Bridesmaids’ Checklist
Assist the Maid of Honor as requested
Help the bride with decorations and favor
Attend as many prenuptial events as possible
Possibly host or co-host a party or shower (optional)
Make sure to pick up your dress at a “reasonable” amount of time in case of additional fittings
Assist the bride with errands
Contribute to bridesmaids’ gift to the bride. Usually gives an individual gift to the couple
Are expected to attend the rehearsal and are included at the rehearsal dinner
Arrive at dressing site promptly
No consumption of alcohol before the wedding ceremony
Walk in processional and recessional
Dance with ushers and single male guests
Help gather guests for the first dance, cake cutting, and bouquet toss
Participate in bouquet toss, if single
Look after the couple’s elderly relatives or friends
Pays for own wedding attire and transportation to the wedding
Best Men Checklist
Organizes a pre-wedding party for the groom
Help the groom choose tuxes
Organize groomsmen fittings
Plan and host bachelor party
Help arrange wedding accommodations for out-of-town groomsmen
Keep groomsmen updated on schedule changes
No alcohol consumption before the wedding ceremony
Coordinates the ushers’ gift to the groom. Usually gives an individual gift to the couple
Is expected to attend the rehearsal and is included in the rehearsal dinner
Gets the groom dressed and to the ceremony on time
Make sure groomsmen have boutonnieres and properly attached
Makes sure the groom’s wedding related expenses are prepared (Officiant fee, tips, etc.)
Makes sure the groom has the marriage license with him
Delivers any payment to an Officiant, sexton, and ceremony musician(s), as prearranged (if the wedding coordinator is not in charge of it)
Enters the sanctuary/church with the groom
Takes care of and holds the bride’s wedding ring
If there is a ring bearer, attach rings to pillow
Get a head count on wedding day
Makes sure all ushers and properly attired and in place on time
Walks in the recessional
Witnesses the signing of the marriage certificate
Drives the bride and groom to reception, if no driver is hired
Helps welcome guests at reception
Offers first toast to bride and groom at reception
Dances with the bride, maid of honor, mothers, and single female guests
Helps the groom get ready for the honeymoon
Gathers up and takes care of groom’s wedding clothes after he changes
Has a car ready for the bride and groom to leave the reception or perhaps drives them to their next destination
Head Usher’s Checklist
Expected to attend the rehearsal and is included at the rehearsal dinner
Receives any lists of guests who are to be seated in a specific pew and is aware of the importance and sequence of seating special guests, such as the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom
Makes sure that programs, if used, are handed to guests when they are seated
Makes sure that people who are designated to receive special flowers or corsages do, if the flowers have not been delivered to the recipients beforehand
Checks that all ushers are dressed properly and wearing their boutonnieres on the left side, stem down
Makes sure that the ushers know how to usher: how to greet guests, how to offer an arm to a single woman guest, and how to precede a couple to their seats
Helps gather the wedding party for photographs either before or after the ceremony and ensures that transportation arrangements have been made for all members of the wedding party to and from the ceremony
Completes entire Groomsmen and Ushers Checklist, as needed
Groomsmen and Ushers’ Checklist
Participate in party for the groom, if there is one
Contribute to the ushers’ gift to the groom. Usually gives an individual gift to the couple
Expected to attend the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner
No Alcohol consumption before the wedding ceremony
Review any special seating situations with the head usher before the ceremony begins
Greets guests as they arrive
Seat the eldest women first if a group of guests arrive simultaneously
Ask guests whether they are to be seated on the bride’s side or the groom’s side
Offer their right arm to female guests (with the guest’s escort walking behind) or ask couples to follow behind (leading couple to their seat)
Walk to the left side of a male guest
Hand each guest a program when they are seated
Put the aisle runner in place after guests are seated and before the processional begins
Know the order of seating per tradition such as special guests, grandmothers of the bride and groom, and bride’s mother last
Remove pew ribbons, one row at a time, after the ceremony
Close windows and check pews for programs or articles left behind after the ceremony
Are prepared to direct guests to the reception site (having extra maps available, if used)
Dance with bridesmaids and other guests at the reception
Look after elderly relatives or friends
Participate in garter ceremony, if there is one, and encourage other single men to participate
Coordinate return of rented apparel with head usher or best man
Pay for own wedding attire and transportation to the wedding
Mother of the bride’s Checklist
Hosts an engagement party (the bride’s family traditionally gets the first opportunity)
Helps couple to decide on sites or assists in making other big planning decisions
Usually contributes to the wedding budget
Assists the bride in putting together the family’s guest list
Offers suggestions for special family or ethnic ceremony traditions
Accommodate out-of-town guests from the bride’s side of the family
May help bride to shop for wedding gown and accessories
Chooses own wedding day outfit (may consult with mother of the groom about formality)
Along with the maid of honor and bridesmaids, may plan and host bridal shower
