Cultural backgrounds and individual convictions will greatly influence the decision-making in Wedding Etiquette. 

To help you, we have provided this brief guide to wedding etiquette and the various duties participants have.

THE BRIDE

Normally, it is the bride who selects the type of service, as well as choosing her dress and the bridesmaids ’attire.

THE BRIDEGROOM

The bridegroom chooses the best man and ushers, if required.  It is his job to pay any church fees, buy the ring and also presents for the bridesmaids, best man and ushers. He should also buy flowers for the bride, bride ’s mother; his own mother and the bridesmaids, as well as buttonholes for himself and the best man. Unfortunately his responsibilities doesn't end there!  The bridegroom should also organise and pay for a car for himself and the best man before the wedding, and of course, himself and his bride after it.

THE BEST MAN

As the bridegroom ’s "man friday", the best man also has several duties. First of all, he ’s responsible for making sure the bridegroom arrives on time for the ceremony. He must pay any church fees, keep the ring, check the transport arrangements, and ensure there is transport for every guest to attend the reception.  Honeymoon travel arrangements are also his responsibility.  At the reception, reads the telegrams.

THE CHIEF BRIDESMAID

If the best man is the groom ’s right hand man, the chief bridesmaid is the bride ’s equivalent.  She helps her to dress, holds her bouquet during the ceremony and generally organises the other bridesmaids.

THE BRIDE'S FATHER

The father gives the bride away.  He receives guests at the reception, pays for the wedding dress, the bridesmaid ’s dresses (although in this day and age it is acceptable that the bridesmaids pay for their own attire), all cars except the bridegroom ’s, plus the photographs, flowers at the church and reception, the wedding stationery and any press announcements there may be.

THE BRIDE'S MOTHER

By tradition, the bride’s mother is in charge of the whole proceedings.  For example, she chooses the reception venue, and, along with the bridegroom ’s mother, the guest list.  She must also handle the catering arrangements; in particular making sure the cake is ready.
Once the ceremony is over, she must join her husband and the groom ’s mother and father in greeting guests at the reception.

TOASTS & SPEECHES

Toasts and speeches are an integral part of a wedding reception, and traditionally these take the following order:
1.The bride and groom cut the cake.
2.The bride and groom are toasted.  The bride’s father, a close relative or a good friend of the family normally proposes this.
3.The bridesmaids are toasted, always proposed by the groom following his response to the first toast.
4.The best man responds to the bridegroom ’s speech on behalf of the bridesmaids.  He reads the telegrams.

TOP TABLE SEATING PLAN

We suggest this seating plan.  However, you are entirely free to create your own if preferred.
The Best Man
The Chief Bridesmaid
The Groom’s Father
The Bride’s Mother
The Groom
The Bride
The Bride’s Father
The Groom’s Mother
The Bridesmaids

Back to useful information