Photo: Shawn Connell for Christian Oth Studio
There's no doubt that being a bride's maid of honor is a huge undertaking, and therefore, there are plenty of duties that come with the job. From outlining the maid of honor's traditional responsibilities, to tough situations like who to choose and how to deal with distance between you and your MOH, our etiquette experts answer your most pressing maid of honor questions.
What are the MOH's chief responsibilities?
Of course, the number one responsibility of any maid of honor is to support the bride in preparing of and during her big day. This means that you're there for all the big events especially the pre-wedding parties, including the bachelorette and bridal shower which you'll most likely have to help organize if not bare the full responsibility of planning. You're in charge of mobilizing the girls for whenever they're needed, and of course, should be right by the bride's side come the wedding: Fixing the train down the aisle, holding her bouquet during the ceremony, and presenting her future husband's ring at the right moment. You know, the works.
What should I do if my closest friends lives far away and can't do most of her MOH duties? Do I choose someone else?
Not necessarily! It depends on how you define the role of maid-of-honor, maybe she can't be there for everything but if she's your closest friend, you should honor her regardless. Maybe she can divide and conquer, and enlist the rest of your girls to help you out when she's not there too! You can also just make her a regular bridesmaid, or have no maid-of-honor at all. Either way, it's up to you, but distance definitely shouldn't have to determine the job title.
Can my mom be my matron of honor?
Absolutely! Sure, it's not necessarily traditional for a mother of the bride to double as a maid of honor, but plenty of groom's ask their father's to be the best man, if your relationship warrants that type of honor, why not?