Next to you and your fiancé, the maid of honor and best man are the most important members of the wedding party. What are their responsibilities?
While some traditions hold, couples are increasingly defining the roles to suit their needs, says Leanne Silicato, owner/coordinator of Make My Day Event Planning in Rehoboth Beach.
The maid of honor and best man are still the bride and groom’s right-hand woman and man. The maid of honor assists the bride with choosing the wedding gown and the bridesmaids’ dresses, while the best man helps select the style of the tuxedos.
Both are also responsible for choosing a group gift for the bride and groom, as well as individual gifts for the fiancés. The maid of honor remains an integral part of the planning process.
These honored attendants are also responsible for planning pre- and post-wedding parties. Couples’ weekends are replacing bachelor/bachelorette parties, and both the maid of honor and best man collaborate in the planning, says Kameron McConnell, co-owner of Afflair Events & Design in Wilmington.
The maid of honor also plans the brunch for the day after the wedding, while the best man arranges the after-party following the reception.
On the big day, the mission of the maid of honor and best man is to get everyone dressed and to the ceremony on time. The maid of honor holds the bouquet and sometimes the groom’s ring. The best man carries the bride’s ring. Both act as witnesses to the marriage. —Christine Facciolo
