Duties of the Chief Bridesmaid and the Bride’s Mother

Selecting the Chief Bridesmaid | The Bride’s Mother | Mother’s Expenses

The chief bridesmaid is selected from the other bridesmaids, who may number from one to eight. Four to six is the usual number. The bridesmaids are usually chosen from among the unmarried relatives of the bride and bridegroom. If the bride has an unmarried sister, the role of chief bridesmaid usually falls to her.

The duties of the chief bridesmaid consist of helping the bride before the ceremony, and waiting on her during it.

She discusses the wedding dresses with the bride, and between them they choose the scheme, style, colour, materials, accoutrements, and so on.

She helps the bride in purchasing her trousseau and articles needed for the wedding and the new home.

She usually assists the bride to dress on the wedding day, and then proceeds to the church in advance of the bride.

At the church she follows behind the bride and the bride's father (or whoever is giving the bride away), as they proceed up the nave, and she takes up position on the bride's left, a little to the rear. After having handed her own bouquet to the nearest bridesmaid, she takes the bridal bouquet when the minister says " Who giveth this woman to be married? " She attends to the veil, and takes the bride's glove when the ring is being placed on her finger.

She follows the bride and the bridegroom to the vestry.

After the signing of the register she follows the bride and bridegroom to the porch, on the arm of the best man.

She assists the bride in various small ways at the reception.

She helps the bride change into her going-away dress. She welcomes the newly-weds to their new home after the honeymoon.

the bride's mother

The social success of the wedding ceremony, and its atten­dant festivities, depend very largely on the mother of the bride.

Besides supervising the details of the wedding trousseau, and her own costume and hat, and perhaps the entertainment of relatives and other guests on the previous evening, not to mention the putting up of one or more bridesmaids for several days, she is generally responsible for the invitations and announcements, the reception, catering, decoration of the church, selection of music and a hundred and one minor matters.

It requires considerable tact and savoir faire to carry her through, for the strain continues for several weeks, and behind it all is the thought of parting with her daughter, who may be going to live a considerable distance away, or perhaps abroad.

mother's expenses

The mother and father of the bride are responsible for all the expenses of the wedding, including:

Engraved Invitations
Bridal Trousseau
Floral Decorations
Transport for the Bridal Party
The Wedding Repast
Bride's Presents to Bridesmaids
Photographs
Putting up Guests

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