On wedding day help bride to get ready
May accompany daughter and husband to ceremony
Walk in recessional with husband following wedding party
Greet guests in receiving line
May be announced along with husband
Dance with son-in-law and (optional) make a toast
Sits in an honored place at parent’s table
May assist with coordinating vendors
May host a post-wedding brunch
Father of the Bride’s Checklist
Hosts an engagement party (the bride’s family traditionally gets the first opportunity)
Helps couple to decide on sites or assists in making other big planning decisions
Usually contributes to the wedding budget
Ensure that transportation scheduled on wedding day arrives and departs on time
May select hotel for out of town guests and reserve a block of reduced rate rooms
Rents own formal wear (work with couple to coordinate with wedding party)
Helps pick up out-of-town guests from airport. May also arrange transportation to and from the wedding
Typically travels to ceremony with the bride
Walks daughter down the aisle
Gives the bride away during the ceremony
Escorts the mother of the bride out following the wedding party
Greets guests in the receiving line
May be announced with wife at reception
May make a welcoming speech
Sits in an honored place at the parent’s table
Toasts the newlyweds after the best man makes his speech and the groom responds
Dances with the bride
May take care of vendor balances at the end of the reception (if the Wedding Coordinator is not in charge of it)
Mother of the Groom’s Checklist
Contacts the mother of the bride if the families are not acquainted (or plans a celebration if you have met)
Attends (first) engagement party if the bride’s family hosts one
Along with husband, may host an additional engagement party for the groom’s side of the family
Attend bridal shower
Get information on where the couple is registered and spread the word on your side of family
Usually contributes to wedding budget
May help couple decide on sites and/or make other big planning decisions
Helps group to put together family’s guest list
Offers suggestions for special family or ethnic ceremony traditions
May help bride shop for her wedding gown (if the bride ask or if the bride doesn’t have a mother)
Chooses own wedding day outfit (may consult with mother of the bride about formality)
Along with husband, plans and hosts the rehearsal dinner
Escorted out following the wedding party and the bride’s parents
Greets guests in the receiving line
May be announced with husband at the reception
Sits in an honored place at the parent’s table
Does mother-son dance with groom
Attends post wedding brunch (if held)
Father of the Groom’s Checklist
Attends (first) engagement party, if the bride’s family hosts one
Along with wife, may host an additional engagement party for groom’s side of the family
Along with wife, may contribute to the wedding budget
May help couple decide on sites and/or make other big planning decisions
Rents own formal wear (after talking with couple to coordinate with wedding party); attends fittings as needed
Along with wife, plans rehearsal dinner
May travel to ceremony with the groom and the best man
May escort wife to her sear right before the mother of the bride is seated
Escorts mother of the groom out after wedding party and bride’s parents
Greets guests in the receiving line
May be announced with wife
May make a welcoming speech
Sits at an honored place at the parent’s table
May toast the newlyweds
May settle final bills with wedding vendors (if the Wedding Coordinator is not doing it)
Attends or hosts post-wedding brunch
Flower Girl’s Checklist
Dress and accessories should be paid for by her family
Attends the rehearsal the rehearsal dinner as well as their parents, especially if they are not staying after the ceremony at the wedding reception. (They don’t attend the rehearsal dinner if is decide by the couple.)
In the processional, walks alone directly before the bride and her father
Often scatters petals from a basket she holds, although this is sometimes too overwhelming a responsibility for a young girl to manage in front of a large group of people. It is usually easier for her to carry either a small basket of flowers or a tiny nosegay of flowers similar to those carried to those carried by the bridesmaids
In the recessional, walks with the ring bearer, directly behind the couple
The bride may hire a babysitter or ask one of the bridesmaids to look after the flower girl, to be in charge of checking her appearance and making sure she is present for formal pictures, helping her manage her food at the reception, and escorting her to the ladies room
Ring Bearer’s Checklist
His attire should be paid for by his family
Attends the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner as well as their parents, especially if they are not staying after the ceremony at the wedding reception. (They don’t attend the rehearsal dinner if is decide by the couple.)
He immediately precedes the flower girl in the processional
Carries either the actual rings or a facsimile of the rings (often a practical idea), on a white velvet or satin cushion. If the rings are genuine, they should be fastened to the cushion with a very thin thread or placed over a firmly fixed hatpin. The best man takes the rings from the cushion at the right moment
May stand at the altar with the ushers Or sit with his parents at the front
Walks with the flower girl in the recessional, directly behind the bride and groom
The bride may hire a babysitter or ask one of the ushers to look after the ring bearer, to be in charge of checking his appearance, making sure he is present for formal pictures, helping him manage his food at the reception, and escorting him to the men’s room
Sit with his parents at the reception