Bridesmaids Double Duty

jewelz4360

Is it okay to ask your bridesmaids to pull double duty at the wedding? We are doing it with the groomsmen, ie having them also do some ushering. Is it wrong to also ask the bridesmaids to do some hostessing?

Mrs.B6302007

Yes.  They aren't there to work.

Leah&Christian09

What do you mean hostessing?  Why would you need a hostess? It is fine to ask GM to act as ushers during the ceremony. 

Mrs.B6302007

Don't you want the BMs with you before the wedding? 

Leah&Christian09

There's nothing wrong with it, but I think program passer-outer is a task better suited for a child, or a sign.  Won't you want your attendants to be with you in the time leading up to the ceremony?  Logistically, I don't see how it would work.  This is when most people are doing the bulk of their pictures.

duckie1905

Adults are capable of grabbing their own programs and if they have a question they'll find a family member or employee to ask. Don't you want to be with your BMs before the wedding?

jewelz4360

Well in my head at 2, 2:30ish we take the bridal party pics then at 3:30 when the groomsmen have to leave to go usher, the bridesmaids go with and then me and my fiance take our pictures during that last hour.

jewelz4360

And I do not know if there will be any employees there at the site...Its fairly remote, hence the need for a shuttle to the ceremony.

jewelz4360

About being with the bridesmaids before hand, I guess I was trying to utilize my time as much as possible. If we want to spend that one hour together before the ceremony we will have to either sit outside in the possible heat or I will have to rent a small room to sit in for a hour. I just thought doing as much as possible before the wedding made the most sense. I guess not, oh well. Thanks for the advice

MOBinFL2008

I was just at a lovely outdoor wedding and no one had to pull double duty.  All of the guests got to the location and mingled until about 5-10 minutes before the wedding was scheduled to start.  Pitchers of ice water were put out and everyone managed to serve themselves.  When it was time to sit, everyone managed to find a chair and park their butt in it...no hostesses or ushers were needed.  Programs were in a basket, those who wanted one, took one.Your wedding party members are not there to work, they're there to stand beside you when you say your vows.

stina93446

What do you mean? YOU and your FIANCE are the hosts, not the bridal party. It's ok to have the GM usher, but the bms should only have to stand next to you.

Mrs.B6302007

If we want to spend that one hour together before the ceremony we will have to either sit outside in the possible heat or I will have to rent a small room to sit in for a hour.What are your guests who are being dropped off by the shuttle 45 minutes early going to do?

jewelz4360

So...I guess hostess was the wrong word, the wedding I went to used that word in the program, I apologize. As stated earlier I am serving drinks. The reason the shuttle comes so early is because it cannot hold ALL of the guests at one time. Some will only be there 15 minutes but the early birds could be there 45 minutes. Once again this was just an idea thrown around in my head today and while I dont really consider the bridesmaids mingling with guests to be slave labor, it was just a thought

Mrs.B6302007

I'm concerned though about your first shuttle guests.  You mentioned that YOU didn't want to be sitting in the heat for an hour.  What about them?  Is the reception indoors?  The reception room needs to be open before the ceremony for your guests.

jewelz4360

There will be chairs for EVERY shuttle rider!!! Technically ceremony and reception are at the same site. It is a state park. The guests will park near the reception. The shuttle will begin taking guests to the ceremony an hour b4 the ceremony bc the shuttle can only hold around 25-30 guests at a time. Afterwards the shuttle takes them basically to their cars/reception.

Mrs.B6302007

Ah, well the chairs are definitely a good idea.  It would be really unfair to have the first arrivals to have to stand and wait in addition to the ceremony.

jewelz4360

thank you, I guess I'm not as horrible as I orginally must have come off to be? Our programs are also going to be fans as well. While I agree this isnt the ideal situation, i think it will all be okay and the point is that we are getting married. I dont think anyone has ever seen a lemonade stand at the wedding so im really excited for it

Mrs.B6302007

nah, it was just confusing for a bit =-)

Mrs.B6302007

FWIW, our ceremony was outdoors (in June in FL) as well but the reception hall was on site.  We had water bottles chilled in galvanized tubs on the porch and encouraged anyone who arrived early to wait indoors in the AC.  Our pastor called everyone out 5 minutes before the ceremony. Some people chose to wait outside anyway but they can't say they didn't have the choice. =-)

jewelz4360

well I do wish there was a tone of voice button on here!!BC when i read it in my head it comes off as not great...

Mrs.B6302007

Yeah, tone can make all the difference in how some posts are received.

salt78

This post made me wish I had lemonade and cookies.