9 Maid of Honour Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

So you’ve been given the important role of Maid of Honour for the bride-to-be, congratulations! The Maid of Honour role holds immense significance within the wedding party as you are the bride’s right-hand lady and are there to support her in the lead-up to her big day!

It’s going to be up to you to problem solve, provide support, listen, organise, and be the bride’s cheerleader between now and the wedding. It’s a big job, but it’s also a great honour to be chosen to stand beside her on the day, so let’s make sure you have all the info you need to be able to crush your Maid of Honour duties and enjoy the experience in the process.

We’ve collated a list of some of the main duties that you may be responsible for prior to, and on the day of the wedding. These may not end up being your responsibility, but ensuring these things have been accounted for is going to be important. Discuss with the bride as to what her expectations are, and what she needs from you to ensure you provide her with the best support possible.

Before the wedding

• Go wedding dress shopping with the bride.
• Organise Bridesmaid dresses.
• Be the point of contact between the bride and the bridal party (bridesmaids and the groomsmen potentially).
• Lend a hand with any DIY projects. This could be decorations, assisting in the invitations, centerpieces, etc.
• Prepare the wedding survival kit. This is a must-have for any unexpected emergencies on the day and includes things such as; panadol, hair ties, bandaids, safety pins, mints, a mini sewing kit, lint roller, lip balm, hair spray, etc.
• Prepare your speech for the reception.

Hens Party 

• Send an intro email to the bridesmaids.
• Plan the Hen’s Party. This isn’t necessarily solely your job as you’ll likely have bridesmaids to assist you, however, it may be your job to initiate that conversation and potentially be the final decision maker.
• Stick to your budget, and collect the money for the party.
• Pick the party playlist.
• Keep track of the gifts received at the bridal shower/hens party on behalf of the bride.
• Ensure videos/photos are captured of the event.

On the day of the wedding

• Drop off any items at the reception venue.
• Keep track of timings and ensure everyone is where they need to be when they need to be there.
• Ensure the bride remembers to eat and drink (not just the bubbly, but water too!).
• Assist any special guests (mother of the bride, grandparents, etc.).
• Help the bride get dressed.
• Be the bride's mirror, if there’s a hair out of place or lipstick that needs a touch-up, be there to assist. Oh and also, assist the bride with her dress to go the bathroom.
• Take care of the bouquet.
• Round up the friends and family for the photos.
• Get the dance floor started!

9 Maid of Honour Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not knowing what the bride wants - You may be the bride’s BFF but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t discuss the bride’s expectations with her. Know what is important to her, what she expects from you, and how you can be the best Maid of Honour possible.

2. Being too opinionated - You’ve been entrusted with an important role and whilst it is up to you to rally the bridesmaids and the bridal party, it's not all about you, and no one likes a bossy boots!

3. Not asking for help - A great leader doesn’t do everything alone, they know how to delegate! Utilise the other bridesmaids and the wider bridal party where necessary. When it comes to the hen's party, you’ve also got us to help out with the party planning, all you have to do is ask!

4. Not prioritizing the essentials - It should be simple to prioritise your tasks once you’ve spoken to the bride and know what’s important to her. Likewise when it comes to the hen’s party ensure you take into account the important things like transport, food, and drinks for everyone, not just planning the super fun activities!

5. Leaving things to the last minute - If you do one thing right, please be organised! Ensure you leave enough time to plan the hen's party - or call us to organise it for you. Leave plenty of time to organise bridesmaid dresses, shoes, and accessories. Make sure you’ve organised anything and everything, well ahead of time! Postage times can also be delayed, and suppliers/vendors (like makeup artists) often book up long before they are required.

6. Complaining - Being a Maid of Honour can often be stressful, but this is not the time to complain, it is your job to create a positive and enjoyable experience for the bridal party and the bride and groom! 

7. Drinking too much - There’s no reason you can’t enjoy a glass of bubbles or cheers with a cheeky cocktail, but do not go overboard. You can enjoy the party and still be there for the bride without draining the bar and drinking yourself silly! 

8. Bringing up inappropriate stories in the speech - Whether we’re talking about the rehearsal dinner or the reception speech, neither is the time to bring up the bride’s dating history or inappropriate stories that will embarrass the bride in front of her friends and family. Keep it concise and heartfelt without the cringe-worthy moments and you can’t go wrong!

9. Not joining the party - Once it reaches that time of the night, it’s up to you to rally the bridal party and get the party started. Get up and kick off the celebrations by starting the dance floor.

Chances are if you're taking the time to read this, then you're going to be great! If you need a hand planning the hen's party we've got you covered there, read our post here about planning the perfect party, or reach out and we can do it for you! Otherwise, ensure you communicate with the bride-to-be and be solutions-orientated. Try not to get frazzled if/when things go wrong, and focus on what you can do to make the situation better for the bride. She's chosen you as she knows you can get the job done, so remember that, you've got this girl!

Until next time,

House of Hens xox