When brides and grooms select the people who will be in their wedding party, they choose those who are closest to them—the people they want by their side through it all. With the exception of the Maid of Honor and Best Man, the role of bridesmaids and groomsmen prior to and during the wedding is often confusing.
If you’re searching for ways your bridesmaids or groomsmen can help out, we have a list of responsibilities for each. This way, you and your spouse-to-be will have all the help and support you need from the very beginning to the happy end of your wedding planning and festivities.

Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids are typically some of the bride’s closest friends and/or family members, and the role they play is significant throughout both the planning process and the wedding day. The main role of a bridesmaid is to assist the Maid of Honor with her big wedding-planning duties and offer additional help to the bride as needed. But the list of bridesmaid duties doesn’t end there. They are all responsible for so many other pieces that go into planning and executing the bride’s dream wedding.

The list of bridesmaid’s responsibilities include:

Emotionally supporting the bride at all times throughout the wedding planning and ceremony.
Assisting the Maid of Honor in planning and paying for the bridal shower and bachelorette party, and of course, assisting the Maid of Honor throughout the wedding day.
Attending all pre-wedding events, like the engagement party, wedding shower, Bachelorette party, rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, etc.
Running necessary errands during wedding planning, at pre-ceremony events, and even on the day of the wedding, if needed.
Keeping a record of gifts at the bridal shower so the bride knows who to thank for what.
Working with the bride and Maid of Honor to help address, seal, and stamp bridal shower thank-you cards.
Offering extra hands in making items for the wedding, such as DIY favors, place cards, etc.
Purchasing their own gowns and accessories, including shoes, jewelry, and undergarments. Bridesmaids are also responsible for attending all fittings for their dresses.
Helping the bride get ready the morning of the wedding—double-checking her hair, straightening her veil, making sure she doesn’t miss any accessories.
Assisting with decorating at all and any events—engagement party, bridal shower, reception venue, church or ceremony site, etc.
Coordinating any day-of communications with vendors, guests, etc.
Walking down the aisle and standing in the receiving line.
Organizing wedding gifts and keeping them in a safe place throughout the day/night.
Attending to wedding guests and encouraging dancing and interactions among them.
Staying at the reception until it ends and helping with packing gifts, gathering centerpieces, etc.

Groomsmen

Much like bridesmaids, groomsmen are the groom’s closest family members and friends—the ones he has chosen to be by his side as he watches his bride walk down the aisle. Typically, the bride, her Maid of Honor, and her bridesmaids are the ones who are most involved in the wedding planning and activities. But that doesn’t mean groomsmen don’t have any responsibilities—they are still a huge part of the wedding festivities, and of course, offer vital support for the Best Man.

The list of groomsmen responsibilities include:

Serving as a support system for the Best Man and, of course, the groom throughout the entire wedding planning and ceremony.
Assisting the Best Man in the planning of all pre-wedding events and the ceremony, and attending all of them, like the engagement party, bachelor party, rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, etc.
Paying for their own attire—which means they are also responsible for fittings and picking up their suits from the formalwear shop.
Running errands for the group—gathering any items for the bachelor party, last minute dry cleaning runs, picking up boutonnieres, etc.
Standing by the Best Man as he helps the groom prepare to walk down the aisle, offering a hand for things like making sure all groomsmen have their boutonnieres on correctly.
Arriving at the ceremony early to greet guests and usher them to their seats.
Helping to distribute wedding programs to the guests.
Escorting the bridesmaids down the aisle and standing in the receiving line.
Welcoming key guests, like family members, as they enter the reception.
Thanking guests as the ceremony ends and seeing them out the door.

It’s much easier to ask for help when you know who to ask for what. Use these lists to help your wedding party understand their roles so they can offer you their best support. If you need more wedding planning resources, read more of our blogs. Or contact us today to start putting together your dream wedding! You can reach our event coordinators by email or phone at 877-545-1002.