!), and it’s also a great way to get the people you love the most involved in your special day.
…But do you need a wedding party?- as always, it’s up to you! All of these roles are completely optional and mostly exist through tradition, so don’t feel you have to fill all (or even any!) of them. Its your day, so do it your way- swap boys for girls, girls for boys, mix it up, have none at all or even swap a human for a favourite pet!
So, to help you choose the right person for the right job, I’ll be explaining a little about what each role entails to help you select… but remember to choose wisely and play to their strengths!
The Bride’s right-hand woman (or man!)- the honour is usually given to the Bride’s closest friend or sibling- the one person in the world she can rely on the most (other than her partner of course!).
The Maid of Honour will have some serious responsibilities- so choose wisely! Their main role is to offer support to the Bride throughout the Wedding Planning journey, as well as on the day itself- whether through emotional support or practical advice, they will be on hand to help.
They can be involved in anything & everything Wedding related, from searching for the perfect venue, to selecting the flowers and colour scheme. They’ll be there to help choose the perfect dress and plan the all-important Hen Party. But most importantly, they will be on hand to keep the Bride calm and to attend to her every need- whether that’s fixing the veil, holding a bouquet… or even going to the toilet!
They will be the Groom’s biggest support on the Wedding Day and throughout the Wedding Planning process.
They will serve many of the same duties as the Maid of Honour, but for the Groom. For that reason, the Groom will often choose a best friend, a brother or a sister to fulfil this role. They will stand at the Groom’s side during the Wedding and will be on hand throughout the day.
They will need to help with the suit fittings, give any assistance they can on the lead up to the Wedding, plan the all-important Stag Party and look after the rings on the day of the Wedding (providing you trust them!). Perhaps their biggest job, is to deliver a suitably embarrassing speech at the reception!!!
In all seriousness, they need to be on hand, to keep the Groom calm and make sure that he arrives in time for the Wedding, looking dapper!
Bridesmaids/Brides-Men are usually close friends or relatives of the Bride. They are there to support the Bride throughout the Wedding Planning and will help the Maid of Honour with her duties- especially planning the Hen Party!
Any yes... it's absolutely OK to have a Man as part of your Bridal party if you choose to- they are your closest friends & family and there to support you- and that's all that matters!
On the Big Day, the Bridesmaids/Brides-Men, will usually walk down the aisle ahead of the Bride and they will help her throughout the Wedding Day. They can also be given similar duties to the Groomsmen and Ushers in assisting guests and generally ensuring the day runs smoothly. The number you have is entirely up to you, but between 2 & 4 is most common.
The Groomsmen are the Groom’s counterparts to the Bridesmaids and take on a similar role. They are usually the closest friends or relatives of the Groom and will be involved in preparations on the lead up to the Wedding, as well as the all-important stag party. They are there to support the Groom in any way he may need, keeping him calm… and sober, before the Wedding!
And yes, you can have Grooms-women as well as Groomsmen!
The Groomsmen/Women will traditionally stand next to the Groom during the ceremony but may also be involved in showing guests to their seats and gathering the guests for the Wedding Photos (which is also the role of Ushers). You’ll often find that the roles of Groomsmen/Women and Ushers are combined, due to the similarities in the roles and to keep Wedding party numbers smaller.
Ushers have a similar role to a Groomsmen/Women but with slightly less responsibility and will usually wear coordinating outfits to the Groomsmen. Their duty is to greet guests, show them to their seats and assist with duties such as organising people for Wedding photos- generally ushering people in the right direction! They are there to make sure the Wedding Day runs smoothly. The role is usually taken on by friends of the Bride and Groom.
Not everyone will choose to have a Flower Girl or Page Boy, but if you have young children in your family or Wedding party, it’s a great way to get them involved in your big day.
The job of a Flower Girl, is to walk down the aisle with the Bridesmaids, scattering petals as they go and generally looking adorable! Page Boys are traditionally the male counterpart of the Flower Girl, and you would often find them walking alongside the Flower Girl as the Wedding Party makes their way down the aisle.
They would also traditionally hold the Bride’s train to keep it clean and stop it dragging as she walks down the aisle- though this is less common now as a correctly positioned train can really make a dress (and create the most fabulous photos!).
Some couples choose to make the Page Boy the ring bearer… a huge responsibility! (It’s worth making sure they have a responsible adult to support them!).
I couldn’t resist dropping in some photos of my two as Flower Girl and Page Boy at a friend’s Wedding last summer!
As the names suggests, this is the person who carries the rings prior to and during the ceremony- they will present the Wedding rings to the couple. This could be another member of the Wedding party, such as best man, page boy or flower girl, or even a beloved family pet! Just be sure to pick someone trustworthy and reliable- you don’t want to lose the rings the morning of the Wedding!!!
The Mother of the Bride is there to help the Bride on the lead up to the wedding and on the day itself. They will help her to plan, prepare, get ready and walk down the aisle. The role is usually taken by any close female relation, or family friend if the Bride’s mother isn’t around or can’t take on the role.
He traditionally pays for the Wedding!!! He also traditionally, gives his daughter away- though is becoming less common as people make their own traditions. The Father of the Bride would also traditionally give a speech at the reception and participate in a father-daughter dance. The role can also be undertaken by a step-father, a sibling or close family relative if the father isn’t with you anymore or isn’t involved with the Wedding.
They will be on hand to provide a guiding hand and support to the Bride & Groom on the run up to the Wedding & on course of the day itself.
If you’re looking to plan your own, unique Wedding in Essex and the surrounding areas, you too can experience the perfect Wedding Day with the help, support & guidance of a professional Wedding Planner.
I can help you to unravel your ideas, develop you dreams & bring your Wedding vision to life. Connecting you with the very best and most trusted, local Wedding Professionals to craft your day; I can help you to create a more sustainable Wedding, without compromising on the style, elegance & luxury of your event.
With luxury & dedicated Wedding Planning support, you can enjoy a fun, relaxing & stress-free Wedding Planning Journey. You can also rest assured that every detail will be taken care of and your journey from start to finish will be in the safest hands.
No matter where you are in your Wedding Planning journey, I can offer support and guidance to help you achieve your perfect Day. To learn more about the Wedding Planning services available to you, follow the links below or contact me to discover how I can help.
