As a bridesmaid, you will play a strong supportive role for the bride. Even though the Maid/Matron of Honor has the bulk of the duties, your help will be needed throughout the wedding planning process. You will be needed to offer comfort to a stressed out bride and give your opinion when the bride needs it. You will also be helping the maid of honor with some of her responsibilities. Here are some of the things you will need to do to help plan the bride’s special day:

• Offer to be the bride’s chauffer when she needs to scout out wedding locations, bridal shops, caterers, florists, etc.
• If you have nice penmanship or know how to do calligraphy, volunteer to address the invitations.
• The bride may need help ordering and choosing favors and decorations. Your opinions may be helpful in making decisions for narrowing down choices and making sure the decorations arrive on time for the wedding or shower.
• Be available if the bride asks you to go shopping for her wedding dress and or bridesmaids dresses.
• Make sure to pick up your bridesmaid dress in a reasonable amount of time in case of additional fittings or alterations.
• Often time, the groom does not want to go to register with his bride-to-be. You can be very supportive by going with your friend to register for her wedding gifts as well as letting other guests know where the bride and groom are registered.
• Assist the bride with seating arrangements at the reception.
• Assist the Maid/Matron of Honor in planning the Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party.
• Attend any pre-wedding parties (engagement, showers, bachelorette, etc.)
• Attend and help out during the rehearsal dinner.

The groomsman is someone who is important to the groom and whom the groom wants to be a visible part of his wedding. A groomsman can be a close friend, brother, cousin, a relative of the bride or even the groom’s father. There is a considerable expense involved in being a groomsman, including the cost of formalwear, travel and hotel room (if you live out of town), the bachelor party, as well as gifts. A groomsman should have these expenses in mind when he accepts this honor from the groom. Even though the groomsman plays a smaller role than the best man, he also has important duties to fulfill.

Before the Wedding:

• Help to advise the groom, keep him organized and aid with any wedding planning. 
• Assists in picking out formalwear, attend any fittings, and pay for formalwear
• Help plan and pay for the bachelor party
• Attend any pre-wedding parties (engagement party, co-ed showers, etc.)
• Attend wedding rehearsal and dinner

The Wedding Day:

• Help the groom relax and get dressed
• Seat guests in reserved or special sections as instructed in the rehearsal.
• The head groomsman is responsible for escorting the mother of the bride to her seat, unless one of her relatives is among the ushers.
• Instruct guests where to place wedding gifts brought to the ceremony
• Wait with the groom at the alter
• Escort the bridesmaids after the recessional
• Stand in the receiving line
• Dance with the bridesmaids during the bridal party dance.
• Help the best man decorate the bride and groom’s going away vehicle
• Help carry away gifts and personal items after the wedding

Just like the best man, your most important job will be to provide moral support and be a good listener. Keep in mind that planning a wedding is very stressful and you want to keep the groom calm and in a positive mood. It is a job to be taken seriously and will require a lot of work on your part.

The Wedding Day:

• Make sure the groom gets dressed and to the church on time. If there’s anything the groom needs, it is the best man’s job to get it for him.
• Make sure the groom has the marriage license with him.
• Make sure the ushers arrive on time and review their duties with them.
• Make sure all ushers receive their boutonnieres.
• Hold the bride’s ring until the designated time in the ceremony.
• Witnessing and signing the marriage certificate.
• Escorting the maid/matron of honor in the wedding ceremony recession
• Paying the minister, organist, etc.
• Make sure the ushers seat the guests properly at the reception
• Give the first toast
• Socialize with the guests and making introductions (if necessary).
• Decorate the bride and groom’s going away vehicle.
• If needed, drive the bride and groom to a hotel or the airport
• Help maid/matron of honor bring gifts to the bride and groom’s home.
• Make sure all rented formalwear (including the groom’s tux) is returned.

Your most important job will be to provide moral support and be a good listener. Keep in mind that planning a wedding is very stressful and you want to keep the groom calm and in a positive mood. It is a job to be taken seriously and will require a lot of work on your part.

As the best man, you are probably the groom’s brother or best friend. You are the guy that has to lend a friendly ear to your buddy when the wedding planning process is stressing him out. Choosing the best man is an important decision for the groom, and if you are chosen to fill this role, you should take time to think about what the job consists of before accepting. You will have several important responsibilities and will incur some expenses. It can cost between $500 - $1000 or more to be the best man. So what do you have to do to be a good best man? Here are the duties you will be expected to perform as best man:

Before the Wedding:

• Assist the groom in any wedding planning.
• Along with the groomsmen, plan and pay for the bachelor party.
• Rent a tux and go for fittings. Arrange formalwear fittings for the groomsmen.
• Help the groom pack for his honeymoon. Make sure he has all necessary travel documents (passports, visas, etc)
• Arrange for transportation for you and the groom to the ceremony and reception.
• Arrange for the going away vehicle (car, limo, carriage, etc.) for the bride and groom after the reception (if necessary). You will also be in charge of decorating the vehicle.
• Prepare a toast and/or speech for the reception.
• Make sure groom has all necessary documents for the marriage ceremony.
• Attend the wedding rehearsal and dinner.