Categories
Wedding Etiquette Wedding Tips

Should I Have the Best Man and Maid of Honor Provide Advance Speeches?

best man speechIt’s a situation you’ve run over and over in your head – your best man or maid of honor standing up to address your loved ones with an amazing speech.

You prepare yourself for the inevitable waterworks as your best man or maid of honor smiles lovingly at you, opens his or her mouth…

And then proceeds to tell that wildly embarrassing story from college when you got stuck in a dorm window…for three whole hours.

It’s not exactly a standout moment for your wedding, especially if you’re going for an elegant affair.  And with more best men and maids of honor pressured to provide funny speeches, it’s no surprise they’re crossing the line between funny and just plain cringe-worthy.

Which leaves you to mull over the inevitable question:  Should I have the best man and maid of honor provide their speeches in advance?

Let’s explore the pros and cons of this urgent issue:

  • The benefits of having these crucial members of your wedding party provide their speeches to you in advance are tenfold.  The most obvious reason, of course, is your ability to veto any stories that might embarrass or upset you on what’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life.  If you see that your maid of honor is gearing up to reveal your not-so-flattering childhood nickname or your best man wants to tell a story that’s not fit for Grandma’s ears, gently remind them that while you think the speech is great, it’ll need to be edited due to elderly members of the audience.  It’s a great way to get the edits to stick without hurting his or her feelings.
  • While you may be mulling over the benefit listed above, the drawback to knowing what your best man or maid of honor is going to say at your reception is…well, knowing exactly what they’re going to say!  Best man and maid of honor speeches are meant to be touching tributes – and if you start editing the content, you may be undermining the sentiments expressed in the speeches.

So how do you decide between these very valid arguments?  Simple: consider your audience.  If you have a large number of conservative family members attending your wedding, let your best man or maid of honor know that the speeches need to be PG rated.

Other than that, it’s all fair game…so good luck

Categories
Bridal Party

The Roles of the Bridal Party

role of bridal partyThe roles of the bridal party are critical to pulling off your dream wedding without a single hitch.  After all, these ladies are more than the girls who will throw you a wild bachelorette party or ensure that the train of your wedding dress is absolutely spotless before you walk down the aisle.  These are the girls who represent your closest female friends – and they were chosen to share in the most special day of your life.

When it comes to the roles of the bridal party, it’s important to note that not everyone will get an equal share of the responsibility.  Let’s explore the many roles of the bridal party, including what they’re expected to do.

The Maid of Honor:

Think of the maid of honor as the VIP/executive assistant on your wedding day.  She’s the special friend or sister who you couldn’t imagine life without – and you want to honor her special place in your heart.  But like they say, with great power comes great responsibility.  Your maid of honor should write a speech for the reception, plan your bridal shower/bachelorette party, help you with the planning, and generally just be there for you when you feel like pulling your hair out from wedding stress.

The Bridesmaid:

The bridesmaid is a good friend or sister who you want to honor with a special place in your wedding.  While the bridesmaid doesn’t have as many responsibilities as your maid of honor, she should still be ready to help out when you need it.  Bridesmaids should also help out the maid of honor with planning parties – including the ever-famous bachelorette party.

The Mother of the Bride

Don’t forget to honor your mother during the happiest day of your life!  The mother of the bride gets to walk down the aisle as well (and some brides even opt to have their moms walk with them).  She should be primarily responsible for planning the bridal shower.  If your mother is paying for part of the wedding, you should expect to involve her in a LOT of wedding planning.

The Flower Girl

The flower girl should be a young girl (usually younger than ten) who is related to you or a relative of a close friend.  Her job is to walk down the aisle, throw flowers, and look irresistibly adorable!

Now that you know the roles of the bridal party, it’s time to let the special ladies in your life know just how much they mean to you with these wonderful titles. And when they send you a wedding gift, don’t forget to include a word of thanks for their time and efforts in helping out in your bridal party. Check out the beautiful thank you cards on SaveTheDateForLess.com.