If you have never had a wedding before, you probably aren’t entirely sure just what everyone is supposed to be doing for you both before and on your big day.  Here is a guide that will help you delegate duties to the different people of your wedding party:

Maid of Honor

The maid of honor has the heftiest duty of all: to be the first line of support for the bride.  The maid of honor helps with a number of different tasks, from shopping to addressing invitations to helping with the seating chart and holding the bride and groom’s rings on that special day.  Maid of honors also are responsible for ensuring that the bridesmaids are kept in the loop, that the dresses for the bridesmaids are fitted and adjusted properly, and they are to attend and schedule most of the wedding-related events (such as the wedding shower and bachelorette party).  Your maid of honor is your go-to person and is the first person you are able to ask a favor of if no one else is able to help.

Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids are like the support staff for the maid of honor.  Apart from paying for her own dress, hair and make up on the day, she is also expected to give a gift to the bride.  She is to be part of the receiving line during the wedding, and she is to attend all sorts of wedding events that happen both before and after the wedding day.

Bridesmaids are quite beneficial when it comes to asking for a second opinion on something, or coming up with ideas for your wedding.  If you need help with any do it yourself projects, both they and the maid of honor are the first people to ask.

The Mother of the Bride

The mother of the bride is there to be the common sense of the group.  Bounce ideas off of her and see if she agrees with them; if she doesn’t, why not?  Include your mom in as much of the wedding planning as possible, such as dress shopping and seeking out a venue for your ceremony and reception.  Some brides delegate the task of arranging the guest list to their moms, especially if there is a lot of extended family your mother is close to while you may not be.

The Mother of the Groom

The mother of the groom usually takes somewhat of a backseat to the mother of the bride, but feel free to bring her along for dress shopping and venue selections as well, especially if you are close or if she has expressed interest.  You want to keep her involved in what’s going on, especially if she does not have any other daughters in which she may be able to experience the wedding planning process with.

The Flower Girl

The flower girl is there to charm the crowd prior to you walking down the aisle.  If she is outspoken and would like to address the crowd, it’s an honor to allow her to say a few words to both you and your groom before the dinner.  She may have prepared a little prayer, poem, or speech for you.