Maid Of Honor:

The Bride's First Lieutenant

Those of us not educated in the niceties of bridal etiquette know little of the maid of honor's role beyond holding the bride's flowers during the wedding ceremony. 

What Does A Maid Of Honor Do?

The scope of the maid of honor's role in the wedding depends 2 factors: (1) how much responsibility she is willing to take on, and (2) how much responsibility the bride is willing to delegate. Usually the maid of honor is chosen because she is 1 of the bride's very closest friends, and her job description as maid of honor is similar to her activities as a friend.

Aide-De-Camp

The maid of honor does much more than simply to walk down the aisle ahead of the bride and stand beside her during the ceremony. She is the "highest ranking" personal assistant to the bride during the wedding preparations. The maid of honor shoulders some large responsibilities, such as hosting the bridal shower and bachelorette party, and helping to choose the bridesmaid's dresses.

But she is also there just to be supportive of the bride, to act as a friend and confidante, and to help her in ways both great and small. Throughout the weeks and months of wedding planning, the maid of honor is involved every step of the way, from choosing a dress and wedding location to helping wrap favors and set up for the reception.

Party Hostess

2 of the larger responsibilities of the maid of honor are hosting the bridal shower and the bachelorette party. As 1 of the bride's closest friends, the maid of honor is the ideal candidate to host these gatherings. It is she who knows best what type of party the bride will enjoy, and what types of gifts are most suitable for the bride's taste. Because the bridal shower and bachelorette party are aspects of the wedding preparation the bride usually has little control over, she'll have the pleasure of not stressing about them.  She delegates these duties to her maid of honor, and rests assured that her friend will handle them admirably.

Wardrobe Consultant

Many times the maid of honor also plays a key role in selecting dresses for the wedding. She ordinarily chooses her own dress for the wedding from a selection provided by the bride. Once the color and style of the maid of honor's dress has been selected, she works hand-in-hand with the bride to choose the bridesmaids' dresses. Their style and color will complement the maid of honor's dress, while taking into consideration what looks best on each of the bridesmaids. The maid of honor often assists the bride in choosing her own wedding dress. While other relatives and friends may shop with the bride for her dress, tradition has it that the of the maid of honor's opinion is most valued by the bride. 

Adviser And Confidante

The wedding day is understandably hectic for the maid of honor. Although she has supported the bride throughout the planning process, her most important responsibilities take place on the actual day of the wedding. Besides walking down the aisle and standing on the altar beside her friend, the most important role of the maid of honor on the wedding day is to keep the bride calm and to handle any last-minute problems that may arise.

Angel-In-Chief

Like most things in life, few weddings go exactly as planned, and it is the maid of honor's duty to be sure that any small problem does not upset the bride. Emergency supplies that should be kept on hand by the maid of honor include such items as extra stockings, lipstick in the bride's color, tissues, safety pins and hairpins. All of these items can come in handy if the bride has any last-minute trouble with her attire, hair or makeup. The maid of honor plays the important role of ensuring that the bride looks her best even after hours of dancing and visiting with family and wedding guests.

Counselor And Friend

When all is said and done, the most significant role of the maid of honor is to be a friend to the bride. The planning and preparations, and the actual wedding itself can be very stressful and emotional for the bride. What the bride needs more than anything else at this time is someone to talk to who will offer a sympathetic ear and practical advice. This, then, is the most important function of the maid of honor.