If you’re curious what is a matron of honor in a wedding, you can relate it to the maid of honor. They share similar duties and only differ based on relationship status.
This article will compare the two in more detail, and you’ll also know the expected duties of a matron of honor. We will answer everything from what makes someone a matron of honor to her position when standing with the bride.
We recommend browsing our blog for more wedding questions regarding the bridal party. After reading this article, why not learn how many bridesmaids are there in a wedding, for example.
Everything To Know About What Is A Matron Of Honor In A Wedding
What is a matron of honor?
The matron of honor in a wedding refers to a female attendant that the bride can turn to throughout the wedding. Her duties are the same as the maid of honor, but it’s more correct to refer to a woman who has been married as the matron of honor.
Who can be the matron of honor at a wedding?
The matron of honor is someone chosen by the bride, who is often a trusted and close friend or family member like her sister. If you are approached and proposed to be someone’s matron of honor, it means that she values your advice and looking for you for guidance regarding the wedding and marriage.
Can a matron of honor be divorced?
A matron of honor can be divorced because any woman who has ever been married will be referred to as a matron of honor instead of someone who’s never married. In which case, the unmarried woman will be called the maid of honor.
With this in mind, any woman married, widowed, or even divorced is considered the matron of honor. In fact, in royal households, the maid of honor is so-called because she’s a maiden who had never been married, which means the relation might’ve been applied to why there’s a matron of honor and maid of honor terminologies in weddings.
What are the duties of a matron of honor?
- Help the bride when choosing and fitting the wedding gown before the wedding
- Plan the bridal showers and communicate with other close friends of the bride
- Ensure that everything is set for the wedding day (e.g., finding the vendors, caterers, decorators, photographers, etc.)
- Guide the bride before, during, and after the wedding
- Assist the bride on her needs, such as bustling her dress or changing her attire from the ceremony to the reception
- Help with the guests and ensure a smooth flow of the event
- Can also be involved with contacting the guests or collecting gifts and funds
- Available for other friends and family who may have questions regarding the wedding
- Can be the intermediary between the bride and other people
- Keep the bride calm and collected throughout the wedding by being a reliable presence or offering solutions for any potential random problem like accidental stains on the wedding gown during the wedding
- Provide insights and advice for the newly married bride after the wedding
What Is The Difference Between Maid Of Honor And Matron Of Honor?
The main difference between the maid of honor and matron of honor is the relationship status. The maid of honor is someone who’s never been married, while the matron of honor is someone who’s been married.
Nonetheless, both play the same role as being the bride’s confidant. But is it possible to both have a matron of honor and a maid of honor at a wedding?
You can have a maid of honor and a matron of honor at your wedding. Some brides want their single best friend as their maid of honor, but they also want their close sister, who happens to be married at their bridal party.
The two are expected to work together and share the responsibilities. Read how to ask someone to be at your wedding if you want to talk to these women beforehand.
Does The Matron Of Honor Give A Speech?
Like the maid of honor, the matron of honor also gives a speech or toast. Therefore, the speech will also contain the same subjects, such as their relationship with the bride, the couple, and the future.
Being experienced with marriage, the matron of honor can also share some advice and other valuable tips to the newlyweds. Of course, humor is always welcome to make the event more lighthearted.
Who Stands Next To Bride Maid Or Matron?
The maid of honor stands closest to the bride, and if she has a matron of honor, the latter will be the closest to her. The maid of honor will still be closest to brides who have both, followed by the matron of honor.
Who Walks First The Maid Or Matron Of Honor?
If the wedding has a matron of honor and maid of honor, they can walk together in the aisle with their respective best man and groomsman.
Conclusion
And that’s it! We found out what is a matron of honor in a wedding, which is essentially the same as the maid of honor if she’s a married woman.
However, someone can still be considered the matron of honor even if she’s divorced or widowed. We hope you learned a lot; leave us a question if you have any.