Official party

03/07/07

Best Man

Best Man - Duties

It is the best mans job to:
1. Organise the stag night (preferably not for the night before the wedding).
2. Organise the Ushers on the Day.
3. Take groom's going away clothes to the reception hall.
4. Supervise the issue of orders of service on the day.
5. Drive the groom to the church/venue.
6. Take charge of the ring and hand it to the Groom at the ceremony, or the minister depending on some religious ceremonies.
7. Organise transport for the guests from the church to the reception venue.
8. Liase with the Toastmaster i.e. on timing of speeches and cake cutting etc.
9. One of the most important jobs of the best man is the best man's speech. He has to do a brief speech at the reception, where he thanks the groom for his toast to the bridesmaids and thanks the guests for coming and then reads out any cards or telegrams and also a toast to the happy couple.
Best Man - Outfit
As best man he will be wearing the same as the groom (although the groom has to have something slightly different to distinguish him from the rest of the wedding party). The best man will go with the groom to get his outfit at the same time. The different options for the outfits are day wear, highland wear, black tie, whitChief

Chief Bridesmaid - Duties

It is the job of the chief bridesmaid to:
1. Organise the hen night.
2. Help the bride to get dressed on her wedding day.
3. Meet the bride at the church or venue door and organise any other attendants of the bride.
4. Before the bride proceeds down the aisle in the procession, arrange her veil and train.
5. During the service take the brides bouquet of flowers and return it to her after she has signed the register.
6.
After the bride has changed to go away it is the chief bridesmaid who should take charge of her wedding dress.

Chief Bridesmaid - Outfit

Some brides will know exactly what they want and so will just tell their chief bridesmaid and any additional bridesmaids exactly what to wear. Most however are more flexible and prefer the girls to have some input, after all it is better that they feel comfortable and can focus on their tasks for the day without worrying if their bra strap is showing or if they look too fat in the dress. Some brides will even leave the choice entirely up to the bridesmaid. Here are a few good pointers for before the shopping commences. It is a good idea to decide exactly who is paying for what, traditionally either the bride or her parents would pay for the dresses however nowadays it is not uncommon for the bridesmaid to contribute as often the dresses can be used again as evening gowns. Also have a budget decided to try and help you stay within your means, Budget to for shoes, accessories and headdresses. It helps if the bride has already chosen her dress because it helps to choose a dress that will compliment the leading lady. For example if the bride has chosen a dress that is very simple yet elegant in style then really flamboyant bridesmaid dresses are going to look out of place, it is important to follow a them so everything compliments each other. Colour is also another important factor to consider. The bride may have a set colour in mind however it might not suit all her bridesmaids skin tones or shapes. For example if one of the bridesmaids is slightly heavier than the others she may feel uncomfortable in a really light colour like gold, likewise someone who has very high colouring and perhaps blushes really easily would maybe not suit a red or burgundy coloured dress. It is important to consider the colour carefully for the comfort of your bridesmaids and for your photographs. If size were an issue with your bridesmaids perhaps it would be a good idea to consider each girl wearing an individual style that suits her shape, yet in matching colours.

You could also consider a dressmaker and have bridesmaid outfits made and tailored for each bridesmaid. A good dressmaker will be able to advice you on all different styles, not just dresses but skirts and bodices too or even sharp tailored suits. Hiring a dress is another option and with period dresses and antique gowns to choose from this could be a more economical approach.

Flower Girls

Flower girls are an adorable addition to any wedding, it is important however not to overload young children with too many tasks. Their main job is just to look cute on the day and in the photographs. Also don't inflict uncomfortable outfits and shoes on them just because the outfit looks cute. Comfort is just as important as cuteness of outfit when it comes to young flower girls. Most little girls love to dress up so when you ask them to be flower girls they will be over the moon. Avoid scratchy fabrics, fidgety accessories and tight necklines. Also avoid weighty bouquets because that will just result in complaints about having to carry it. If you buy new shoes to match the outfit then make sure they get worn around the house before the day to prevent pinching. It may be a good idea, if they have a nice pair of shoes of their own.

Wedding Stationery by Leonico Designs Ltd
http://www.uk-wedding-stationery.co.uk/