Internet Wedding Guide

Wedding Planning Guide - The Wedding Party
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The wedding party traditonally consists of the following members:

	Father of the Bride The Father of the Bride's main job is to give the Bride away! Ceremonies can include the bride's father handing his daughter's hand over to the register. The Father of the Bride also tradiationally gives a speech at the reception. If the Bride's Father is not available a brother or mother could give the Bride away. Or she could walk done the isle alone, needing no one to 'give her away' in the 21st Century.
	Mother of the Bride Traditionally arranges the venue, caterers, transport, invitations, hosts the reception with her husband, distributs cake to anyone who couldn't attend the function, takes the dresses to the dry cleaners afterwards - everything! However, although the bride may call on her mum's wisdom and experience now, less is left solely to her. One important aspect however, is a bride's mother helping her dress on the day. It is convetionally the last sign of a mother helping her daughter.
	Best Man Needs to write a speech for the reception (humurous, but suitable for parent's ears), arrange the stag night, REMEBER THE RINGS! But if tradition dictates, you may get a kiss from a bridesmaid at the end of the night (if both are single)! A Best Man needs to be organised and dependable - as so much relies on him. He is responsible for getting the Groom to the ceremony, and looking after any valuables - as well as the rings, the marriage license, the fees for the ceremony and any tickets/passports if an immeditate departure from the reception is scheduled for the honeymoon. If the ceremony is in a church, he will accompany the Chief Bridesmaid/Matron of Honour to the vestry, and possibly act as a witness. And then his role as MoC (Master of Ceremonies) begins - assembling everyone outside ready for the photographs, seeing the new Mr. & Mrs to their car, ushering all other guests to the reception (starting with the couple's parents, and working through - closest family first), and then initiating the speeches from the top table, and thanking the Bridesmaids. But, as we begin to hurtle through the 21st Century - he can, of course, be a she!
	Chief Bridesmaid Traditionally unmarried, she may help the Bride dress, and will certainly help with last minute arrangements of hems/hair/bouquets when they arrive at the ceremony. She follows the bride and her father down the aisle, and passes her posy to the nearest bridesmaid as she takes the bride's bouquet from her. If she is over 18, the chief bridesmaid is often a witness to the signing of the register with the Best Man.
	Matron of Honour As above, except the role is for a woman already married, perhaps an older sister. Traditionally, the Bride had a 'Matron of Honour' instead of a Chief Bridesmaid and entourage - just the one faithful companion to help her through her day.
	Ushers Their task is to organise guests as they enter the ceremony, seating them according to whether they are from the Bride of Groom's family. Normally male relatives or close friends, it is normal for them to ask guests 'Bride or Groom?' as they enter. This role means they have to be at the Ceremony before anyone else.

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