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Updated Oct 14, 2024Man of Honor Wedding Duties to Know
Learn the responsibilities of a man of honor in a wedding party.
Photo: Jacob Lund | Shutterstock
Similar to the responsibilities of a maid of honor, man of honor wedding duties involve standing by the side of the bride and helping lead the rest of the bridal party in planning wedding events. As traditional gender roles in wedding parties have loosened over the years, many more brides of all genders are choosing to have the nearest and dearest men in their life take on the honored position of a bridesman or a man of honor. While having a man (or maid) of honor is not required of couples getting married, having someone close by your side during this major life event can be extremely special.
Ahead, we break down everything you need to know about having a male maid of honor in your wedding party. From responsibilities to attire, learn the in's and out's to taking on this role.
In this article:
What Is a Man of Honor in a Wedding?
The man of honor meaning is someone who identifies as a man that has a place of honor as the head of the bridal party. They can be the bride's brother, close family member or best friend that takes on extra responsibilities to prepare for the wedding and support the bride.
Man of Honor Wedding Duties
A man of honor has a number of duties to perform before and during a wedding celebration. See some of the most important responsibilities ahead.
Lead the Bridal Party
The man of honor is the official head of the bridal party. They will serve as the point person between the bride and the bridesmaids, and help lead the charge as the head of the group. The bridal party can turn to the man of honor for guidance regarding wedding events.
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Coordinate Communication
The man of honor should be the one to organize email threads, text chains and any communication with the bridal party. They should begin early to plan any pre-wedding events and continue to keep everyone in the loop once the wedding weekend begins.
Organize the Bridal Party Budget
Between attire, bachelorette trips, gifts and bridal showers, there are definitely a few expenses that will need to be taken care of for the bride and bridesmaids. The man of honor should be in charge of keeping track of the budget and costs accrued and organize payment from the bridal party.
Plan the Bachelorette Party
Whether it's one night out or an entire destination weekend vacation, the bachelorette party is one of the biggest events for a bridal party outside of the wedding itself. The man of honor is typically expected to plan this trip with the bride. While the bride will give directions of where and what they want at the bachelorette, the man of honor should make reservations, coordinate lodging, get decorations and organize the wedding party for this bash.
Lead the Bachelorette Celebration
In addition to planning the bachelorette, the man of honor should take charge as the leader of the schedule of events. They can delegate tasks, organize transportation and serve as the host of the festivities honoring the bride.
Be the Bride's Emotional Support
It's natural for wedding planning to cause stress for the couple. A man of honor at a wedding should take charge as the bride's right hand to be their emotional support through the process. Whether dealing with family drama, bridal party conflict or day-of jitters, the man of honor serves as a helpful mediator and therapist.
Coordinate Bridal Party Attire
While the couple will decide on what colors and styles they would like the wedding party to wear, the man of honor should help the bridal party secure their attire. This can be creating attire guidelines, sending links to dresses and suits approved by the couple or organizing days for fittings.
Host the Bridal Shower
Traditionally, the maid or man of honor is the host of the bridal shower. This role includes organizing invitations, venue, catering, games and decor. At the event, the man of honor should emcee the day, coordinate with any service staff and take account of gifts received. However, a bridal shower doesn't necessarily have to be planned by the man of honor. If the mother of the bride, another relative or a family friend wants to host a shower, the man of honor can offer their support in the process but can be relieved of larger hosting duties.
Create a Wedding Timeline for the Wedding Party
Once the wedding weekend arrives, the bridal party will need an itinerary to be aware of all events, arrival times, hair and makeup appointments and transportation to make sure the flow goes off without a hitch. The man of honor should create this timeline for the bridal party and keep everyone in the loop with any tweaks to the schedule.
Organize the Getting-Ready Suite
The morning of the wedding, the bridal party will likely all get ready together and be by the bride's side. The man of honor should coordinate any needs for this time like communicating with the hair and makeup team, organizing food and drink for everyone and helping the bride get dressed.
Serve as a Day-of Contact for Vendors
The bride shouldn't be burdened with any additional stress on the wedding day, so the man of honor can take over as point person for any vendor questions. They should connect with the wedding planner in advance and help if there's any last-minute issues that need to be handled.
Give a Speech
The man of honor is usually expected to give a speech at the wedding reception. The man of honor's wedding speech can go many different routes, but typically, it should touch on their relationship with the bride and express love and well wishes for the couple.
Take Care of Small Details
The man of honor at a wedding should take care of the small details a bride needs handled throughout the wedding weekend. This can include collecting cards after the wedding, rearranging a veil blown in the wind, helping bustle a dress or being a helping hand with a tissue or holding the bouquet during the wedding ceremony as you stand next to the bride.
Man of Honor Attire Considerations
While the man of honor's wedding attire does not have to perfectly match the bridesmaids, it can be a fun touch to have them tie their outfit in with the bridal party palette. If bridesmaids are all wearing pink, the man of honor could wear a pink tie, pocket square or even a pink suit. He can also wear a boutonniere that matches the bridesmaid bouquets to further coordinate with the wedding party.
