While not all the important people in your life can be a part of your wedding party, you can still give them other roles in your wedding ceremony and reception. From ceremony reader to DJ or musicians, there’s a wide scope of roles that can be filled by friends and family to make them feel a part of your special day. Here are six roles that can be done by friends and family.
Ushers and Greeters
For either your ceremony, reception, or both, a greeter or usher may be needed. This can be more than just helping guests find their seats, or what side to sit on. The ushers will be the first-person guests see, and they should greet your guests with a smile, hand out programs, and guide them to their seats. If you’re wondering how many ushers you may need, a general rule is one usher or greeter per fifty guests.
Ceremony Reader
A ceremony reader is a great option for a close family or friend not included in the bridal party. No matter what kind of ceremony you may have, you will most likely need a reader. The reader can read poems or religious text depending on what type of ceremony you and your partner are having.
Wedding Transport or Airport Pick Ups
If you have a friend or family member with a large vehicle, and they’re willing to drive, have them carpool other guests as needed. Not only does carpooling make sure everyone gets to the wedding and reception venue on time, but it also saves space in the venue parking lots. Also, if you have out-of-town guests, consider asking someone for airport pick-ups and drop-offs. In addition to being a designed driver, this person can also handle other transportation needs for guests like car and limo services.
Marriage License Witnesses
Don’t forget about the legal side of the wedding ceremony. Choose some trusted friends or family members to be your witnesses as you sign your documents. This is a simple but important job as the person will be one of the first people to see you officially sign as spouses.
Musicians or Singers
If your friend or family member is musically inclined, ask them if they’d like to perform at your ceremony or reception. This is a fun job because they’ll get to use their talents in a unique way and create new memories with you on your wedding day. For the ceremony, ask if they want to perform during the ceremony or with prelude music. For the reception, ask if they want to perform a set during the cocktail hour or right after dinner.
Handing Out Day-Of Payments
This is an important job to be given to a trusted friend or family member. Vendors will need to be paid on your wedding day, and you don’t want to have to track everyone down and handle those payments. Prepare the payments ahead of time and hand them over to your appointed person. It’s also a good idea to let your vendors know the name of the person who will be handling the payments.
Consider this list as you’re making the list of roles for your wedding day. Check out our bridal collection if you’re in the market for a wedding dress.