Creating your wedding party is just one of the many exciting wedding planning tasks. As soon as you announce your engagement, it is time to begin the process of putting together the team that will stand with you on your special day and during all the important moments leading up to the big event. These tips should help you create the ultimate wedding party.
The Maid of Honor in the Wedding Party
The maid of honor probably has the most important role as an assistant to the bride during the entire wedding planning process and on the wedding day. The maid of honor serves as the bride’s right hand and is a critical piece of the support system. This role is usually best suited for a best friend or a sister. The maid of honor must support the bride completely, as she will be a very important part of the wedding party for many reasons. She will be there during dress fittings to offer an opinion based on silhouette types and design recommendations, while supporting the final decision and feelings of the bride, even when those feelings are inconsistent with their own. The maid of honor will be an assistant during planning, supporting the bride's feelings and listening to her concerns along the way. This very important part of the wedding party will plan and host an unforgettable bachelorette party. On the wedding day, this person will be there to offer emotional support, hold the tissue for happy tears and bustle the gown to perfection.
The Best Man in the Wedding Party
The best man takes an important role in the wedding party for the groom in a similar way that the maid of honor does for the bride. This is usually a best friend or brother of the groom. He will not only stand beside the groom on the wedding day, but will also offer support during the days leading up to the event. He will be responsible for preparing and giving the best man speech, pulling off a bachelor party and getting the groom to the altar. Sometimes, he holds the rings up until the very important moment when they are to be exchanged during the ceremony.
Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids are close friends or relatives of the bride. While bridesmaids are traditionally women, mixed-gender bridal parties have grown increasingly common. This group takes an active role in the planning of the wedding. They are also expected to help the maid of honor plan the bridal shower and split the cost of the event. On the wedding day, the bridesmaids walk down the aisle ahead of the bride. Bridesmaids often take on other responsibilities during the wedding.
Groomsmen
The groomsmen take on a similar role for the groom as the bridesmaids do for the bride. They are usually close friends or relatives of the groom and are involved in planning events leading up to the wedding day, such as the bachelor party. The groomsmen have a supportive role during wedding planning and on the big day. They may welcome guests upon arrival and show them to their seats, if ushers are unavailable. Groomsmen stand beside the groom during the ceremony to offer support.
Ushers are Part of the Wedding Party
Ushers are charged with the very important function of greeting and seating guests. This duty should never be underestimated. This role requires extreme organizational skills in the area of people management, and strict adherence to any special seating arrangements which might be in place. They usually wear matching suits that are different from the groomsmen’s attire. This important role is offered to close friends or family of the couple.
Mother of the Bride
The mother of the bride plays an integral role in the wedding and during events leading up to the special day. She usually spends the entire wedding day with the bride to help her prepare for her flawless entrance and journey down the aisle towards a new chapter in life. She may also give a special speech during the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception.
The Father of the Bride
According to tradition, the father of the bride pays for the wedding. However, the trends have changed over the years, and most couples are splitting the cost of their own wedding. The father of the bride usually escorts the bride down the aisle and gives the bride away at the wedding arch, where he leaves her standing with her groom. He also gives a special speech at the reception, and takes center stage to dance a very special dance with his daughter.
The Mother and Father of the Groom
The mother and father of the groom have an important role. They offer support to their son and may assist with planning parts of the wedding. Traditionally, they are responsible for planning and paying for the rehearsal dinner. They both give important speeches during the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception.
Flower Girls
Flower girls are not part of every wedding. However, they are certainly a nice addition to a ceremony, and a way to involve younger siblings or children in the wedding. Flower girls walk down the aisle with the bridesmaids, dropping rose petals along the way. They are usually dressed to match the bride.
Page Boys
Page boys are the male counterpart to flower girls. They usually walk with flower girls down the aisle.
Ring Bearer
The role of ring bearer is usually given to a young boy that carries the rings down the aisle on a pillow. This role is commonly given to the best man to hold the rings during the ceremony. Some couples have used a family pet to make it unique.
The Ones that Didn’t Make the Wedding Party
Be prepared for disappointed friends. This might not be so obvious, but it will never be avoided. If you formed your team without some special people, make sure you express how valuable your relationship is with them, and how you wish you could have all your special people by your side. Explain that you had to limit your decision to only a few, and explain that you reserved special functions in the wedding for them. Offering them an important role in the wedding can help them feel like part of your special day. You can give close friends that did not make it into the wedding party a special VIP seating arrangement. They can wear matching dresses and suits and lead the entry of the wedding party down the aisle. If they make you feel bad about your decision, you made the right decision not to choose them to be in your wedding party.
Suggested Order for the Wedding Procession
1. Officiant
2. Grandparents
3. Parents of the groom
4. Mother of the Bride (accompanied by an usher)
5. Groom
6. Wedding party (bridesmaids and groomsmen partner up and escort each other)
7. Maid of honor and best man (partner and escort each other)
8. Ring bearer (stands with the groomsmen or sits in front)
9. Flower girls
10. Bride (usually escorted by her father)
Crystal Ballroom at Veranda
Choose your wedding party wisely, and create an unforgettable ceremony and reception at Crystal Ballroom at Veranda. This picturesque wedding venue creates fairy tales with all the designs and décor to make your wedding day everything it should be. Meet with professional designers and planners to customize every detail of your ceremony and reception. Bring imagination to this ballroom, and experience a dream wedding come true.
