So you were asked to be a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding (we’ll assume that a quick search on the internet for “bridesmaid duties” is how you arrived here). Clearly the bride made a good choice in bridesmaids because you cared enough to do more research about what this labor of love entails! Throughout the engagement you will be expected to serve as an awesome friend, an open ear, a shoulder to cry on, someone to bounce ideas off of, a maker of random DIY crafty wedding projects, and (responsible) party animal! Planning a wedding is very stressful; the bride may at some times seem to have lost her mind, but once the wedding has passed you will have your friend back to normal.
Bridesmaid Duties Checklist
- Ask the bride if there are any tasks you can volunteer to help with and offer examples of tasks that you are actually interested in – helping to find a florist and choose flowers, a venue, an amazing photographer, affordable honeymoon options, and/or adorable wedding invitations that fit the style of the wedding perfectly.
- Help search for what you will be wearing on the wedding day: bridesmaids’ jewelry, dresses, shoes, hairstyles for bridesmaids, etc. Create a Pinterest board and add the bride and other bridesmaids as contributors. Buy your own bridesmaid dress and shoes.
- If you are going along with the bride to shop for the wedding dress, do not be that person who speaks up and says that you don’t like the dress that she is madly in love with (we’ve all seen these horrible people on Say Yes to the Dress). It isn’t your wedding; you don’t get to choose your dress. Do tell her if the dress gives her fat hanging over the top of her back, this is one thing that Photoshop cannot easily fix and honestly is the best policy here.
- Assist the maid of honor in planning the bridal shower and bachelorette party and help pay for it.
- Be a hostess for the bridal shower.
- Make sure you attend key wedding related events and be there on time: engagement party, stock the bar party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner. Also try to make it out for all wedding dress and bridesmaid dress shopping trips and fittings.
- Break in your bridesmaid shoes before the wedding day.
- Walk in the processional and recessional. Stand in the receiving line.
- Help the bride get dressed and prepare on the wedding day.
- Help carry the train of the bride’s wedding gown and keep track of her bouquet.
- Purchase a wedding gift for the bride and groom.
- No complaining.
Not all of these items are mandatory, of course. Some brides will have different expectations and will let you know up front what they are. Some brides are overwhelmed with the planning process and will benefit greatly from your offer to take over some tasks. If you were offered the coveted maid of honor/matron of honor position, you will require a few extra tasks such as presenting a speech at the wedding reception, bustle the wedding dress, and keeping a record of gifts received at the bridal shower.
