As a Bridesmaid you have a strong supportive role you must play during the entire wedding experience. Although the Maid of Honor may be there for the bride, your friend will also need your comfort and opinions as well (in most cases). Below, bridesmaid101 lists some of the top Bridesmaid's duties:

Pre-Wedding

If the bride asks about helping her with ideas on where to have the wedding, help her with scouting around and going to the different places. It may be a great idea to drive so she can focus on each location.

If you have great penmanship it is always nice to volunteer to address at least some the invitations if the bride agrees. Many times a bride may outsource her invitations but if they need to be addressed by the family, your help will be key in reducing the load of tasks to complete.

Your friend may need help in ordering and choosing decorations and favors, your opinions may be helpful in making decisions for narrowing down choices and making sure the decorations are in on time for the wedding, shower and bachelorette parties.

It is a major treat to go with the bride when she is shopping for her wedding dress. She may even invite you to be involved in picking out the Bridesmaid Dresses. It is very important to help make sure the dresses are ordered and arrive in enough time for alterations!

Make sure to pick up your bridesmaid dress in a "reasonable" amount of time in case of additional fittings.

Many times 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. This is a very fun experience so take part in the choosing if she needs help.

Help the bride in the seating arrangement. This can be a very difficult process with the more people coming to the wedding. Many times it makes it easier to draw out the tables and move people around until you have a close to perfect fit. Note: It is very helpful to bring this drawing to the wedding just in case there are any mix-ups, you will save the day!

Help Plan the Bridal Shower with the Maid of Honor as well as the Bachelorette Party!

Be a good communicator with information. Many times information prior to a wedding does not reach everyone. Friends will appreciate confirming plans of each shower and party as well as wedding day information.

Attend and help out during the rehearsal dinner. Many times the bride, groom and their families are pre-occupied and forget about things which is where you can save the day by being supportive.

Wedding Day

Assist the bride in getting into her dress and makeup

Ask if the bride needs anything (food, water, etc) all the way up till the time she is walking down the aisle. She will really appreciate it!

Assist the other bridesmaids on where to go and timing, especially if they show up late.

Help make sure the bride has privacy if she needs some quiet time before the ceremony.

Be the witness in the signing of the marriage license which is an honor!

Assist the guests to their seats and be social prior to the wedding. The guests love to see the bridesmaids and groomsmen out and about.

Take some deep breaths and walk slow when you walk down the aisle since it is common to speed up. If a groomsman walks down the aisle with you, make him refrain from talking or fooling around.

Always look for the unexpected since it is common for the most uncommon things to happen (i.e, something falling down at the alter). If you are close enough, fix what needs to be fixin so the bride, groom and their families can focus on the ceremony.

If you are single, make sure to mingle and have a great time at the party! It is mandatory to catch the bridal bouquet :)

If you are with your partner, make sure to dance and socialize since it means a lot to the bride and groom (when they have time to sit down) to see their friends having and creating a good time for themselves and the other guests.

Last, but not least, Provide moral support and be a great listener throughout the process since it is a very wonderful and "positively" stressful time for your friend. You can really make the difference!

Make sure to take lots of pictures at the reception, wedding procession and aftarwards. Many forget to take pictures and the bride and groom will appreciate them!

Bridesmaid Planning
After receiving the honor from your friend to be a Bridesmaid or Maid of Honor in her wedding, planning will become one of both excitement and time management. You will become more and more busy as the wedding approaches. A bridesmaid that plans ahead will enjoy the experience much more than one who will stress at the last minute preparations including getting things ordered, picked up, sent out, brought in and just right!

Bridesmaid 101 will aid in this planning process through helping you manage your time including listing the order of events and actions of what "is" and "may be" expected of you. Much of your timing depends on the span of time between the engagement and wedding. A great idea is to purchase a calendar (if not already using one) that gives you space to write down the important events and tasks.

