Wedding Roles & Responsibilities: Who Does What?

Bride and Groom

The bride and groom's big responsibility is to get married, of course, but here are myriad planning decisions to make first. Ideally the bride and groom work together on these decisions, to share the workload and to make sure both are happy with the plans. A small list of basics:

• Set budget
• Choose date, style and site for wedding
• Meet with ceremony officiant to discuss details
• Coordinate invites, flowers, photographer, etc.
• Shop for wedding bands (each pays for the other's)
• Write wedding vows if they choose
• Send thank-you notes for all gifts.

In addition to their joint responsibilities, the bride and groom each traditionally handle certain details on their own, including each making sure his or her family compiles a guest list.

The bride chooses her bridesmaids and honor attendant. She plans and hosts the bridesmaids' luncheon and gives her attendants thank-you gifts, and buys a gift for groom.

The groom chooses his groomsmen and best man and picks their attire. He buys thank-you gifts for his attendants and for the bride. He arranges and pays for the marriage license and the officiant's fee, and he reserves a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.

More Roles & Responsibilities:

► Bride's Parents
► Groom's Parents
► Maid of Honor
► Bridesmaids
► Flower Girl
► Best Man
► Groomsmen
► Ring Bearer