How to Be an Awesome Maid of Honor

Even though there will be many more appointments than a maid of honor could likely attend, it’s certainly nice to accompany the bride whenever possible. If she doesn’t ask, then it's not necessary to insist on going, but it never hurts to offer extra help. The kinds of appointments that a maid of honor might choose to attend are décor and event rentals, venue visits and of course, dress fittings. These are just a few fun and meaningful experiences that you can experience together. Pretty much anything in the sphere of planning for the big day is fair game, although the bride will (or should) understand if not all dates can be met. Additionally, some brides want their maid of honor to help them pick out bridesmaid dresses (although some may also want to choose independently), and help coordinate with the groomsmen.

Traditionally, the maid of honor is responsible for organizing the bachelorette party, booking any reservations and coordinating with the bridal party. Along these lines, it's customary for the maid of honor to collect funds for the party from all of the bridesmaids, understanding that not everyone may be able to contribute equally. If it's an out-of-town excursion, then it's necessary to touch base with the bride before setting firm plans, especially if the pooled funds don't cover the entire cost of the trip. Regardless of where you decide to throw a bachelorette party, it's a good idea to work out all of the travel, food, lodging, and activity logistics with the bridal party in advance. That way, the bride can just focus on having fun. Whether you opt for a low-key local hotspot, a soothing spa retreat or a wild and crazy destination, it will be a time full of wonderful memories for the bride and her best friends!

There are going to be times when your friend might go on and on about the dress, the guest list, the cake, etc. It's crucial to serve as a sounding board and a person that she can trust and come to for advice. However, it's equally important to help the bride keep calm and not get completely swept away by the planning process. You're probably already aware of all the bride's looming wedding appointments and deadlines but when was the last time that the two of you just watched a silly movie or chatted about celebrity gossip? It's okay to take a breather and just enjoy girl time without any wedding talk.

One of the parts that maids of honor fear most about their role is delivering a speech at the wedding. Although public speaking can be daunting, this is an opportunity to make it treasurable for the bride. My best advice is not to wing it, even if you think you can pull it off! At the very least, jot down key points that you can refer to throughout your speech so that you stay on topic. Some of the best speeches I've heard throughout my career as a wedding planner have been the most classic, simple and genuine in context. Talk about the love the two share and their best qualities individually and how it makes them the best couple they could be. Speak from your heart, and it will be beautiful! I would recommend leaving out any and all jokes about embarrassing the bride or sharing secrets; it's just awkward and not the right time or place for it. Have a glass or two of champagne if you need to put your nerves to rest but don't down a whole bottle of liquor or shots of tequila pre-speech. You don't want to be that cringe-worthy inebriated speech-giver that everyone is watching in horror!