I. Planning

1.Does the bride need help with the following:

Finding a place for the wedding
Flowers
Theme for the wedding
Invitations (picking them out and addressing them)
Decorations
Food and Beverage
Seating arrangement
Who to invite
Purchase Maid-of-Honor and Bridesmaid gifts
Purchase Bachelorette Party and Bridal Shower gifts

2. Bridesmaid Dress and Wedding Dress

Going with the bride to pick out the dresses. Check out Perfect Bridesmaid Dresses, for great deals!
Attending all her fittings to give her feedback
Going to all your fittings - make sure to do this as early as possible
Picking up your dress, trying it on and inspecting it for any flaws

II. Wedding Shower

Pre-Shower
Make sure you purchase your bridal favors from All In One Fun Favors

Do you have a dress for the event
Are you going to bring a gift and what will it be? "You can always purchase cute lingerie for her wedding night or honeymoon"
Theme?
Decorations (make sure to order and pick up in enough time)
Games to play
Break down responsibilities between bridesmaids to make it easier on yourself.
Check out the DJ Chef and learn to cook yummy dishes while he spins some great tunes.

During Shower

Arrive early to help set up if necessary
Give an informal toast or roast if you would like
Collect bows from presents for creating the rehearsal dinner Bridal Bouquet
Write down who gave what presents to the bride
Help clean up

III Bachelorette Party

Pre Party

When and Where will it be. If in Vegas check out VIP Vegas Connections! Another great idea is going to pole or exotic dance lessons - Click here for more info!
Click here for help with your makeup.
How will you and the others get there (If in New York, check out MetroLimousineService.com)
Communicate with the other girls at all times when planning as early as possible
Decorations
Games and Entertainment
If in California check out LaBare Hollywood for some Hot Male Entertainment!
Pick out a cute outfit for the evening or event
Call ahead of time for wherever you are having the party
Help Maid of Honor with collecting money if all girls are chipping in

The Party

Arrive early to help decorate
Re-confirm reservations
Make sure no-one gets out of hand if alcohol is present
Help clean up after party
Protect the bride from leachy men :)
Help participate in games played

IV Rehearsal Dinner

The bride may need help in planning where and when to plan the dinner
Do you have a dress?
Arrive early to help set up and decorate
Give an informal toast
Help clean up if needed

V. Wedding

Make sure you have all your makeup, dress and shoes. Click here for help with your makeup.
Arrive early for pictures and support for your friend
Bring gift (unless mailing or having it shipped)
Direct guests to their seat
After ceremony, meet and greet guests (as well as if you bring a boyfriend or your husband)
Make sure the bride and groom eat during the wedding
Bring your Wedding Speech or Toast if you are the Maid of Honor, bridesmaid, and/or sister who would like to say a few words.
Help clean up (if needed) after the wedding
Offer to drive bride and groom to the airport if they are going and leaving for their honeymoon right after.

All in all, make sure you and the bride have a rockin time throughout the whole wedding process since it is a very special time for the both of you :)

Maid of Honor Duties
As the Maid of Honor or Matron of Honor, you have one of the most important roles in making sure the bride's and groom's wedding is a success. Many times the groom will not help out as much as the bride would like which is why your role is so important! Below we have listed some of the top maid of honor duties to make the process more manageable and creative:

Pre Wedding

Help in going with the bride to look at different locations for the wedding. Many times the Bride needs help in choosing where to have the ceremony and party besides what day and time to have the wedding. Ask if you can participate in this process since it can be a very stressful.

Help the bride choose her wedding invitations as well as possibly address the invitations if she needs your support. Many times a bride may outsource her invitations but if they need to be addressed by the family, your help will be key in reducing the load of tasks to complete.

If the bride needs help in ordering and choosing decorations and favors, your opinions may be helpful in making decisions for narrowing down choices and making sure the decorations are in on time for the wedding, shower and bachelorette parties.

Go with the bride when she is shopping for her wedding dress as well as the Bridesmaid Dresses. It is very important to help make sure the dresses are ordered and arrive in enough time for alterations! It is helpful for you to attend the multiple fittings in giving your friend some feedback in how the dress looks and fits. Check out our partner, Perfect Bridesmaid Dresses, for great name-brand discount wedding and bridesmaid dresses.

