Planning a wedding can be an overwhelming process. Thankfully, the wedding party is there for support and to help. While a bride may have her own ideas as to how involved her ‘enlisted helpers’ will be, there are certain “duties” involved for those who take on these following roles.
Who Are The Wedding Party?
The Wedding Party consist of the nearest and dearest to the bride and groom. Traditionally they include the maid of honour and bridesmaids (that is, the bridal party), the best man and groomsmen, the parents on both sides, the flower girls, page boys (male counterpart of the flower girl), ring bearer, officiant and whoever else plays a significant role in the events leading up to the big day and during the actual day(s).
What Are Their Roles?
#01 Maid of Honour
The MOH is the bride’s right hand woman. She acts as the bride’s spokesperson, cares for the bride, and ensure she looks her best. From adjusting the bride’s train at the altar and holding her bouquet during the ceremony, to getting her a drink and handing her a tissue when things get emotional, the maid of honour is a pillar of support for the bride. Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the MOH and how to pick the right person for the job.
#02 Bridesmaids
The bridesmaids form the bridal entourage. They are typically close friends of the bride who will assist the maid of honour in planning the bridal shower or bachelorette party and getting the bride ready for her big day. In Chinese weddings, they double up as the ‘ji-mui’ and the masterminds of the gatecrashing games.
#03 Best Man or Best Person
The Best Man is the groom’s right hand man. He has 3 main roles, that is; the stag night, the wedding rings and his speech. Learn more about the duties of a Best Man or Best Person and how to pick the right person for the job.
#04 Wedding Planner / Programme Coordinator
You may assign this role to one of your reliable friends. He or she will oversee the entire flow of the wedding. On the actual day of the celebration, he or she will liaise with the banquet manager or vendors on location. All the other persons in charge (PIC) will report to him or her. As the programme coordinator, he or she will also need to have good time management, take initiative, and be on top of things. This person is sometimes entrusted with the task of paying the vendors or suppliers on the day as well.
#05 Head of the Bridal Party
This person is tasked with contacting all members of the bridesmaids and groomsmen on the actual wedding day. He or she will ensure that they are awake, ready, present, and in position at the wedding venue. They are responsible for the numerous details related to the bridal party, for example, making sure the corsages and bouquets are in place.
#06 Head of Décor
For the DIY bride, enlist a friend with a good eye the role of head of décor. They hold the blueprint for the wedding setup. He or she would know exactly where the reception table is to be placed, how many candles or candlesticks are on each table, and so on. This person usually leads the team of helpers who are putting together the wedding decorations.
#07 Family Representative
It takes a family member to know the family’s needs. This family representative can advise on ceremonial decisions and last minute seating changes. In some cases, the family representative will also help to safeguard the gifts/ monetary gifts received by the couple and deliver those items to them after the celebration.
#08 Flower Girls and Page Boys
Enlist the parents of the children involved to get them to practice and ready on the day off so you can direct your attention to something else.
#09 Family Pets
If family pets are involved, assign a person whom your pet is familiar with to help get them ready and settled for the event.