Maid of Honor. Such a small title for such an intricate job. Although being chosen as the bride’s right-hand-woman is a coveted position to be in, most often bestowed in honor of the relationship of best friend or sister, the maid or matron of honor has many duties to handle in the months ahead.

The term ‘Maid of Honor’ does not adequately encompass all of the responsibility that lies therein. At various points during the planning process and wedding itself, she may serve as therapist, event coordinator, manager, communication specialist, fashion model, and personal assistant. Depending on the needs and temperament of the bride, the maid of honor could have any number of jobs.

In order to assist in the success of the maid of honor fulfilling her duties, lest she not be able to and have to hand the crown to the first runner up, we have composed a description of the most common responsibilities.

Personal Assistant
In a nutshell, the maid of honor is there to do all of the things that the bride can’t handle on her own. The bride may need her to run errands, accompany her on appointments and help her make decisions. The MOH should also keep a written record of all gifts the bride has received at different parties. This requires the MOH to attend all wedding related events that she is invited to. Many times the MOH will also collect the cards and gifts after the reception and keep them for the couple until they return from their honeymoon. On the big day, the MOH will assist the bride in getting ready, help with her veil and train, keep the grooms ring until the appropriate time, hold her bouquet during the ceremony and witness the signing of the marriage license. All of these duties ensure that the wedding day goes smoothly for the bride.

Event Coordinator
The maid of honor will be an asset to the bride in planning events surrounding the wedding. Traditionally, the MOH is in charge of hosting the bridal shower and/or bachelorette party. Although help from other bridesmaids is always appreciated, the MOH is responsible for at least getting the ball rolling on such plans. Occassionally, depending on the dynamics of the bride’s inlaws-to-be, the maid of honor could be put in charge of planning the rehearsal dinner.

On the day of the wedding, the MOH is often in the role of making sure things run smoothly. This could entail checking on the reception site before the ceremony, making sure vendors have delivered all items and services, directing people to seating arrangements or the buffet line, getting the dancing started, giving a toast, etc.

Manager
As head of the troop of bridesmaids, the MOH has to keep all of the other maids in line – quite literally at some points. After the bride has chosen the attire for the bridesmaids, it is the maid of honor’s duty to make sure all bridesmaids are informed of where to find the dress, when to have fittings, when to pick them up and what accessories must be purchased to accompany their ensembles. Before the ceremony, she should make sure all bridesmaids have all needed items and are ready to go before the wedding starts. The MOH should also make all bridesmaids aware of any pre-wedding parties and the details of said parties. This brings us to the next job description.
Communication Specialist
As the bride will be involved in many different activities and plans during this time, she could forget to communicate all necessary information to other parties involved. It is the responsibility of the maid of honor to make sure all those involved are kept up to date on any details of the wedding and events leading up to it. Make sure all of the wedding party is aware of the dates and times their presence is required and what they should be prepared for. It is also generally the job of the MOH to alert others of where the couple is registered.

On the wedding day, the MOH will often be the communication go-between for the bride, family, wedding party, and groom.

Therapist
Perhaps the most important role of the maid of honor is as counselor and sounding-board for the bride. In the stressful months ahead, she will need a shoulder to cry on, an eager listener for all of her wedding stories and someone to give advice when necessary. Even the most decisive of women can be overwhelmed by the choices presented when planning a wedding. The key to fulfilling this duty is to be available, whether physically, by phone, or email. If the bride feels that she is supported while planning her big day, she will be more prepared for accomplishing all of the tasks that await her.

Describing the role of the maid of honor can be difficult since the extent of involvement is dependent upon the bride and her wishes. The main thing to keep in mind is that the role of the maid of honor is to make the bride’s wedding as flawlessly smooth and enjoyable as possible. The honor is that the bride trusts this person with her most special day.