The History of Maids of Honor & Bridesmaids

During a wedding, a bride chooses close friends or her sister to participate in her ceremony as a maid of honor and bridesmaids. These roles are supportive to the bride and an integral part a wedding.

What is a Bridesmaid?

Generally, at a wedding, a bride will have multiple bridesmaids who wear matching dresses and stand next to the maid of honor during the wedding ceremony. Bridesmaids generally do not have many duties other than to attend the wedding ceremony and help the bride on her wedding day.

History of Bridesmaids

Traditionally, bridesmaids were unwed women and young married women. Bridesmaids were also chosen based on the size of a family, to indicate the family's social status and wealth.

History of Bridesmaids---Witnesses

The Western tradition of the maid of honor is believed to have originated from Roman law, where ten witnesses were needed to confirm a wedding.

History of Bridesmaids---Evil Spirits

From the 17th to 19th century, it was believed that "evil spirits" would attend weddings to harm a bride and groom. So, the closest friends of the bride and groom would stand next to them and dress the same, in order to confuse spirits. To this day, bridesmaids usually wear the same dresses or colors at a wedding.

What is a Maid of Honor?

The maid of honor is generally the bride's closest friend or family member. The maid of honor supports the bride, assists with organizing the wedding and plans a bachelorette party for the bride.

History of a Maid of Honor

Historically, a wedding only had a bride and a groom in the wedding party. The maid of honor became an integral part when more planning and preparation was put into a wedding. A bride would ask her closest friend for advice and assistance, which developed into the role of the maid of honor, who was traditionally an unmarried female and had the title of "chief attendant."

Resources

• Bridesmaid101