Wedding Characters

Characters of a wedding and who does what when planning a wedding.

Characters of a Wedding

and Their

Responsibilities

THE BRIDE

The centre of attention and the star of the day.

During the planning stages of the wedding, the bride will be reminded many times that it is her day and her chance to be centre of attention. This is great advice and is wise to follow. You should think of this quote throughout your wedding as the dynamics of family and friends may create additional pressures, stress and start to influence your decisions thus not making it YOUR special day that YOU wanted. So always remember “it’s your” day”

Responsibilities of the Bride

Organising the wedding day

The Bride is responsible for the overall planning and organisation of the day.

Although wedding planning can be stressful at times, there are many techniques which we will be using that can be used to help make your life easier allowing you to enjoy the time in run up to the wedding, making it something your excited about rather than an chore.

If you break down each area that you need to plan into smaller tasks, it will make it easier to get things done without becoming to overwhelming. Once completing each task make sure you tick it off your checklist (which are available for your use on the above free downloadable documents links) which will make you feel as though you are making progress and in control of the organising of your wedding day.

The checklists in this blog are designed to help you to keep track of everything you need to do but you may want to add some of your own tasks or remove some which may not be applicable, to them.

In addition to the use of checklists, remember, you are not doing this alone. Your Groom, Bridesmaids and members of your family are all there to help out so make sure you delegate some of the tasks them, you won’t feel that you have to do everything yourself that way.

Planning the budget

I have already touched upon this point above including a helpful budget and who pays for what checklists, including options that might be available to you for funding your wedding.

If the cost of the wedding is being funded by members of the family as well as any other means it is always wise and polite to consult with the funders over the items they are paying for to ensure they are clear and happy with what is being agreed.

Making Decisions

Making all the decisions for the wedding day should really be joint effort between the Bride and Groom as the day is for both of you, but will shall just point out some of these decisions which we will be touching on later on as you go through these series of blogs.

Ceremony Reception Venue Catering Cake

Photographer Videographer Flowers Cars

Rings Invitations Gift Lists

First Dance

Choosing the wedding dress

The most important and exciting parts of the wedding for the Bride.

Once again we will be touching on this later on.

Choose bridesmaids and the outfits

The Bride needs to decide how many bridesmaids she is going to have and what they are going to wear to coordinate with the wedding dress and any colour themes.

Selecting gifts for the female attendants

As the bridesmaids will be doing wonderful job of supporting the bride throughout the planning of the wedding and on the wedding day itself along with her assistants the bride is responsible for selecting gifts as a thank you which are handed out on the day.

Attending the wedding rehearsal.

This really is an important part which does get overlooked by all members of the wedding. The Bride should attend the wedding rehearsal along with all other key members of the wedding party.

The wedding rehearsal ensures all the main members of the wedding ceremony what will be happening and when, this ensures for smooth sailing on the day.

Taking part in the line up at the reception

This gives the Bride and Groom the chance to welcome every guest to their reception and gives each guest the opportunity to say a few words to the Bride and Groom.

Giving out thank you gifts during the Groom’s speech

Part of the Groom’s Responsibility is to thank all members of the wedding party and at this point the Bride hands out the gifts that have been selected.

It is sometimes preferred that the Bride gives a speech in which case she can the hand out the gifts at this point.

Writing the thank you cards

Depending on the size of your wedding the thank you cards are traditionally written out by the bride but don’t forget at this point you life time partner can always help.

If the wedding was a large wedding you may wish to type and print the thank you cards out on your PC.

The Chief Bridesmaid / Matron of Honour

Helping the Bride choose her dress

Choosing the right and perfect dress is one of the biggest decisions. So having the chief Bridesmaid therefore support and approval is very important.

Helping to choose the Bridesmaid’s dresses

The chief Bridesmaid has a vested interest in this decision as she will have to wear what the Bride decides on. It is also important that the dresses don’t upstage the Bride.

Organising the hen party

It is traditional for the chief Bridesmaid to organise this. It is also one of the more fun aspects of the planning so the Bride may want to take on this task for herself.

Helping with last minute preparations

The chief Bridesmaid should always be available for help in any problems that may arise and also assisting in those last minute preparations.

Looking after other Bridesmaids and making sure they do what they’ve been asked

The chief Bridesmaid needs to go through and ensure that the other bridesmaid’s, flower girl and page boys know what they are doing.

The chief Bridesmaid is also responsible for looking after them especially the younger ones.

Assisting the Bride to get ready before the wedding and throughout the day

As the Bride starts to prepare for the wedding it is important for the chief bridesmaid is there at hand to assist the bride, any last minute issues and most importantly to keep the Bride calm and relaxed. It is also the chief bridesmaid’s responsibility to assist and look after the Bride throughout the day.

Taking part in the line up

Being the chief bridesmaid this means they are an important member of the wedding party and should therefore meet and great all guests as they enter the reception.

Mother of the Bride

Helping the Bride to plan the wedding day

The mother of the Bride should be there to provide help and assistance whilst respecting the Bride’s wishes.

Helping the Bride to pick her dress

The mother of the Bride is also involved in helping with picking the wedding dress but needs to consider the Brides taste as tastes in each generation are different.

Rather than picking out the wedding dress for the Bride just assist her giving her tips on what works and what doesn’t.

