As spring approaches so do the wonderful celebrations of love- weddings.  It seems this year that a number of my girlfriends are not only bride’s maids but the maids of honour.  Thus, I find myself trying to answer their questions about what they are meant to do and what exactly that title entails.

Upon consultation with previous maids of honour, this is what it all comes down to…

You are to make the bride’s day and everything leading up to it as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Simple enough, right?  Well, I suppose that depends on the bride.  Here are a few guidelines to get you going:

1. You will go dress shopping with her and also help her pick out the bride’s maids dresses along with accessories (including shoes, hair decorations, belts, shawls etc.).
2. You will give opinions on flower arrangements and gift bags for guests (later you may be enlisted to help assemble the bags).
3. If there is a ladies lunch that the mother of the groom is putting on, you will be expected to be her little helper in any capacity,
4. You are fully responsible for the bachelorette’s party/ day.  This can be anything from planning a day at the spa with all her closest friends to organizing a wild girl’s night out complete with silly decorations that you all sport for the evening.  Depending upon the kind of bride she is, this may also require placing your names on a list for a club later.  It is good to have the bases covered, so that wherever the night goes you have it all ready to come together.
5. Leading up to the day, you may be asked to help coordinate manicure, make- up and hair appointments for the bride’s maids (one less thing for her to think about).
6. The day of, you really are her go-to-gal, so be prepared!  Have water, IB Prophen, snacks (fresh fruit and crackers are always nice), safety pins, hair pins, hair spray, stain remover, a lint roller, mints, deodorant, bug spray and suncreen (if outdoors), cash to tip any of service people (stylist, deliveries, etc), a charged cell phone with all the numbers of relatives, friends, and people involved in putting on the wedding, a charged camera (as a backup, just in case) and music with speakers to play it (this truly makes a difference and is often overlooked- keep it fun and make some special mixes!).
7. You are also expected to make a witty and endearing speech during the dinner.  You can get help with this by simply googling ‘best wedding speeches’ and using some as templates and inspiration to get your ideas flowing. ;)
8. If you have access to either the car they are driving away in or the room that they are staying in that night it is your duty to decorate it!  Again, depending upon the bride you can go classy or humorous.
9. Finally, something that they don’t ever tell you is that you may have to play the psychologist for a minute or two leading up to the time that she says ‘I do’.  Getting married is an amazing experience and can also sometimes seem overwhelming; especially when all the planning is now coming together and the day is rushing by.  Be prepared with breathing techniques and words of encouragement that the two of you have shared in the past.
10. Last but not least- have fun!  This is your best friend and a time you will always remember and share, so don’t get caught up in the momentum or stress of it all.  Remember that it is supposed to be fun and if something does not go as planned, make an adjustment and do your best to make it work, and then enjoy it.

I hope that these tips help.  Every bride is different and some may require more or less of you, but as their maid of honour it is your pleasure to see that she has the best day possible.  And remember, one day she may repay the favour. ;)