How to be a Good Maid of Honor
Being someone’s maid of honor is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. From attending dress fittings to providing emotional support and delivering a meaningful speech, your maid of honor duties span every stage of the celebration. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to take on the role with confidence—from responsibilities before the big day to supporting the bride during the ceremony and delivering a heartfelt maid of honor speech. Whether you're standing beside your sister or best friend, let this be your go-to guide for every key task.
What are the maid of honor’s duties and responsibilities?
The maid of honor role is about more than just a title—it’s about being the bride’s most trusted support system throughout her wedding journey. Your responsibilities begin well before the ceremony and carry on through the final dance. Whether you're helping with planning or being her emotional outlet, every task contributes to a smoother, more enjoyable experience for the bride.
Key maid of honor duties:
- Attending wedding dress shopping and fitting appointments
- Bachelorette party and bridal shower planning
- Coordinating the bridal party
- Assisting with wedding day logistics
- Holding the bouquet or train during the ceremony
- Giving a thoughtful speech or toast
The maid of honor’s role can shift slightly depending on the couple’s preferences—but above all, your presence, support, and attention to detail will help make the day feel seamless.
Maid of honor duties before the wedding
Your job begins with thoughtful planning and emotional support that continues all the way up to the big day. The maid of honor’s responsibilities include practical help with the wedding planning checklist, whether that means assisting with vendor outreach, organising timelines, or simply being a sounding board for ideas. Staying organised and attentive during this first phase helps take the pressure off the bride and keeps everything running smoothly. Below is a brief breakdown of other duties before the ceremony.
Attending her dress appointments
One of your first tasks may be dress shopping with the bride, helping her explore different wedding dress shapes and offering a second opinion when needed. You might also accompany the bride to fittings and attend a wedding dress alteration appointment to ensure every detail is perfect.
As part of this early planning, you’ll also be preparing your own look. The maid of honor dress is typically chosen to align with the wedding’s colour scheme and theme, so be sure to schedule your fitting in good time and check if alterations are needed to ensure the perfect fit. For inspiration, be sure to check out our selection of gorgeous maid of honor gowns.
Planning the bachelorette party
Planning the bride’s bachelorette party is one of the most exciting parts of the journey. Whether you're arranging a destination weekend or a local celebration, this is your chance to reflect her personality in every detail. From coordinating dates and guest lists to handling travel plans or reservations, your job is to keep things stress-free and memorable.
The maid of honor’s most important duties for bachelorette party planning include setting the tone, managing the guest list, and keeping the bride’s wishes at the heart of the celebration. With thoughtful planning, it becomes a meaningful moment she’ll treasure long after the wedding.
Maid of honor duties at the ceremony
In anticipation of the big day, you may be worried about performing your maid of honor role at the ceremony. Below is a rundown of things a maid of honor should do at the actual wedding, and reviewing it in the lead up to the day can help you be the best right-hand woman for the bride.
Coordinating the bridesmaids
As your best friend or sister gets ready to walk down the aisle, you can help take care of certain tasks behind the scenes by ensuring the bridal party is ready. Offer to assist with any makeup touches or in coordinating the bouquets and accessories to guarantee everyone is ready once the bride is. That way, when it’s time to take photos as the bride unveils her full attire to her bridal party, everyone is picture-perfect and set to lead her down the aisle.
Holding her bridal train
If the bride has chosen a gown with a longer train, she may need help holding the weight as she walks down the aisle. Traditionally, it’s the maid of honor’s duty to hold her dress to distribute the weight. Holding her train allows her to glide gracefully towards the altar.
Being supportive and ready for any mishaps
While the ceremony is underway, the maid of honor helps the bride by holding her bouquet when the time comes to exchange vows. Preparing with tissues can also be useful just in case she (or any of the bridesmaids) needs to wipe away tears. Being ready to help with any possible mishaps, such as wardrobe malfunctions or dropping the wedding rings, can also ensure the ceremony runs as smoothly as possible and allows the bride to focus on her partner.
Tips on writing a maid of honor speech
Once the ceremony is over and the bride and groom are officially married, one of the biggest responsibilities you’ll have as a maid of honor is giving a speech at the reception. Don’t know where to start? We’ve gathered a few tips for writing a maid of honor speech.
Speech for your sister
A big tip for a maid of honor speech for sisters is to incorporate key childhood memories. You have the unique insight of growing up with her, so sharing your special moments together can captivate the audience as they hear a different side of the bride. Consider telling a story that showcases her unique personality, your bond with her, and then end with how her partner complements her in the best way. If you're still planning your look for the big day, you might want to explore our sister of the bride dresses for a style that complements your role and her vision.
Speech for your friend
For your best friend’s wedding, one maid of honor speech tip is to share your initial impression of the bride when you first met her, highlighting the reason why you became best friends. You could then tell the story of how she called you after her first date with her partner, incorporating any anecdotes that capture the love between the two of them.
With this comprehensive guide on how to be a good maid of honor, you can use it as your personal checklist on what to remember as you perform your duties. To best organize everything, consider investing in a planner, whether it’s on your phone or a physical journal, to make sure you have everything you need in one place. Being there for your best friend or sister on their wedding day will bring you even closer together as you create unforgettable memories. With these helpful tips as a backup, you can fully enjoy the maid of honor duties as you celebrate her big milestone.