When you asked your
friends and family to be a
part of your wedding, you
were probably greeted
with a resounding “Yes” followed by a hug. but
before you let them commit, it’s smart to let
them know just what they’re in for when they
agree to be a part of your special day. Here’s
a traditional breakdown of the bridal party
obligations.
Maid or Matron of Honor
Your maid or matron of honor (MoH) is really
your right hand; your second in command, so to
speak. she’s should be the person who’s closest
to you, so choose your MoH wisely. You might
ask your sister, a close friend, a roommate, or
even your mother to fill this role. if you can’t
imagine having anyone other than your brother
or best male friend by your side, go ahead and
ask him to be your man of honor.
Best Man
This honor is usually bestowed on the groom’s
brother or closest friend, but many a groom
has chosen to have his father as his best man.
Just as the maid of honor is the bride’s second
in command, the best man plays a similar
role for the groom. if your husband-to-be is
closest to his sister or has a female friend that
he’s extremely fond of, there’s no reason why
she can’t be named his honor attendant. the
choice is his.
Brides Maids
Close friends and family of the bride are often
chosen as bridesmaids. Which loved ones
to choose and how many to choose is up to
you. again, it’s perfectly appropriate to have
friends of the opposite sex as attendants.
While you might not want to call your male
friends bridesmaids, the title honor attendant
is gender neutral.
Grooms Men
Your groom’s closest buddies and family
members are the perfect candidates for
groomsmen. While it’s not necessary to have
the same number of groomsmen as there
are bridesmaids, it does give symmetry to
photos. but a groomsman should never, ever
be chosen just to even out the number of
attendants on each side. let him choose his
attendants based on who has stood by him
and shown support for him throughout his life,
not on who’ll look best in a tux.
Ushers
Depending on how many loved ones you
want to include in your wedding party, you
may want to have designated ushers. Many
couples choose to have their groomsmen
serve as ushers, but if you have a large family
or circle of friends, it might make more sense
to include others as ushers. in the past, ushers
were traditionally men. today, both men and
women are serving as wedding ushers. their
attire should be the same or complementary
to that of the attendants.
