The bridal party

The bridal party is composed of attendants who assist the couple during the wedding preparations and throughout the wedding day. This is an important role that must be assigned to the appropriate persons carefully. The bride pays for the attendants’ and ushers’ hotel expenses, bouquets, and buttonholes. The bridal party is usually composed of 12 people, though the actual number is a personal choice.

The tasks and responsibilities assigned to each person depend on their role. For example, the maid of honour assists the bride with the wedding preparations. She also organizes the bridal shower. She oversees fittings, coordinates the bridal procession on the wedding day, ensures the bride looks her best throughout the day, and sees to the registration of gifts. Traditionally, she sits on the groom’s left-hand side at the head table during the reception.

The bridesmaids help with arrangements for the bridal shower, the photo sessions, the procession, and reception. They smarten the procession and also stand in line to catch the bouquet.

The groomsmen help the groom as much as possible and arrange for a special introduction of the couple during the rehearsal dinner. Ushers usually wear gloves and are responsible for assigning seats before the ceremony. They show members of the immediate family to their seats. They may also help the photographers assemble people for the photo sessions.

Flower girls are usually aged between three and seven and normally carry flower baskets. They walk down the aisle behind the ring bearer. The ring bearer, also aged between three and seven, carries the rings on a ring cushion. The pages and train bearers are in even numbers and are particularly indispensable if the bride’s gown has a cathedral train.

The parents of both bride and groom also play a major role during the wedding. The mother of the bride is in charge of the guest list. She helps plan the wedding ceremony and reception and assists the daughter pick out her wedding gown. She is also the formal hostess. The father of the bride escorts the daughter to the Church and walks her down the aisle. He makes a toast to the young couple at the reception and dances with his daughter during the first dance. The groom’s parents co-host the wedding. Their first responsibility is to arrange a meeting with the bride’s parents when the engagement is announced. They also provide a list of wedding guests and plan the reception dinner.