The Roles of the Bride and Groom

With the Roles of the Bride and Groom, it is important that they work closely together on the preparations.

One of the best parts of the wedding is asking your friends or family to be members of your bridal party. Most people consider it an honor to be in the bridal party, but do put some careful thought in who you choose.

Determine exactly how many are to be in the bridal party. This could be determined by how large the ceremony site is. If the site has a large enough altar area for you and say thirty members of the bridal party then go for it.

However, if the area is small and can only accommodate a total of ten (this includes the bride and groom and eight members of the bridal party) you will have to prioritize who you would like to give the honor to. Other decisions and choices to make are:

• Set a wedding date.
• Choose the type of the ceremony to have (church, civil celebrant or registry), the music and the venue.
• Decide on where the reception is to be held together with the bride's parents if they are paying.
• Choose the menu for the reception.
• Decide on the honeymoon destination and make travel plans.
• Choose the photographer, videographer.
• Select the wedding cake.
• Plan the guest list.
• Organize the invitations.
• Seating arrangements at the reception.
• Select music for the reception.
• Receive the guests at the reception, with both sets of parents.
• Have the first dance at the reception.
• Farewells each guest personally.
• Select and buy gifts for your bridal party.
• Communicate between both families.

The Role of the Bride

The bride chooses her bridal party members and invites them to join the bridal party. Being part of the bridal party is an enormous role, and a lot has to be done before and during the wedding itself. You should choose someone that you think can handle it. If you have a really close friend that you want to give the honor of being your Matron or Chief Bridesmaid then do so. You may also feel that you have to choose a family member as well, but that’s not necessary.

• The bride sets the style for the wedding by selecting her gown and the gowns of her bridal party attendants.
• Delegates the planning of the wedding.
• The bride selects her going-away outfit (trousseau).
• She also selects the type of flowers and buttonholes for the wedding party.
• Buys the groom's wedding ring.

The Role of the Groom

Traditionally the bride and her mother were the main planners of the wedding, but more and more the groom is taking a bigger role in planning, as well as financially. He will help research locations and wedding professionals, meet with vendors and finalize contracts. The groom chooses his best man. He can decide to have two best men for his bridal party. If he choose he could ask his father to be his best man (and what a way to honor any father!) The groom also chooses his groomsmen (they can also double up as ushers) the general rule is one usher for every fifty guests. Other decisions and choices to make are:

• Assists with the wedding planning.
• Communicates the wedding information to his family.
• Make sure his family comes up with a guest list (and sticks to numbers allotted).
• Arranges and pays for the marriage license.
• Covers the cost of the officiant's fee.
• Chooses a gift for his bride.
• Buys the bride's wedding ring.
• He makes the reservations for the honeymoon.