From holding the bride’s bouquet and taking selfies, to being the head of her dress & make-up patrol, a maid of honor has a long list of duties, some of which might come as a surprise to you!
Having performed the role 5 times in my life, my friends seem to think I am a professional maid of honor. Almost like Jane from 27 Dresses! As you probably know, a wedding day has to be planned like a battle in a war and I discovered so many hidden maid of honor tasks nobody tells you beforehand. Plus, you are expected to be doing at least three things at the same time. But don’t be discouraged ladies, I’ll try to help you nail it!
Traditions first
The first step is to know your traditional duties in detail. We all know they include helping the bride to get ready, holding her bouquet during the ceremony, signing some official papers and smiling at the wedding reception. Well, yes but there is much more to it. The maid of honor is the bride’s first assistant and a shoulder to cry on, but she also has to be there for both of the mothers and keep an eye on the child attendants. You probably think it is impossible to manage so many people at the same time. Well, not really, because you have an entire battalion of bridesmaids under your control and you are allowed to delegate tasks.
Dressing up and down
Then there is a whole list of duties related to the bride’s dress and make-up. Remember that you are the leader of the wedding gown protection team and you simply must keep your eyes peeled for any accidents. In case the dress gets ripped, stained or burned, you will be expected to pull out some magical weapon from your pocket. This is why I recommend creating a secret emergency kit which includes everything from wet wipes and a stain remover to a mini sewing kit. I can tell you from my own experiences that a blow dryer is a must-have too, because it is handy for hair emergencies, quick nail polish fixes and drying stains on the dress. On top of all that, the bride will expect you to tell her if her lipstick or eyeliner gets smudged throughout the day and she will most certainly need your assistance whenever she wants to go the bathroom.
Modern duties
Modern wedding etiquette also requires you to be bride’s social media guardian angel. Take her phone and make some fabulous snaps along the way, but also protect her from the unwanted selfies and social media posts by other guests.
And because she will be preoccupied with other things, you should communicate with the wedding photographers and make sure every important picture is taken. I noticed that it is easy to miss great photo opportunities and omit must-have family portraits. My ultimate tip is to make a photography checklist with the bride, then hand it to the photographer and make sure to tick all the boxes on the day. Tell the photographer who is who at the wedding and help them rustle up the bridal party and family members during the cocktail hour. And remember to always smile in front of the camera, because nobody wants to see a grumpy maid of honor!
As for the dance floor action… I think you really need a pair of foldable flat shoes in your bag to be able to survive the day. You are expected to be the dancing queen and drag people to the podium. And while you can allow yourself to be a little tipsy towards the end of the reception, remember that alcohol is one of your worst enemies during the day, so try to stay sober and keep that smile on your face!
