Bridal Party Roles and Responsibilities: 9 Bridal Party Members

A bridal party is a group of loved ones who play an active role in the events leading up to and during your wedding day. They include the best man, maid of honor, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and other key people who will help run everything from your rehearsal dinner to your reception. You’ll pose with them for wedding photos, enter after them during the reception, and rely on their support to keep your special day as low-stress as possible.

In a historical sense, the term “bridal party” more often referred to the bride’s side of the wedding party. In recent years, however, it’s become more of a catchall term for the entire wedding party. Though it’s always been possible to use the terms interchangeably, it’s become more common now that people feel less social pressure to hew close to rigid gender norms for their weddings.

It’s not necessary to have a bridal party, but it often makes the festivities more memorable and less stressful. For instance, key members of bridal parties can take the lead on certain elements of the wedding planning process.

There are times, however, when a full bridal party might prove less practical. As an example, people who plan to have small weddings might forgo a traditional wedding party in favor of a more intimate gathering.

Bridal parties can be as small or large as any couple wants them to be. In the United States, it’s common for both each partner to have three to five people (bridesmaids or groomsmen) standing beside them during the ceremony. This includes the maid of honor and the best man. Some couples might opt for greater or fewer numbers of people.

Feel free to take a DIY and nontraditional approach to the selection of members of the wedding party for your nuptials. For instance, if the bride has a brother or close male friend she’d like to stand by her side, she can select him as a man of honor. The only nonnegotiable when it comes to bringing a bridal party together is ensuring it’s a group of people you love and who love you.

Assembling the right group of people for your bridal party will make your wedding day even more memorable. Here are nine wedding party roles to keep in mind when assembling your own:

1. 1. Best man: Frequently the best friend or brother of the groom, the best man has an important role to play at any wedding. His core responsibilities include planning a bachelor party for the groom and groomsmen, as well as giving a toast to the newlyweds at the wedding reception. It’s become something of a tradition for these speeches to be lighthearted and humorous yet tender.
2. 2. Bridesmaids: Close friends, sisters, and cousins of the bride are the most common candidates to serve as bridesmaids. In the lead-up to standing by her side at the altar, they also attend the bachelorette party, give the bride gifts at her shower, and sometimes join her as she shops for her wedding dress. They also wear bridesmaid dresses of a similar color and style.
3. 3. Flower girl: Some couples choose to let a young girl spread flowers at the start of the wedding ceremony before the bride makes her way down the aisle. This might be a niece or friend’s daughter. In cases in which the couple already has a child, they might serve as the flower girl. Some brides might also add younger relatives to their wedding parties as junior bridesmaids.
4. 4. Groomsmen: The groom’s closest friends and family members usually make up the groomsmen. They show up for the bachelor party, rehearsal dinner, and ceremony. Their role is to stand on the groom’s side of the aisle as part of the wedding party.
5. 5. Maid of honor: Responsible for doing everything in her power to make the bride’s experience on the big day special, the maid of honor (or matron of honor if she’s married) plans the bridal shower and bachelorette party, as well as gives a speech in honor of the couple at the wedding.
6. 6. Officiant: In religious ceremonies, the officiant might be the leader of the congregation the bride or groom attends. In more secular weddings, anyone vested with power by the state to perform this role can do so. Without an officiant, you might have a pleasant symbolic ceremony but not a real wedding in a legal sense. You’ll need one there to obtain a marriage license.
7. 7. Parents of the couple: The fathers and mothers of the bride and groom have an important role to play in the wedding party. The father of the bride and mother of the groom will join their respective children on the dance floor to sentimental songs. The bride’s parents traditionally pay for the engagement party and the wedding itself, while the groom’s cover the rehearsal dinner.
8. 8. Ring bearer: The newlyweds might utilize the services of a young nephew or friend’s son to march the wedding rings down the aisle on their special day. Some couples might equip the ring bearer with alternative wedding bands to prevent any mishaps.
9. 9. Ushers: The bride and groom might enlist other close family members and friends to usher everyone else on the wedding guest list to their seats. After they make sure everyone’s where they need to be, they can relax and enjoy the rest of the wedding as spectators.

Have a wedding to plan? Learn how to take on the process strategically. Discover Mindy Weiss’s approach to setting a budget, choosing a theme, and sending invitations when you sign up for the MasterClass Annual Membership.