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Wedding Party Checklist

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Maid of Honor's Checklist:

  • Helps the bride select bridesmaids’ attire Helps address invitations and place cards Attends as many prenuptial events as possible. Organizes bridesmaids’ gift to the bride.

  • Usually gives an individual gift to the couple Makes sure that all the bridesmaids, the flower girl, and the ring bearer are at fittings, the rehearsal, and the ceremony on time

  • Is expected to attend the rehearsal and is included at the rehearsal dinner

  • Walks in processional and recessional Holds the groom’s wedding ring

  • Helps with the bride’sgown

  • Arranges the bride’s veil and train before the processional and recessional

  • Makes sure the bride’s gown is “picture perfect” throughout the day

  • Holds the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate Stands in the receiving line

  • Keeps the bride on schedule

  • Helps the bride change into her going away clothes Takes care of the bride’s gown and accessories after the reception

  • Pays for own wedding attire and transportation to the wedding

 

Bridesmaid's Checklist:

  • Assist the Maid of Honor as requested

  • Attend as many prenuptial events as possible Possibly host or co-host a party or shower (optional) Assist the bride with errands

  • Contribute to bridesmaids’ gift to the bride.

  • Usually gives an individual gift to the couple Are expected to attend the rehearsal and are included at the rehearsal dinner

  • Arrive at dressing site promptly

  • Walk in processional and recessional

  • Possibly participate in receiving line

  • Dance with ushers andsingle male guests

  • Help gather guests for the first dance, cake cutting, and bouquet toss

  • Participate in bouquet toss, if single Look after the couple’s elderly relatives and/or friends

  • Pays for own wedding attire and transportation to the wedding

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Best Man's Checklist:

  • Organizes a pre-wedding party for the groom Coordinates the ushers’ gift to the groom.

  • Usually gives an individual gift to the couple Is expected to attend the rehearsal and is included in the rehearsal dinner

  • Gets the groom dressed and to the ceremony on time

  • Makes sure the groom’s wedding related expenses are prepared (Officiant fee, tips, etc.) Makes sure the groom has the marriage license with him

  • Delivers any payment to Officiant, sexton, and ceremony musician(s), as prearranged Enters the sanctuary with the groom

  • Takes care of and holds the bride’s wedding ring Makes sure all ushers are properly attired and in place on time

  • Walks in the recessional

  • Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate Drives the bride and groom to reception, if no driver is hired

  • Helps welcome guests at reception

  • Offers first toast to bride and groom at reception Dances with the bride, maid of honor, mothers, and single female guests

  • Helps the groom get ready for the honeymoon Gathers up and takes care of groom’s wedding clothes after he changes

  • Has a car ready for the bride and groom to leave the reception or perhaps drives them to their next destination

 

Head Usher's Checklist:

  • Expected to attend the rehearsal and is included at the rehearsal dinner

  • Receives any lists of guests who are to be seated in a specific pew and is aware of the importance and sequence of seating special guests, such as the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom

  • Makes sure that programs, if used, are handed to guests when they are seated

  • Makes sure that people who are designated to receive special flowers or corsages do recieve them, if the flowers have not been delivered to the

  • recipients beforehand

  • Checks that all ushers are dressed properly and wearing their boutonnieres on the left side, stem down

  • Makes sure that the ushers know how tousher: how to greet guests, how to offer an arm to a single woman guest, and how to precede a couple to their seats

  • Helps gather the wedding party for photographs either before or after the ceremony and ensures that transportation arrangements have been made for all members of the wedding party to and from the ceremony

  • Completes entire Groomsmen and Ushers Checklist, as needed

 

Groomsmen & Usher's Checklist:

  • Participate in party for the groom, if there is one Contribute to the ushers’ gift to the groom.

  • Usually gives an individual gift to the couple Expected to attend the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner

  • Review any special seating situations with the head usher before the ceremony begins

  • Greets guests as they arrive

  • Seat the eldest women first if a group of guests arrive simultaneously

  • Ask guests whether they are to be seated on the bride’s side or the groom’s side

  • Offer their right arm to female guests (with the guest’s escort walking behind) or ask couples to follow behind (leading couple to their seat) Walk to the left side of a male guest

  • Hand each guest a program when each guest has taken their seat

  • Put the aisle runner in place after guests are seated and before the processional begins Know the order of seating per tradition such as special guests, grandmothers of the bride and groom, and bride’s mother last Remove pew ribbons, one row at a time, after the ceremony

  • Close windows and check pews for programs or articles left behind after the ceremony

  • Are prepared to direct guests to the reception site (having extra maps available, if used) Dance with bridesmaids and other guests at the reception

  • Look after elderly relatives or friends Participate in garter ceremony, if there is one, and encourage other single men to participate Coordinate return of rented apparel with headusher or best man

  • Pay for own wedding attire and transportation to the wedding

 

