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Supporting Roles Wedding party duties outlined…
So you've picked your bridal party but do they really know what is expected from them in the lead up to and on the wedding day itself?
CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING PARTY
Your wedding party is there to provide support and assistance to you and your fiancé. As a team, they are there to help you plan and implement your perfect day and to play witness to your union as man and wife.
To be asked to be a member of the wedding party is a great honour and none of the roles should be taken lightly, as each job comes with its own duties and unique set of responsibilities.
 Before deciding on who to choose to fill each role,
it is a good idea to make a list of potential candidates for each job. Talk your options over
with your partner and decide on the final party together, remembering that these people will be your closest confidents in the months ahead.
Above all other qualities, your wedding party need to be reliable and trustworthy.
While there is no rule that states that you and
your partner should have an equal number of
people on each side of your party, a lot of couples do prefer to keep things balanced. But before getting carried away with the numbers keep in
mind that large wedding parties come with a large bill - consider the cost of extra outfits, accessories and in the case of the girls, hair and make-up expenses, before bumping up your numbers.
Undertaking a role within the wedding party isn't just about showing up on the day, it requires time and effort so its vital that everyone in your wedding party is willing, enthusiastic and has not agreed to their job out of any sense of loyalty or duty.
When assigning roles, aim to co-ordinate duties with individuals' strengths and personalities and don't be afraid to deviate from the norm. Who says you can't have a best woman instead of a best man or even a bridesman instead of a bridesmaid?
THE BEST MAN
The best man has one of the most important jobs of all to do - he needs to keep his cool under pressure. He is there to offer emotional and practical support to the groom, providing advice, help and reassurance when things get tough.
On the wedding day itself, the best man is the one who needs to make sure that the groom gets to the church on time, as well as keeping the ushers and rest of the men in the wedding party in check.
Among his most important jobs is looking after the rings. It is also the best man's jobs to pick up the groomsmen's suits and to assist the men in getting dressed and ready on the day itself.
In addition to this, the best man is tasked with looking after any cheques which are given to the couple on the wedding day, as well as paying the celebrant/organist etc. Along with the chief bridesmaid or maid of honour, the best man usually signs the marriage certificate.
One of the most anticipated events leading up to the wedding is of course the stag party - the final night out for the groom as a single man with his friends. The best man is the one who will organise the event and supply the headache tablets when the night has ended.
His final job of the day is making the speech. This is generally the speech which guests will look forward to the most so your best man will need to be prepared and have a few stories up his sleeve.
MATRON OF HONOUR
The matron of honour/maid or honour/chief bridesmaid is very often the bride's best friend or sister. The difference between a maid of honour and a matron of honour is that a ‘matron' is married, while a ‘maid' is single.
Along with the best man, it is usually her who signs the marriage certificate and who is responsible for seeing that the bride is happy and has everything she needs - from helping the bride to pick her dress, right through to organising her hen party and helping the bride to dress on the morning of the wedding.
 During the service itself, the matron of honour will be charged with the task of making sure that the bride looks pristine during the service, fixing her dress and train if necessary. She will also hold
the groom's wedding band and the bride's bouquet for the duration of the service.
The matron of honour should be flexible and prepared to help with any other wedding related tasks, whether that be helping with the stationery
or even helping to plan the honeymoon.
On the wedding day she is in charge of the females in the wedding party. Although the bride is her main priority, the bridesmaids and flower girls also fall under her care.
Today it is becoming more common to find the females making speeches at weddings. If this is a role which you would like your chief attendant to fulfil make sure she knows well in advance so, like the best man, she can prepare her speech.
BRIDESMAIDS
Bridesmaids can be one or many in number. Their chief concern is helping the matron or maid of honour with her job and making sure the day runs smoothing, pitching in to help out wherever necessary.
For the most part, this means helping with the preparations for the hen night and being there to listen when the bride needs a shoulder to cry on.
USHERS
The ushers are tasked with escorting guests to their seats. Ideally for every 25 guests there should be one usher.
Traditionally, as ushers are usually men, they form part of the groom's section of the bridal party and so wear the same attire as the groom and the best man.
As their job is to look after the guests they need to arrive early, handing out the order of service to guests before bringing them to their seats.
Leading up to the wedding they will also be involved in any planning or preparation needed for the stag party.
FATHER OF THE BRIDE
The traditional role for the father of the bride at the wedding ceremony is to officially hand his daughter over to her new husband. The walk down the aisle is often an emotional journey for father and daughter, signifying the end of one stage of her life and the beginning of another.
Sometimes however the father is not the person giving the bride away, if for whatever reason it is not possible for him to fulfil this role, another close male family member, friend or even the bride's mother can step in. Some modern brides even choose to walk down the aisle alone to meet their grooms.
Along with the mother of the bride, the father is formally the host of the event and as such is concerned with making sure that the day runs smoothly and that the guests are properly catered for.
At the reception, it is usual for the father of the bride to make a speech and after the bride and groom have taken to the floor, to ask the mother of the groom for a dance.
MOTHER OF THE BRIDE
Friends and sisters are one thing, but the mother of the bride can provide her daughter with a unique perspective on her day. She will be the most honest and reliable source of advice and provide unrivalled emotional support in what can be an exceptionally stressful time.
The mother of bride's role is not an easy one. Long gone are the days when mum undertook the majority of the wedding plans - instead most brides now have their own ideas of how they want their wedding day to be and simply would not stand to have anyone override their opinions.
Aside from helping the bride find her own gown, the mother of the bride will also play a key part in helping to choose the clothes for the rest of the wedding party. As the formal host of the event, she will also help to find an appropriate location for the reception, and may even help to decide what the guests will eat and drink.
The mother of the bride is also usually involved in putting together the guest list and chasing up any late replies.
Although its not traditionally part of her role, more bride's mums are making a speech. It takes a confident woman to take to the floor but times are changing and more mums are looking to have their say.
FATHER AND MOTHER OF THE GROOM
Like the parent's of the bride, the father and mother of the groom's prime responsibility is to support their child.
In the lead up to the wedding day, the bride and groom will probably ask for a guest list to be drawn up of the people they would like to see invited. If there are any of these who are late to reply, a few follow up calls may be needed.
The only other job to think about is the speech. The father of the groom will normally welcome his son's new wife into the family and greet her extended family into the fold.
Other than that, the onus is on the father and mother of the groom to sit back and enjoy the day along with the rest of the guests and other members of the bridal party.
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Planning 
