The Ultimate Guide to Maid of Honor Duties

Weddings are all about love and celebration, but they also come with a hefty dose of planning! While the spotlight shines on the bride and groom, the maid of honor plays a crucial role right alongside them. If you’ve been chosen as the maid of honor—congratulations! This is a significant honor, and with it comes a range of duties and responsibilities for the bride, the bridal party, and everything in between. So, let’s dive into the essential advice and tips you’ll need to shine in this important role.

What does being the MOH mean?  

The maid of honor is generally the bride’s closest friend or sister. Typically, someone the bride can trust and confide in, and of course, someone who knows how to make plans. The maid of honor is the bride’s right-hand woman before, during, and after the wedding. From helping her arrange the bachelorette trip, going wedding gown shopping, to standing next to her at the aisle and getting her to the honeymoon. Don’t worry; we’re here to help guide you to being the best maid of honor ever. 

Organize Pre-Wedding Parties 

Your bestie just got engaged; what’s next? Whether or not you helped plan the proposal, planning a party to celebrate your best friend is essential. Get the bridal party together and plan a fun celebration for the bride-to-be! Once you’re officially asked to be maid of honor, it’s time to start organizing the perfect bachelorette trip. Depending on the bride’s preferences, whether it’s a tropical island, in the mountains, or a big city, ask the bride what her ideal vacation spot is with her girls. Gather the bridal party and schedule travel, book reservations for activities everyone will love, and ultimately be the director of the bridal party! Don’t forget to keep track of all the gifts the bride receives so she can organize heartfelt thank-you cards later. 

Go Wedding Dress Shopping 

As the maid of honor, you must ensure the bride says “yes” to her dream wedding gown. Begin scheduling fitting appointments at the bride’s favorite dress shops. Down to the shoes, accessories, and after-party attire, be there to give her the honest and hype-girl affirmations she needs! 

Be The Go-To Contact Person 

Soak up all the wedding details your bride-to-be has been talking about! Be the go-to guru for the bridesmaids, the bride’s family, and even curious guests. You’ll be their best source of information, saving the bride loads of time and keeping her stress levels in check—no more constant back-and-forth about where and when the festivities are happening! It’s also essential to have all the vendor’s contact information in case anything arises; you’ll be the person who saves the day. 

Prepare Maid of Honor Speech

Now it’s your turn to craft a speech to wow the bride and everyone in the room. Start brainstorming your toast early; jot down ideas over the coming months to keep it both sentimental and humorous. Personal stories and warm wishes for the couple are always a wonderful touch. And when the time comes to deliver your speech, remember to bring your confidence—you’ve got this!

Maid of Honor Duties on Wedding Day 

It’s finally here—the moment we’ve all been waiting for since she said “yes!” Your duty on the wedding day is to control what is going on behind the scenes and keep the bride calm, cool and collected. Wedding day is full of emotions; it is one of the biggest days of her life; therefore, making sure she has everything she needs is essential. Providing the moral support she needs to help her remain calm but making sure she soaks in every moment is your most important task. Hug your bride and tell her she looks fantastic! This includes being there for her all night, helping with her wedding dress, and fixing her makeup and hair for picture-perfect moments.

Assist The Bride & Guests 

Often, some items need to be organized and dropped off before the wedding, so make sure those errands are run before everyone starts to get ready—things such as the cake, bridal gown, wedding day emergency kit, and bridal suite necessities. 

Time to Get The Bride Married

After the bride makes her way down the aisle, follow up by fluffing her dress and veil to perfection, ensuring she looks flawless for those camera-ready moments. If vows are being exchanged during the ceremony, have them on hand to give to your bride. Stay close as the ceremony unfolds, offering support to keep her feeling relaxed and at ease. Your role is all about making the day smooth and memorable!

Dance The Night Away 

At last, your time as maid of honor is almost complete, but there’s still one important task left: delivering your big maid of honor speech. Take a moment to soak it all in—this is your chance to shine! After your toast, take pride in knowing that all your hard work helped make the wedding day a success; raise a glass and make your way to the dance floor to celebrate. Once the night wraps up, help the bride get to her honeymoon and make sure all those thoughtful gifts find their way home!

“The Ultimate Guide to Maid of Honor Duties” Spotlight WiH Partners- Photo: Brit Floyd Weddings | Amy Maddox Photography | Venue: The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa | Omni Houston Hotel | The Astorian | Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa | Florals + Decor: Plants N’ Petals | Cake: Susie’s Cakes | Cakes by Gina | Live Wedding Painter: Rendered Moments | Catering: Café Natalie 

Contributing Photographers- Joseph West Photography / Marco Wang Photography / Erika Geier Photography