Planning a wedding is not a one-man show and more often than not, no matter how organized you are - you will probably need help or two from family members. While one might readily assume that most of the wedding details will fall under the bride’s responsibilities, there are also some specific duties of the parents of the bride, as well as the rest of the entourage. But since we all cannot normally expect one to be so adept with the bride’s responsibilities and that of her parents, here’s brief list on who’s in charge with what:

Bride’s Responsibilities

The bride is generally in charge with the providing tokens and other minute details of the entourage, such as the groom’s wedding gift and ring, the luncheon for the bridesmaid, the groom’s boutonniere, gifts for her attendants as well as the accommodation details if there are some out-of-town bridal attendants, although the last one is optional. Aside from that, it is generally advised that even if the bride personally organized all the wedding preparations, she should coordinate with one or two qualified individuals who can oversee the flow of the ceremony as well as the party and supervise with the proceedings.

Mother Of The Bride Duties

Parents always play an important role in weddings and it is typically an emotionally fraught event for both mother and daughter. One of the most important roles of the bride’s mother is to help ensure that everything will be carried out smoothly according to the wishes of the bride. While most mothers would want to supervise every tiny detail, during this time, they take the backseat and simply help in the proper flow of events. Other important duties include: helping the bride in selecting wedding garbs, setting the wedding budget, putting together the guest list, making necessary reservations for out-of-town guests. During the wedding ceremony, the mother of the bride is also responsible for lighting the candle on the altar and helps supervise the flow of the ceremony. No matter how you might assume to be meticulously prepared, minor hitches will somehow find its way and can cause a lot of stress. Ask the help of your mother to help oversee minor details since you cannot possibly run to and fro in your very own wedding.

Father Of The Bride Duties

While we all know that the father of the bride is generally responsible for giving the bride away, this is not his only sole task. Aside from being present on the wedding day, the bride’s father should also travel with the bride to the church or any location of the ceremony. He should also escort the bride all throughout the processional and give the bride to the groom. The father will also pose as a witness in the signing of the register, participate in the ceremony’s recessional as well as escort the bride’s mother. The bride’s parents will be next couple to leave the ceremony after the newlyweds and right before the guests.

The bride’s father should also be present in the receiving line along with the new couple and his wife to welcome the guest to the party. It would also be a warm gesture to make a brief speech and a wedding toast to the couple and share his thoughts on the very fact that his daughter is about to start a new family of her own.

If you don’t have the budget to hire a wedding planner, then don’t hesitate to brief everyone with their respective duties and responsibilities. You don’t really want your wedding to turn out like a circus show, right? So amid all the wedding preparations, never forget to inform their part in the ceremony and their duties all throughout the wedding party so that everything will fall smoothly just as you have envisioned your wedding to be.