The Maid of Honours Checklist
2018-03-16

Your best girl friend has just gotten engaged and after a five-hour long phone call, you’ve been bestowed the title of maid of honour; gurl, how exciting is that? Not only will you be responsible for the hen party, you’ll be, basically, the right-hand woman of the bride from now until the big day itself. From assisting the bride’s gown selection to braving through 2am phone calls, the maid of honour has to do it all.

It may appear daunting, but we assure you that although there may be hiccups along the way, the role of the maid of honour is a fulfilling one. To help you with your tasks, here’s a checklist for all maid of honours, to plan the best wedding ever.

Listen 

There’s no escaping it; as much fun as wedding planning is, the process can take a toll on the bride. Lend the bride a listening ear as much as possible and do pay attention; just in case she’s starting to sound burnt out or out of the norm.

Offer as much help as possible

You may not be her personal assistant, but it would mean a lot for her should you keep track of what needs to be done while constantly updating her to-do list. As maid of honour, you may also be the middle-woman between the couple and the bridal party, especially for the bridesmaids. Be prepared to be on your phone sending out more emails, texts and calls than usual. You’ll also need to coordinate dress-fittings, rehearsals and everything else in between. Do however, take note to not burn yourself out in the process!

Be honest 

As she trusts and values your opinion, be honest with her when asked for it. As her (best) friend, you will know what works best for the bride. Just remember to be tactful when offering your honest opinions.

Be the bride’s source of reason 

As the maid of honour, you’ll need to be the voice of reason for the bride; especially if she begins behaving out of the norm or start making impulse decisions.

Take care of the bride

As mentioned, planning for a wedding can really take a toll on those involved. Try to ensure that your bride doesn’t burn herself out during this process. Remind her to get enough sleep and nutrition; especially a week before the big day.

Be prepared 

As it gets closer to the wedding day, more responsibilities are bound to fall on your shoulders. Anticipate potential hiccups and remember to always have plan b by your side. For example, ready a sewing kit and makeup kit for touching up purposes. Also, remember to gather the contact details of all the relevant individuals involved in the wedding. This way, you can step in if something were to go awry and leave the bride to prepare for her wedding day with her mind set at ease.

Familiarise yourself with the gown 

Especially if the bridal gown is an intricate dress with laces and buttons, do get your bride and try on the dress again. This helps you learn how to help the bride dress without having to panic or wonder what goes where on the day it matters the most.

Make a toast

As one of the closest friend of the bride, a toast will mean as much to her as it is to you. Feel free to speak from the heart and include an embarrassing incident or two. If you’re unsure about your speech, don’t be afraid to run the outline of your speech by the bride beforehand.

Have fun

Girls just want to have fun; the main thing to remember is that your closest friend is getting married! So don’t be too caught up by the details and go with your heart(s)!