Is the maid of honor expected to give a speech at the reception? And if so, does she to prepare this speech?
Yes, it is customary to give a speech as maid of honor although it is not mandatory. Probably the best man will also give a toast at the reception. However, why should the man speak while the women remain silence. Just do it! Avoid ending up without text: prepare your speech and talk about your friendship.
I’m the maid of honor, am I expected to pay everything by myself? I do not have enough money, what should I do?
Do not worry; you do not have to pay everything by yourself. However, it is common that the bridesmaids chip in. Usually the bride will inform you about this from the start. Sooner or later there will be a conversation with the maids about budget expectations. You can suggest that expenses are shared equally among the group. As maid of honor you’re responsible for estimate the costs: a great opportunity to divide this as fairly as possible among the girls.
Is it mandatory to have a maid of honor or is it acceptable to a have a man of honor instead?
You are the bride! So of course, it is possible to have your best friend at your side. Call him Man of honor, attendant or go for something creative. Nowadays, many traditions are taken with a grain of salt. So, do not be afraid of breaching the common rules. The Man of honor could do everything the maid of honor usually does. For example, let him customize his suit so it fits with the bridesmaid’s outfit based upon the color and style.
How often should I be with the bride during the wedding?
It depends on the expectations from the bride. Maybe she is nerve wrecked and requires constant care, wants you to sleep with her at the hotel or maybe you need to be answering her phone calls of all the guests that could not attend. However, perhaps she wishes to spend as much time as humanly possible with her loved ones she rarely sees. Discuss this topic before the wedding and schedule your day. Ask regularly on the big day if you can support her with anything. But most importantly, do not forget to enjoy the party yourself!
I want my maid of honor too really stand out during the wedding. She has to be more striking than the other bridesmaids are. What should I do?
There are many ways to make your maid of honor stand out. Consider giving your maid of honor a different dress, hairstyle or let her wear a special piece of jewelry. Make sure it fits well with the bridesmaids’ clothes and the wedding dress. Also nice: give her a bouquet that is slightly larger than the bouquets from the other girls. Use small details to let her stand out.
My daughter in-law appointed her mother as maid of honor. Is this acceptable?
It does not matter whether the maid of honor is a man, woman, family member or friend. So of course, it could be the mother of the bride. The maid of honor is always a person who has a special relationship with the bride. Many women are best friends with their mothers.
Is it acceptable to have multiple maids of honor? I want both my sister and my cousin to be maid of honor, can I?
We cannot think of any reasons why you could not have two guests of honor. It could be a little stressful, but there are benefits. They can easily share the expenses and they come with more solutions for your stress related issues. Do not forget to divide the tasks fairly and make them feel equally important.
I have chosen my two sisters as maids of honor. How does it work?
It is entirely up to you how you divide the tasks during the ceremony. Your sisters could probably stand a lot next to each other. Nevertheless, it is good to talk everything through beforehand. Ask which tasks they like the most and divide it equally. Give them each a set of responsibilities that suit them well. Perhaps one of your sisters prefers to give a speech while your other sister prefers to be in the background. That is how many things will resolve themselves.
I am the maid of honor and never met the bridesmaids before. How do I deal with this?
You have at least one thing in common: you both love and adore the bride. Make an appointment with the bridesmaids for a drink or meal and get to know each other. Explain that you would like to know each other before the wedding. When you've already met the bridesmaids, everything will go a lot smoother. The bride will be pleasantly surprised about the fact that you have met beforehand, making her the common priority of her friends and family.