Helping with setting the budget

If the parents are assisting with the funding of the wedding it is wise to sit down and help setting the budget on what they are paying for.

Choosing her own dress for the wedding.

This goes without saying. The mother of the bride should select an outfit in line with any colours and themes the couple have set for the wedding ensuring that the mother of the bride won’t clash with the Grooms mother.

Assisting with hotel arrangements for out of town guests

If some of your guests are coming from far afield then they will probably need to know and arrange accommodations which the mother of the bride should assist in. This may not be required if you are planning on making a web site for details on your wedding for all guests to keep up to date with.

Standing in the line up

Being a member of the wedding party the mother of the bride should also meet and great all the guests into the reception.

Mother of the Groom

Liaising with the mother of the Bride over outfits

This is important so that their outfits don’t clash but compliant each others.

Assisting with hotel arrangements for out of town guests

If some of your guests are coming from far afield then they will probably need to know and arrange accommodations which the mother of the Groom should assist in. This may not be required if you are planning on making a web site for details on your wedding for all guests to keep up to date with.

Standing in the line up

Being a member of the wedding party the mother of the bride should also meet and great all the guests into the reception.

Groom

Booking the ceremony

The Groom needs to make arrangements to book the ceremony and to ensure all details are correct. The Groom is also required to submit all documents and paperwork required.

Selecting the Best Man and the ushers

The Groom needs to decide on who is to be his Best Man, how many ushers to have and who are to be the ushers.

Choosing the male members of the wedding party attire

It is traditional for the Groom to pay for the hire of the attire. It is also important that the Groom coordinates the suites with any colours or themes for the wedding.

Buying the wedding rings

It is traditional for the Groom to buy the Brides wedding ring and for the Bride to buy the Groom’s ring, it is however become more common place for the couple to pick, choose and pay for the rings together.

Buying gifts for the male members of the wedding party

As a thank you and for the support the male members of the wedding party have given it is traditional for the Groom to by a gift for each

The Groom may also want to buy flowers for both mothers.

Planning the honeymoon

It has now become more common place for both the Groom and Bride to plan and select the destination for the honeymoon.

Arranging transport

It is the Groom’s responsibility to arrange all transportation for the Bride, wedding party members and himself.

Attending wedding rehearsal.

This really is an important part which does get overlooked by all members of the wedding. The Groom should attend the wedding rehearsal along with all other key members of the wedding party.

The wedding rehearsal ensures all the main members of the wedding ceremony what will be happening and when, this ensures for smooth sailing on the day.

Taking part in the line up at the reception

This gives the Bride and Groom the chance to welcome every guest to their reception and gives each guest the opportunity to say a few words to the Bride and Groom.

Writing and giving a speech and thank all attendants

While the speech being one of the nerve racking parts we will touch upon how to give speeches and how to write one later on in this series of blogs.

Best man

Organising the stag party

The best man is responsible for arranging the stag party.

Looking after the wedding rings

It is traditionally known that the best man looks after the wedding rings and with remembering to take the rings to hand over during the wedding ceremony.

Making sure the Groom gets to the wedding.

The best man needs to look after the Groom making sure that any last minute nerves are taken away by calming him down by reassuring him. The best man also needs to make sure that the Groom gets to the ceremony on time.

Managing the ushers

The ushers need to be briefed before hand with regards to their duties for the day of the wedding. The best man then needs to ensure that the ushers duties are being carried.

Best Man’s speech

The best man has to write his speech which is normally amusing with embarrassing tales of the Groom’s behaviour in the past. The best man’s speech takes place after the Groom has completed his speech.

Looking after the cards and gifts

It is the responsibility of the best man to collect the cards and gifts from the guests or to arrange one place that is safe for the guests to leave their cards and gifts.

Looking after the married couple at the venue

The best man need to ensure that the Bride and Groom are looked after at the venue dealing or assisting in any problems that may arise.

Ushers

Handing out the order of service

The ushers need to greet the wedding guests to the ceremony venue handing out copies of the order of service and any other relevant information.

Instructing the guests on sitting arrangements.

The ushers are required to guide all the guest on particular sitting areas, which side to sit on. It is traditional for the Bride’s family to sit on the left and the Groom’s Family on the right this also includes escorting the both sets of parents to their seats at the front with the ushers.

Assisting the guests with any queries

Before hand the ushers need to be briefed on the details of the wedding in order for them to carry out their tasks correctly and to advise guest with any queries they may have.

Father of the Bride

Paying for the reception

Is traditional for the father of the Bride to pay for the reception. This all depends on what you had agreed at the beginning of your planning.

It has become more common place for the couple to pay for this themselves what with current finical trans on everybody now.

Travelling with the Bride to the ceremony

The father of the Bride should travel to the ceremony with the Bride.

Walking the Bride down the aisle and giving her away to the Groom

It is traditional for the father of the Bride to walk her down the aisle to the waiting Groom and to give her away to the Groom so the ceremony can began.

Standing in the line up

Being a member of the wedding party the Father of the bride should also meet and great all the guests into the reception.

Giving a speech

It is the responsibility for the father of the Bride to start things off at the reception with the first speech.

Father of the Groom

Standing in the line up

Being a member of the wedding party the Father of the Groom should also meet and great all the guests into the reception.