Maid of Honor Duties List that will Make you the Best MOH Ever

You said yes to the bride. Now, grab onto this maid of honor duties list to become the best MOH ever!

This Uber complete maid of honor duties list is a Must Have before, during and after the ceremony.

Here’s the short of it: planning the bachelorette party and bridal shower, lead the bridesmaids, being the goto person on the wedding day, giving a speech and help the bride change into her send off clothes! Yep! And it’s not over! So, if you’ve been chosen as the MOH, bookmark this page with the maid of honor duties list that will make you the best bestie ever!

Where do the Maid of Honor Duties Originate?

Centuries ago, the maid of honor role was fulfilled by the mother of the bride or a person close to the bride whose function was to escort and protect her on her way to the wedding ceremony. I guess it always sounds like the bride needed defending from something, right? Well, in this case, the threat was real. Brides would wear their best garb, jewels and valuables thus becoming the target of thieves. The maid of honor task was to avoid these attacks.

Times changed, but the maid of honor is as important as in the past. She may not have to battle robbers but she still has to get the bride to the ceremony safe and sound.

The maid of honor duties vary from bride to bride. She may just help organize the bachelorette party or lead the bridesmaids, throw the bridal shower and bachelorette party and assist the bride at all times before, during and after the wedding.

The Maid of Honor Duties List!

Do you want to rock your maid of honor duties? Then sit down and talk to the bride and ask her exactly what she expects from you.

Some brides will expect you to show up on the day of the wedding, others will want you to support them all the way through and most, somewhere in between.

Planning a wedding is not an easy task. The work is endless, it could demand long hours and piles of decision-making and it’s often exhausting (but definitely satisfactory!) Therefore, the MOH is essential in supporting the bride at all times.

Anyway, your bestie may not know all that you could help her with, so here is the list of maid of honor duties divided into before, during and after the wedding ceremony. Take note!

Maid of Honor Duties Before the Wedding Ceremony

• Be the bride’s right hand and help her select some wedding details like theme, colors and the like.
• Accompany the bride gown shopping. As the maid of honor, you will be one of the few people who get to see the wedding dress before the ceremony, and hopefully sip some champagne at the fittings. 😉
• Help choose the bridesmaids’ outfit look (and your own)
• Lead the bridesmaids and coordinate their tasks. You’ve got to have a squad to help you handwrite those place cards.

• Cake and food tasting! Yum!
• Spread the word to let the guests know where the bride and groom are registered.
• Top in the maid of honor duties list is the planning of the bridal shower. If nothing else, this one is a must. Remember to write down who gifted what and help the bride write the thank you notes.
• Plan and host the bachelorette party with the bridesmaids’ help, of course. Have tons of fun!
• Prepare the maid of honor speech.
• Attend pre-wedding events. You are going to need a wardrobe!

Maid of Honor Duties the Day of the Ceremony

On the wedding day, your goal is to keep the bride relaxed and happy. Be the best maid of honor you could be by blocking any pesky or stressful guests that want to take a peek at the bride before the ceremony. You know the kind. 😉

• Welcome guests and keep everyone organized and under control.
• If there is no wedding planner or day of planner, your duties will also include being the primary contact for vendors and family members alike.
• Keep the wedding party (and the bride) hydrated. And make sure the bride eats something. She may be too nervous, but at least, feed her a light snack.
• Arm yourself of an emergency kit. Chocolate chip cookies, Tums, Tylenol, bandaids, clear nail polish, and perfume could come in handy. Be creative and proactive!
• The maid of honor helps the bride get dressed. Plan ahead and lay out all the pieces such as stockings, dress, underwear, jewelry, veil before you start. There’s nothing more stressful than trying to find things at the last minute.

• Guard the groom’s ring. Put it on your thumb so you don’t lose it. You will have to hand it over at the ceremony.
• Make sure the toasting flutes, the guest book and pens and the wedding favors are at the reception venue.
• Arrange the bride’s train and veil before she walks down the aisle.
• Don’t forget to hold the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony.
• You may even be one of the witnesses to sign the marriage license!

Maid of Honor Duties After the Wedding Ceremony

Your maid of honor duties do not end when the wedding ceremony does. Here are a few more!

• • It’s time to have the bride change for the reception. Some brides will have very little to go though and others may change the entire outfit. There’s one more (and final) change of clothes for the bride and that’s before the send-off. Yes, you gotta help there too and pack her clothes so she can take them home.
  • Some guests will bring a gift to the reception and, yes, you need to collect them and safeguard them until you can deliver them to the newlyweds.
  • Give the most funny or heartfelt MOH speech ever!

• Make sure the bride and groom eat their dinner. Otherwise, have the catering company put together a doggy bag for them to enjoy on their way to the honeymoon.
• Go parteeeee!!
• Announce when it’s time to cut the cake, or throw the bouquet and make sure everyone is present.
• Finally, collect the keepsakes the bride requested after the reception and take them home.

Above all, remember that you have a bridal squad handy, coordinate and delegate as needed! Keep in mind that to be the best maid of honor ever, you have to speak up (nicely) when things are getting to be too much for you.

Does the Maid of Honor Pay for the Bachelorette Party?

Yes. and for the bridal shower as well. Of course, if this is beyond your means, talk to the bride. Nowadays, mostly everybody will help out and pitch in. Or check out these affordable rocking ideas to organize a fun and naughty bachelorette party.

Does the Maid of Honor Get the Bride a Gift?

Actually, yes. That’s good etiquette. But if you are spending quite a bit in your maid of honor duties, think a sweet handwritten card, a picture frame with a photo of the two of you or craft something cheap but heart-felt. You can rest assured your friend is grateful for just your presence.

 

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