Wedding Bride Groom Traditional Members Party Helps People

A "wedding party" is the group of people who have official "roles" (sets of responsibilities) during a wedding. The most important members of the wedding party are the "bride" (the woman who will become the wife) and the "groom" or "bridegroom" (the man who will become the husband). In a "traditional wedding," or a wedding that follows many old "customs" (cultural practices), the bride and groom ask many people to be members of their wedding party.

The bride invites her sister or a close friend to be her "maid of honor" (if she is not married) or "matron of honor" (if she is married). The maid or matron of honor usually helps the bride with the details of planning the wedding, and helps her get dressed on the day of the wedding.

The groom invites his brother or a close friend to be the "best man." The best man usually helps the groom get dressed on the day of his wedding, and holds the wedding rings during the ceremony.

The bride and groom may invite a young girl, usually four to eight years old, to be the "flower girl," who gently throws flower "petals" (the small, colored pieces of a flower) onto the ground when the bride walks into the room. Another member of the wedding party is the "ring bearer," who is a young boy who carries the wedding rings on a small pillow.

Other members of a traditional wedding party include "bridesmaids" and "ushers." "Bridesmaids" are close[SK1] female friends of the bride who wear "matching" (the same) dresses and walk in front of the bride. "Ushers" are usually male friends and relatives of the bride and groom who help guests find their seats and organize the wedding gifts that the guests bring.

[SK1]Not necessarily single.