Maid of Honor: Her Duties in Detail

Curious as to what the Maid of Honor or Matron of Honor does at a wedding?

Showers

• The Maid of Honor (MOH) typically plans (and pays for) the entire bridal shower with the help from the other bridesmaids.
  
• The MOH should attend all other bridal showers given for the bride.

Bachelorette Party

The MOH, along with the bridesmaids, plans for and pays for the bride at the bachelorette party.

Other Pre-Wedding Parties

• The MOH attends the ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The MOH may give her toast at the rehearsal dinner instead of the wedding if the bride desires.
  
• The MOH should attend any and all engagement parties.
  

Other Pre-Wedding Duties

• Go wedding gown shopping and give input as to the style, if it looks okay, what type of bustle the bride should have, etc.
• Assist the bride with picking out the bridesmaid dresses, if she lets you.
  
• Buy a MOH dress along with the rest of the bridesmaids and the rest of the ensemble-shoes, jewelry, handbag, etc.
  
• Assist the bride in putting together favors for the wedding, programs, decorations, etc.
• Help the bride in addressing wedding invitations if you have good penmanship.
• Stay on top of the other bridesmaids-make sure they buy their bridesmaid gown, help out, etc.
  

Day of Duties

• Help the bride get dressed and ready. This is probably one of the biggest duties of a MOH. Help her put on her dress, do her makeup, and give her drinks and food.
• Help out the ushers by seating guests.

• Hand out programs at the ceremony or bubbles, confetti, rice, or other props afterwards.
• Walk down the aisle in the procession, typically before the flower girl, and stand at the altar/stage along with the other attendants.
• Stand in the receiving line, if requested by the bride.
• Run last-minute errands if needed. On the day of the wedding, help with confirming catering and flower delivery times, meet and greet the ceremony officiant, satisfying last minute cravings, and seeing to it that everything is going smoothly.
• Be a second host at the reception; see that the guestbook is signed and that guests are dancing.
• Help the bride when she has to use the bathroom-typically bridal gowns are difficult to maneuver in small spaces.
• Give a toast at the reception.

The checklist is a starting off point. Many brides are different. Some will ask you to go to food tastings and help them register-others don't want a bridal shower, bachelorette party, and just want you to show up at the wedding.