It’s official! Your best friend is getting married!! You are so excited for her and then SHE pops the question to you . . . Will you be my maid of honor? Congratulations! Being the maid of honor is quite an honor and just like the best man has responsibilities, so do you. Here are a few tips for being the best maid of honor that you can be!

1. Plan the bachelorette party! This is probably one of the most fun tasks you will have as the maid of honor. It can also be a bit stressful trying to organize all of the bridesmaids and find a time that works for everyone. Before you start planning, it’s important to consider the bride’s wishes for this day. Would she love a day at the spa and a Broadway musical? Maybe she’d prefer a day taking in the sights of the city. Or, perhaps she’s the kind of girl that would enjoy going to a baseball game. If you don’t know for certain how she’s envisioning the bachelorette party, just ask! You don’t want to plan a night of drinking and dancing if she’d prefer hanging out with her besties in a more classy environment.
2. Reign in those bridesmaids. This can be a tough one. Girls have opinions and we like to make them known. It’s your job to keep the focus on the bride and her wishes during the wedding planning and on the day of the wedding. Communicate well so they know what they need to do and when.
3. Help the groom when needed. Sometimes, the groom needs a little female help when it comes to planning. Would the bride love a heartfelt note from her groom the morning of the wedding? Does he need help picking out the perfect gift to give his bride? You know the bride best, so you are in a great position to give a little gentle guidance to the groom if he needs it.
4. Go to appointments with her. A lot of times, the bride’s mother will attend appointments for dress fitting to cake tasting to venue visiting. But, often, the bride will also appreciate your presence at these appointments. Ask her which ones she’d like you to attend and try your best to clear your schedule.
5. Plan a wedding shower. Between the bride’s family and the other bridesmaids, typically some kind of shower is planned prior to the wedding. Coordinate with the other ladies involved and help out where you can. If you get the task of being the point person, don’t do it alone. Grab the other bridesmaids and delegate tasks you know they’d be good at and have fun.
6. Make sure she eats and drinks. It’s too easy to get so busy the morning of the wedding and to just forget eating and staying hydrated. Plan for breakfast at the hair salon and/or lunch in the bridal suite. Make sure to have plenty of water available! Drinking a mimosa for breakfast is fun, but staying hydrated with water is important for the rest of the day.
7. Bring an emergency kit! Things happen and it’s best to be prepared. Bring things like tissues, a stain stick, Tylenol, bandaids, bobby pins and hairspray. You might not need them, but if you do, you’ll be the hero of the day.
8. Stay close! Ask her often if she needs anything and be eagerly willing to help out. Watch out for hair malfunctions, sweaty foreheads and dress mishaps. If you notice her getting nervous, lighten the mood or take her out for some fresh air. Be her go-to person.
9. Give the speech. You may be a little nervous about giving the speech before dinner. Just relax. Talk about how special the bride is to you and how excited you are for her and her new hubby. Keep it short, sweet and sentimental.
10. Take care of end of the night items. If the bride is changing clothes before leaving the reception, offer to take care of the dress for her. Also, make sure all of the gifts and cards are accounted for and, if necessary, take them home and keep them safe until the couple returns from their honeymoon.

Most of all, have fun! Communicate often with the bride, but also help her to have some non-wedding-related fun during the engagement time.

For more tips for wedding planning, check out the “For Brides” section at the bottom of this page.