Additional Titles In The Entourage

In some countries, marriages mean getting the whole family involved. This means including those who are closest to the couple in the ceremony. Not including them in the proceedings can sometimes be a source of strained relations, due to unmet expectations. What couples often end up doing is adding to the list of members of the entourage, just to placate these sensitive souls.

For example, having a maid of honor is automatic for most. This is the title that goes to your best friend. If she is married, her title becomes matron of honor. In some cases though, not only is there a maid of honor, there is also a matron of honor. This is often the case when more than one person feels that they are the closest friend of the bride and neither will back down. It is helpful to have them both anyway; especially when there is much to accomplish.

Often, brides will have many bridesmaids. Most of the time these are the brides sisters or close cousins. At others these are the brides gang. Once in a while though a neice will ask to be part of the entourage and she’s too young to be a bridesmaid and too old to be a flowergirl. Do you tell her she can’t take part? Hold it! There’s a solution. Make her a junior bridesmaid and put her in charge of the flower girls. The junior bridesmaid role is actually useful for making sure that each flower girl walks down the aisle (if you have more than one. They are especially handy when your flower girl is the kind that gets stage fright or totally refuses to walk alone. Your junior bridesmaid can walk with your reluctant flowergirl and things will go smoothly.

Then there are the little boys who also want to take part. Most weddings will have one role for them to fill - that would be ring bearer. In Catholic weddings what some couples do to accommodate the kids would be to have a coin bearer and a bible bearer as well. This is a great way to keep boys of the same age together and their parents will be so proud to see their boys all dressed up.

In Catholic weddings they have what are known as secondary sponsors. These are the gentlemen and ladies who will light the individual candles of the bride and groom, carry their cord and attach the veil that will cloak the couple. This is a great way to get more family and friends involved. The nice part is that these members of the entourage normally provide their own dresses and suits. Just give them the theme.

In reality, the bridesmaids walk alone. They do not have any counterpart. Then someone noticed that the numbers were uneven and decided that it would be nicer if there were groomsmen to match the bridesmaids. They can then serve as ushers at the wedding and reception. So if you want to give your male relatives and friends a role, make them a groomsman.

[tags] weddings,wedding planning,wedding entourage,wedding roles,family,expectations,duties [/tags]