Mother of the Bride's Checklist:

  • Hosts an engagement party (the bride’s family traditionally gets the first opportunity) Helps couple to decide on sites or assists in making other big planning decisions Usually contributes to the wedding budget Assists the bride in putting together the family’s guest list

  • Offers suggestions for special family or ethnic ceremony traditions

  • May help bride to shop for wedding gown and accessories

  • Chooses own wedding day outfit (may consult with mother of the groom about formality) Along with the maid of honor and bridesmaids, may plan and host bridal shower On wedding day help bride to get ready May accompany daughter and husband to ceremony

  • Walk in recessional with husband followingwedding party

  • Greet guests in receiving line

  • May be announced along with husband Sits in an honored place at parent’s table May assist with coordinating vendors May host a post-wedding brunch)

 

Father of the Bride's Checklist:

  • Hosts an engagement party (the bride’s family traditionally gets the first opportunity) Helps couple to decide on sites or assists in making other big planning decisions Usually contributes to the wedding budget May select hotel for out of town guests and reserve a block of reduced rate rooms Rents own formalwear (work with couple to coordinate with wedding party)

  • Helps pick up out-of-town guests from airport.

  • May also arrange transportation to and from the wedding/reception

  • Typically travels to ceremony with the bride Walks daughter down the aisle

  • Gives the bride away during the ceremony Escorts the mother of the bride out following the wedding party

  • Greets guests in the receiving line

  • May be announced with wife at reception

  • May make a welcoming speech

  • Sits in an honored place at the parent’s table Toasts the newlyweds after the best man makes his speech and the groom responds Dances with the bride

  • May take care of vendor balances at the end of the reception

 

Mother of the Groom's Checklist:

  • Contacts the mother of the bride if the families are not acquainted (or plans a celebration if you have met)

  • Attends (first) engagement party if the bride's family hosts one

  • Along with husband, may host an additional engagement party for the groom’s side of the family

  • Usually contributes to wedding budget

  • May help couple decide on sites and/or make other big planning decisions

  • Helps group to put together family’s guest list Offers suggestions for special family or ethnic ceremony traditions

  • May help bride shop for her wedding gown Chooses own wedding day outfit (may consult with mother of the bride about formality) Along with husband, plans and hosts the rehearsal dinner

  • Escorted out following the wedding party and the bride’s parents

  • Greets guests in the receiving line

  • May be announced along with husband at the wedding reception

  • Sits in an honored place at the parent’s table Does mother-son dance with groom

  • Attends post wedding brunch (if held)

 

 

Father of the Groom's Checklist:

  • Attends (first) engagement party, if the bride's family hosts one

  • Along with wife, may host an additional engagement party for groom’s side of the family

  • Along with wife, may contribute to the wedding budget

  • May help couple decide on sites and/or make other big planning decisions

  • Rents own formalwear (after talking with couple to coordinate with wedding party); attends fittings as needed

  • Along with wife, plans rehearsal dinner

  • May travel to ceremony with the groom and the best man

  • May escort wife to her sear right before the mother of the bride is seated

  • Escorts mother of the groom out after wedding party and bride’s parents

  • Greets guests in the receiving line

  • May be announced with wife

  • May make a welcoming speech

  • Sits at an honored place at the parent’s table May toast the newlyweds

  • May settle final bills with wedding vendors Attends or hosts post-wedding brunch

 

Flower Girl's Checklist:

  • Dress and accessories should be paid for by her family

  • Attends the rehearsal although she usually does not attend the rehearsal dinner

  • In the processional, walks alone directly before the bride and her father

  • Often scatters petals from a basket she holds, although this is sometimes too overwhelming a responsibility for a young girl to manage in front of a large group of people. It is usually easier for her to carry either a small basket of flowers or a tiny nosegay of flowers similar to those carried to those carried by the bridesmaids

  • In the recessional, walks with the ring bearer, directly behind the couple

  • The bride may hire a babysitter or ask one of the bridesmaids to look after the flower girl, to be in charge of checking her appearance and making sure she is present for formal pictures, helping her manage her food at the reception, and escorting her to the ladies room

 

Ring Bearer's Checklist:

  • His attire should be paid for by his family Attends the rehearsal although he usually does not attend the rehearsal dinner

  • He immediately precedes the flower girl in the processional

  • Carries either the actual rings or a facsimile of the rings (often a practical idea), on a white velvet or satin cushion. If the rings are genuine, they should be fastened to the cushion with a very thin thread or placed over a firmly fixed hatpin. The best man takes the rings from the cushion at the right moment

  • Walks with the flower girl in the recessional, directly behind the bride and groom

  • The bride may hire a babysitter or ask one of the ushers to look after the ring bearer, to be in charge of checking his appearance, making sure he is present for formal pictures, helping him manage his food at the reception, and escorting him to the men’s room

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