Celebrating your best friend’s or sister’s engagement can be one of the most exciting milestones you share with her. Seeing her relationship grow and being there for her only continues as you step into the role of her maid of honor. Nervous about the extra responsibility or not sure what to expect? We’ve got you covered with a compiled list of tips and general duties, so you have what you need to be the best maid of honor for her.
Maid of honor tips for preparing for the big day
After you agree to be in her bridal party, you may be wondering, “What does a maid of honor do leading up to the wedding day?” Below is a brief breakdown of your duties before the ceremony that complement your best friend or sister’s wedding planning checklist timeline.
Helping her find a wedding dress
One of the first things the bride will most likely do after saying ‘yes’ is to go wedding dress shopping. Being there with her as she picks out her dream gown ensures she has enough support. She may need advice on the different wedding dress shapes, what jewelry she should pick, how to choose a bridal veil, and the best ways to tailor the look to her personal taste. As a bride going through the process, it can be overwhelming, and knowing your best friend has your back helps everything go that much smoother.
Attending her alteration appointment
While the dream wedding attire slowly comes together, the bride may need extra support at her final wedding dress alteration appointment. With all the emotions in anticipation of seeing her bridal gown tailored to her taste, she may forget a few accessories to bring with her, such as her shoes and undergarments. As a good maid of honor, helping her prepare for the appointment to ensure she covers every detail, and you get to celebrate with her as she rejoices in her complete bridal look.
Preparing her celebrations
One of the fun duties of being a maid of honor includes planning her bachelorette party. Who better to plan the night of her celebrations leading up to the wedding than the person who knows her best? Begin coordinating the attendees well before the date, and ensure you ask her about her dream plan, allowing for plenty of time to get everyone together and find the ideal location. Especially if the bachelorette party is in a destination outside of your local community, starting early guarantees the guests have enough time to plan their transportation there and back.
Maid of honor duties at the ceremony
In anticipation of the big day, you may be worried about performing your role at the ceremony. Below is a rundown of what a maid of honor does at a wedding, and reviewing it leading up to the day of can help you be the best right-hand woman for her.
Coordinate the rest of the bridesmaids
As your best friend or sister gets ready to walk down the aisle, you can help take care of the duties behind the scenes by ensuring the bridal party is ready. Offer to assist with any makeup touches or in coordinating the bouquets and accessories to guarantee everyone is ready once the bride is. That way, when it’s time to take photos as the bride unveils her full attire to her bridal party, everyone is picture-perfect and set to lead her down the aisle.
Hold her bridal train
If the bride has chosen a gown with a longer train, she may need help holding the weight as she walks down the aisle. Traditionally, it’s the maid of honor’s duty to hold her dress to distribute the weight. Holding her train allows her to glide gracefully towards the altar.
Be supportive and ready for any mishaps
While the ceremony is being performed, the maid of honor helps the bride by holding her bouquet when the time comes to exchange vows. Preparing with tissues can also be useful just in case she (or any of the bridesmaids) needs to wipe away tears. Being ready to help with any possible mishaps, such as wardrobe malfunctions or dropping the wedding rings, can also ensure the ceremony runs as smoothly as possible and allows the bride to focus on her partner.
Tips on writing a maid of honor speech
Once the ceremony is over and the bride and groom are officially married, one of the biggest responsibilities you’ll have as a maid of honor is a speech at the reception. Don’t know where to start? We’ve gathered a few tips for writing a maid of honor speech.
Speech for your sister
A big tip for a maid of honor speech for sisters is to incorporate key childhood memories. You have the unique insight of growing up with her, so sharing your special moments together can captivate the audience as they hear a different side of the bride. Consider telling a story that showcases her unique personality, your bond with her, and then end with how her new partner complements her in the best way.
Speech for your friend
For your best friend’s wedding, one maid of honor speech tip is to share your initial impression of the bride when you first met her, highlighting the reason why you became best friends. You can then tell the story of how she called you after her first date with her partner, incorporating any anecdotes that capture the love between the two of them.
With this comprehensive guide on how to be a good maid of honor, you can use it as your personal checklist on what to remember as you perform your duties. To best organize everything, consider investing in a maid of honor planner, whether it’s on your phone or a physical journal, to make sure you have everything you need in one place. Being there for your best friend or sister on their wedding day will bring you even closer together as you create unforgettable memories. With these helpful tips as a backup, you can fully enjoy the maid of honor duties as you celebrate her big milestone.