Most Brides prefer to do everything for the wedding but this can be tiring and extremely stressful.  Why not delegate the tasks and check on everyone regularly to make sure you like what they have organised. Below is a guideline of traditional responsibilities for each person of the wedding party.

The Bride:

• Discuss the budget with the Groom, your family and his family and decide on a size and cost for the wedding.
• Decide on the date for your wedding as well as the ceremony and reception locations.
• Choose a colour or theme for your wedding.
• Help compile the guest list.
• Discuss with the Minister and the Groom the style of the ceremony.
• Choose your Maid or Matron of Honour and Bridesmaids.
• Shop for the Grooms ring and wedding gift.
• Book the caterer, wedding and reception entertainment, photographer, videographer and baker.
• Book hairdresser and makeup artist.
• Shop for thank you gifts for Attendants.
• Discuss the first song with the Groom.
• Chooses your dress and the attire for the bridal party.
• Choose the flowers, invitations, thank-you notes and personal stationery.

The Groom:

• Discuss the budget with the Bride, your family and her family and decide on a size and cost for the wedding.
• Choose the Best Man and Ushers.
• Help compile the guest list.
• Help with choosing a caterer, wedding and reception entertainment, photographer, videographer and bakery.
• Discuss with the Minister and the Bride the style of the ceremony.
• Discuss the fist song with the Bride.
• Arrange travel, reservations and other arrangements for the honeymoon.
• Organise your suit hire.
• Arrange for cars to and from the ceremony.
• Prepare your speech for the reception.
• Prepare a toast to the Bridesmaids.
• Shop for the Brides wedding ring and arrange engraving, also buy a gift for the Bride.
• Arrange for marriage license and other documents needed.
• Reserve accommodation for out-of-town guests.
• Help with the thank you notes.

Parents of the Bride:

• Congratulate the Grooms Parents when the engagement is announced.
• With the Groom’s Parents organise an engagement party for the couple.
• Helps compile a guest list for the Bride.
• Co-ordinate accommodation for the Bride’s out-of-town guests.
• Serve as Host and Hostess of the reception.
• Purchase a gift for the Bride and Groom.

Mother of the Bride:

• Help the Bride choose her wedding dress.
• Choose your own wedding apparel.
• Arrange the printing of the invitations.
• Arrange announcements in local papers.
• Help the Bride keep track of all gifts received.
• You are the last person to be seated at the ceremony.
• Store the top layer of the wedding cake for the couple while they are on honeymoon.
• Arrange for the wedding gown to be dry-cleaned and preserved.

Father of the Bride:

• Coordinate your wedding attire with the men of the wedding party.
• Ride with the Bride to the ceremony.
• Give away the Bride at the ceremony.

Parents of the Groom:

• Congratulate the Brides Parents when the engagement is announced.
• With the Brides Parents, organise an engagement party for the couple.
• Helps compile a guest list for the Groom.
• Co-ordinate accommodation for the Groom’s out-of-town guests.
• Serve as Host and Hostess of the reception.
• Purchase a gift for the Bride and Groom.

Mother of the Groom:

• Coordinate your wedding apparel with the Bride’s Mother.

Father of the Groom:

• Co-ordinate your wedding attire with the other men in the wedding party.

Maid or Matron of Honour:

• Assist the Bride in any way you can.
• Help the Bride choose her wedding dress.
• Help to address the invitations.
• Co-ordinate the other Bridesmaids wedding apparel.
• Help the Bride get ready for the ceremony and before departure from the reception.
• Keep an eye on her for her needs during the ceremony.
• Transport the gifts to the Bride’s home.
• Hold a bridal shower or kitchen tea.
• Attend all prenuptial parties.
• Purchase a gift for the bridal couple.
• Assist in wedding day plans and preparations.
• Pick up last minute items for the Bride.
• Keep the Bride on schedule and assist the Bride in dressing for the ceremony.
• Witness the wedding license.
• If there is no ring bearer, hold the Groom’s ring until needed.
• Hold the bridal bouquet during the ceremony.
• Adjust the Bride’s veil and train before and after the ceremony.
• Inform the Bride’s parents when the Bride and Groom are ready to leave.

Bridesmaids:

• Assist the Maid or Matron of Honour with her duties.
• Assist with the bridal shower.
• Attend all prenuptial parties.
• Help choose the Bridesmaid’s dresses with the Bride.
• Assist the Bride throughout the wedding planning process.
• Collect bouquets at the Bride’s house before the ceremony.
• Assists the Bride throughout her wedding day.

Best Man:

• Assist the Groom in any way you can.
• Oversee the Ushers including rental and fittings of wedding attire.
• Make sure the ceremony fees are paid.
• Help the couple prepare for the honeymoon departure.
• Collect and return all rented wedding attire for the Groom and Ushers.
• Organise bachelor party.
• Shop for a gift for the couple.
• Attend all prenuptial parties.
• Help the Groom with the honeymoon travel plans.
• Help the Groom to dress on the day.
• Drive the Groom to the ceremony.
• Bring the marriage license to the ceremony.
• Witness the marriage license signing.
• Prepare a toast to the couple. This will be the first toast at the ceremony.
• If there is not ring bearer, hold the Bride’s ring until it is needed.
• Collect all congratulatory telegrams, faxes, letters and e-mails.
• With the Maid of Honour, transport the gifts to the Bride’s home.
• Take care of the Bride and Groom’s luggage until they are ready to depart for their honeymoon.

Ushers:

• Seat the guests at the ceremony.
• Roll and unroll the aisle carpet.
• Provide the guests with wedding programs and maps to the reception.
• Seat the Mother of the Groom and Bride at the reception.
• Transport the Bridesmaids to the reception.
• Supervise parking.
• Assist the Best Man with the bachelor party.
• Decorate the bridal couple’s going-away car.

Flower Girl:

• Carry the basket with rose petals or confetti to be thrown before the Bride’s path as she enters the ceremony.
• Hands out confetti after the ceremony.

Ring Bearer:

• Carry the pillows with the rings attached.
• Help the Flower Girl to hand out confetti after the ceremony.