Maid of Honor: Guiding the Bride Through Every Step of the Wedding Journey
How to navigate the roles and responsibilities as a Maid of Honor throughout the wedding journey.
As you embark on the journey towards your big day, surrounded by the love and support of your nearest and dearest, one person stands out among the crowd: your Maid of Honor. She’s not just a friend; she’s your rock, your partner-in-crime, and the one who will stand by your side through it all. But have you ever wondered what it’s like to be in her shoes?
Amidst all the planning and preparation leading up to my own wedding, one of the most treasured roles has been being my best friends Maid of Honor. If you’re reading this, you might also be a Maid of Honor yourself. You might be new to this role and have been wondering how to navigate this journey for the bride who doubles as your best friend. This is the second time I’ve been a Maid of Honor - the first time was for my older sister, and the second time was for my best friend. So, if you’re wondering what it’s like and how to navigate this part, let me help give you a closer look as to what it’s really like.
The Role of a Lifetime
Being asked to be a Maid of Honor is a tremendous honor. It’s a role that goes beyond just wearing a pretty dress and walking down the aisle. She’s your right-hand woman, your confidante, and your support system throughout the entire wedding journey.
As a Maid of Honor, there are responsibilities that both lead up to the wedding that you should help with in addition to just the wedding itself.
MOH Duties
Your Maid of Honor will be your pillar of strength throughout the entire planning process. From attending different appointments to offering valuable opinions and advice, she'll assist you in making crucial decisions. She'll take the lead in organizing your bridal shower, creating a memorable experience filled with love and laughter. Additionally, she'll of course plan the ultimate bachelorette party, tailored to your preferences and ensuring a fun-filled celebration with your closest friends, and make a toast on your wedding night.
Pre-Wedding MOH Checklist
Support and Encouragement: Offer emotional support and encouragement to the bride throughout the entire wedding planning process. If the bride needs to vent about something (and trust me, she will), be there for her. If she’s starting to get nervous leading up to an event, pump her up and reiterate how amazing it will be.
Organize Bridal Shower: Plan and host the bridal shower in coordination with other bridesmaids. This includes selecting a venue, sending out invitations, arranging decorations, and planning activities as requested from the bride. Again, make sure to not overstep and do whatever help is asked for.
Coordinate Bachelorette Party: Plan and organize the bachelorette party, considering the bride's preferences and comfort level. This may involve selecting a destination, arranging accommodations, planning activities, and collecting contributions from attendees. The best piece of advice I’d recommend would be to make the planning process fun and go out for dinner with the bride to get an understanding exactly what it is she’s looking for on her bachelorette party. She may have no idea where to even start, and if that’s the case just talk through scenarios of what sounds more appealing to her. For example, would you prefer day activities or fun night life? Would you prefer a beach day or adventurous activities? Questions like these will help to narrow it down. As always, feel free to DM me questions or comment below if you need guidance on where or how to begin when planning a bachelorette.
Accompany the Bride: when invited, take the time to attend fittings and offer feedback at appointments with the bride. Help her get in and out of dresses, assist with accessories, and ensure she feels comfortable and confident. You should always give your honest advice when asked whether or not you like a certain style, but I recommend first focusing how the bride feels and putting your opinion second. Sometimes it’s less about the style and more about the smile that comes with a wedding gown. Don’t forget that happiness is everything on your wedding day.
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserAssist with Wedding Day Timeline: Work with the bride and wedding planner to create a detailed timeline for the wedding day. Ensure that the bridal party is aware of their roles and responsibilities. A lot of the time leading up to the wedding, the bride will ask her Maid of Honor to send out an email or text chain to all of the bridesmaids sharing details such as scheduling, arrival time, and everything else they need to know for the day of. Something as small as doing this goes a really long way for the bride who already has a never-ending to-do list.
Day of Wedding MOH Checklist
Offer Support Throughout the Day: Anticipate the bride's needs and offer support and assistance whenever necessary. Be a calming presence and help her enjoy every moment of her special day. Offer words of encouragement, help calm nerves as needed, and ensure she’s her best self on her wedding day. As long as you’re by her side, the support will feel so comforting to her.
Assist with Dress and Accessories: Help the bride get dressed on the wedding day, including putting on her dress, veil, shoes, and jewelry. Ensure everything looks perfect and is comfortable.
Manage Bridal Party: Coordinate with the bridesmaids to ensure everyone is ready on time and knows their responsibilities. Help with hair and makeup touch-ups, as needed, and of course make sure to get the girls hyped up on the big day.
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserHold Bouquet and Train: Hold the bride's bouquet during the ceremony and assist with her train as she walks down the aisle and moves around throughout the day.
Assist with Photos: Help organize the bridal party for photos, carry belongings, and ensure everyone looks their best, especially the bride! Be her right-hand girl and stick by her side to help with the little things throughout the day.
MOH Takeaways
Emotional Rollercoaster
From the moment you ask her to be your Maid of Honor to the final toast at your reception, your best friend will experience a whirlwind of emotions. There’s the excitement of being by your side on your special day, the joy of witnessing your love story unfold, and perhaps a hint of nervousness about living up to expectations.
Juggling Responsibilities
The list of responsibilities for a Maid of Honor can seem never-ending. From helping choose the perfect dress to planning the bachelorette party, organizing bridal showers, and keeping track of RSVPs, she’s your go-to person for all things wedding-related advice.
Managing Expectations
With the honor of being your Maid of Honor comes the pressure of meeting expectations. She wants nothing more than to make your wedding dreams come true, but it’s essential to communicate openly and honestly about what you need and want from her.
Finding Balance
Amidst the chaos of wedding planning, it’s crucial for your Maid of Honor to find balance. She needs to take care of herself to be the best support system for you. Encourage her to set boundaries, ask for help when needed and take time to recharge.
Cherishing the Moments
While the wedding day itself is undoubtedly magical, it’s the moments leading up to it that are truly special. From dress fittings to heartfelt conversations over coffee, cherish every moment and conversation you share with your Maid of Honor. These memories will last a lifetime.
Brides, as you prepare to walk down the aisle surrounded by your closest friends and family, take a moment to appreciate the incredible woman standing by your side as your Maid of Honor. She’s more than just a friend; she’s your partner in this beautiful journey called marriage.
With love,
Lexi