You’ve been asked to be a Maid of Honor—this is an exciting and joyful time!

While a maid of honor offer can be flattering, the title comes with a host of responsibilities. Not only will you be by the bride’s side for one of the most important days of their life, but you’ll also join a highly-anticipated tradition. After you pop that champagne bottle to celebrate, take a moment to go over what’s required of you using this maid of honor duties checklist.

So, what are the responsibilities of the Maid of Honor? It’s the Maid of Honor’s responsibility to be the bride’s right hand person before, during, and after the wedding. At Satin & Lace Bridal Boutique, your bride’s day is important to us from “yes” to “I do” so we’ve put together the following range of duties for which you, the Maid of Honor, will be responsible. But keep in mind that every wedding is different and you may need to be able to adjust on the fly.

Help choose a wedding dress.

As the bride’s most trusted confidant, it’s up to you to help them find the perfect dress within their budget. If they don’t have stores in mind already, create a list of wedding dress shops nearby, we do not suggest that you book more than 2 appointments in a day ( they are typically 90 minutes long). Before you go dress shopping, make an inspiration board (check the designer ranges at the stores you plan to visit for your inspiration) you can reference. Stock your purse with a couple of water bottles and snacks. Keep a shared photo folder and upload photos plus notes on prices, model numbers, and store names for the bride’s top picks so they can reference them afterward.

Plan the bridal shower.

Ask the bride what they’d like to do for their bridal shower. If they don’t have any ideas, plan a luncheon or high tea with activities such as gift opening, quiz games, and a memories slideshow. If allowed, invite close members of the bride’s family and the groom’s family. Split the cost between yourself and the other bridesmaids. If other people chip in, great. But if not, create a realistic budget based on what the bridal party can afford.

Plan the bachelorette party.

Think of the bridal shower planning as a dry run for the bachelorette party planning. List options of bridal party destinations, a proposed budget, and potential dates first. Then, make an itinerary your bride will love. The main difference between planning a bridal shower and planning a bachelorette party is that bridal showers typically last one afternoon but bachelorette parties tend to last an entire weekend. Plan for one classy evening with dinner and relaxed activities followed by a high-energy night out. If there’s still time left, plan for the last day to be all about recovery and pampering. But remember: Bachelorette party planning varies depending on the bride. Some brides may want to be more hands-on throughout the process, while others will be comfortable passing the duties off to their Maid of Honor. Make sure you’re both on the same page!

Prepare for the wedding day; before and during the ceremony and reception.

Get your outfit together including your dress, shoes, undergarments, and accessories. Create a wedding emergency kit that includes stain remover, a mini sewing kit, some everyday medications for headaches and allergies and emergency sanitary supplies just in case. Notify all of the bridesmaids about the wedding day itinerary and answer their questions so the bride doesn’t have to. Triple-check that the chosen hair and make up salon/stylist is properly booked, including a trial appointment. Figure out what food the bride and everyone else will need while getting ready including breakfast, coffee, and snacks. During the ceremony, the bride will likely hand you their bouquet, which you’ll hold during the vows. You may be asked to greet guests, double-check to see if certain family members have arrived yet, or help the bride put on their finishing touches. Provide emotional support for the bride, if needed, and keep tissues on hand for everyone. When everyone leaves the ceremony venue, make sure no personal items were left behind in the bridal waiting room or the audience seating.

Make a heartfelt toast by sharing how you know the bride (funny and embarrassing anecdotes are recommended), how they have changed since meeting their partner, plus any well-wishes you want to give them. Afterward, get ready to spend the night on the dance floor keeping the energy up and the party going for as long as the bride wants it to. They may ask for help with things like holding up the wedding dress train as they use the restroom or grabbing them a drink from the bar, so keep checking in as the night progresses. Consider getting the bride a gift. The Maid of Honor will spend a considerable amount of money and time performing their role in the wedding, however, if you can afford to, give a memorable gift to the bride that’s both sentimental and practical. For example, you can get a luxe robe with their initials on it that they can use to get ready in or a special hanger for their wedding dress with their last name and wedding date engraved on it.

While you’re in the throes of planning for a wedding, it’s normal to feel stressed and overwhelmed by all the responsibilities. However, the rewards of tackling the role of Maid of Honor far outweigh the stress. The couple will be thankful for all your hard work, and you can know that your help really made an impact in their lives.

Source: https://www.wedding-spot.com/blog/maid-of-honor-duties-checklist and https://www.kennedyblue.com/blogs/weddings/the-ultimate-maid-of-honor-checklist