Many times 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. This is a very fun experience so take part in the choosing if she needs help.

Help the bride in the seating arrangement. This can be a very difficult process with the more people coming to the wedding. Many times it makes it easier to draw out the tables and move people around until you have a close to perfect fit. Note: It is very helpful to bring this drawing to the wedding just in case there are any mix-ups, you will save the day!

Host and Plan the Bridal Shower as well as the Bachelorette Party!

Help keep order and organization with the other bridesmaids.

Attend and help out during the rehearsal dinner. Many times the bride, groom and their families are pre-occupied and forget about things which is where you can save the day by being organized.

Field messages for the bride and her family to make sure you are up on any changes (especially if they are last minute changes that affect the other guests).

Attend all bridal fairs with the bride as well as cake and catering tasting.

Wedding Day

Make sure the bride arrives to the ceremony and that she has everything on the Maid of Honor Checklist that we have created to make your life easier.

Assist the bride in getting into her dress and makeup

Be the messenger if the bride wants to communicate messages to the family or groom so you are always up on what is going on.

Visit the reception room and party room (if possible) to make sure there are no problems or issues. It is much better to be proactive.

Help make sure the bride has privacy if she needs some quiet time before the ceremony.

Be the witness in the signing of the marriage license which is an honor!

Help the bride with her veil and train (if she has one). I have seen many weddings where brides have tripped on their train which takes away from her experience for a moment.

Be your friend's "right-hand-woman" at the altar. She may be very nervous and you can be the calming source with your presence.

Keeper of the brides bouquet during the ceremony. Make sure you have a free hand.

Keeper of the groom's ring. It is your task to also make sure the groom's ring is in your possession at all times until you give the ring over to the bride!

Make a toast and/or speech during the wedding party since it is tradition and most people love hearing these friendship stories!

Make sure you lock up the bridal/groom money bag after the bride and groom dance with all of their family and friends so someone does not steal or pick it up by accident.

Last, but not least, provide moral support and be a great listener throughout the process since it is a very wonderful and "positively" stressful time for your friend. You can really make the difference!

Too often, the duty of "straightening/fluffing" the Bride's dress is overlooked. If the Bride is staying on a level, straight path, then this can be done before her descent down the aisle. However, if she is turning, or stepping up steps and/or turning to reach her destination, then the Maid/Matron of Honor should first adjust her train before accepting the bouquet to hold. This is most easily done by holding the train at points about (2) feet apart, and gently "shaking" the train (as if shaking a rug!) one good time, and it will fall beautifully in place.

Maid of Honor Speech
One of the most important traditions of a Maid of Honor or Matron of Honor is to give the Bride a Toast. Traditionally, the speech would be given during the wedding party in the first half (before people begin to leave) and would focus on the bride. Bridesmaid 101 recommends making a wedding toast that includes various emotions. The best toasts include funny stories growing up with sentimental friendship and love. Some Maids of Honor like to be spontaneous and not rehearse anything prior to making the toast while others (the majority) usually bring notes or a prepared speech.

Bridesmaid 101's words of advice are if you are a person who does not like to speak in front of others when making a speech, make sure to rehearse and bring a hard copy wedding speech.

Here are a few Wedding Toast ideas that may be helpful to you when writing your speech:

Stories of what the bride used to share with you about the groom when she first met him.
Funny story while growing up
How you and the bride met and how long you both have known each other
Most "appropriately" embarrassing moment you shared with the bride
How beautiful the bride and groom look together
Talk about a funny habit of the bride that the groom will have to live with :)
A spiritual statement (if the bride and groom are spiritual people)
Words of advice to both the bride and groom
Wishes you have for the newlyweds (e.g., success, happiness, many babies)

In addition, Maid's and Matron's of Honor are known to also give speeches at the Wedding Rehearsal Dinner, Bridal Shower, and Bachelorette Party. These speeches are much more informal than the Wedding Toast and can be more silly and casual. It is very common for other Bridesmaids to give speeches as well.