A maid of honor is one part worker and one part emotional lifeline. You have been chosen for your energetic, get the ball rolling qualities, and you should remember that listening to the bride, making her laugh, and offering both emotional and logistical support are part of your job description. Here is a run down of what is expected of you as the maid of honor.

Lead the bridesmaid troupe. It’s the maid of honor’s duty to direct the other maids through their duties. Make sure all of the maids get their dresses, go to fittings, and find the right jewelry. It is also your job to provide them with all of the prewedding party information. Help the bride shop for dresses, both hers and the bridesmaid’s. The maid of honor pays for her own outfit, including shoes.

Offer to help with prewedding tasks, from addressing invites to choosing wedding colors. Spread the news about where the couple is registered. Help the bride change for her honeymoon and take charge of her dress until she returns from the honeymoon.

Lend a sympathetic ear. Whether it’s about planning, marriage, or china patterns, the maid of honor needs to be someone the bride can share all of her thoughts with. Host or co-host a shower with the other maids, attend all prewedding parties, and keep a record of gifts received at these parties and showers. Plan the bachelorette party with the other maids as well. See to it that all bridesmaids get to the rehearsal, and coordinate transportation and lodging if needed. Make sure all the maids get their hair and makeup done and get to the ceremony on time, and have the right bouquets.

Hold the groom’s ring during the ceremony, arrange the bride’s train and veil before the ceremony and after she gets to the altar. Help her bustle her train before the reception if needed. Hold the bride’s bouquet during the vows, and stand next to the groom in the receiving line if requested. Sign the marriage license as a witness, along with the best man. Play hostess at the reception, and direct guests if needed.