Witnesses at a wedding: choosing a best man and groomsmen, their responsibilities

Who can be a witness at a wedding?

There are several customs and traditions associated with who can be a witness during the celebration, but modern young people are increasingly less likely to follow them.
The main qualities that a girl should have are responsibility, punctuality, attentiveness, cheerfulness, the ability to cheer and have fun. Many brides want their best friend to be a witness, but future spouses should think carefully: does her character have the necessary qualities? Will the main wedding assistant be able to act boldly in critical situations? During the celebration of a special event, anything can happen - an unwanted guest will appear, awkward pauses or tension between guests will arise. In this case, the witness must dispel the situation, encourage those present, and only an active girl who is not afraid to take the initiative can cope with this

When choosing an assistant, the bride should first of all pay attention to those who can cope with all the hardships of controlling the wedding day - calling contractors, coordinating guests, resolving force majeure situations

If your best friend does not have the above qualities, you should not think that she will be very upset. Every prudent girl will adequately assess her capabilities and say whether she is able to bear such a load. In order not to offend anyone, you can use the Western tradition: invite everyone who was not suitable as a wedding assistant to become bridesmaids. And for the role of a witness at a wedding, there will be a responsible, patient, caring person who, at the right moment, will reassure, support, straighten the wedding dress, and correct “floating” makeup.

When choosing an assistant for your wedding day, you need to be honest with the girl, discuss all the details, tell her what kind of support will be needed. If the bride uses the help of an agency when organizing a wedding, then the wedding planner takes on most of the troubles - in this case, the role of the witness will not be so difficult and many bridesmaids will cope with it. The hero of the occasion must remember that only the girl who can be completely trusted can be a witness - only then will the future spouse truly celebrate the wedding.

Can my sister be a witness?

It has long been the custom that sisters rarely become witnesses to a wedding, but there is no direct prohibition indicating the impossibility of such a choice. If the future wife wants to take her sister as the main assistant of the holiday, and she has all the necessary qualities, this is only a plus: after all, such a close relative knows the habits of the hero of the occasion, feels her worries, therefore, in extreme cases, she will help calm down and find the right words to lift your spirits.

Is it possible for married people to be witnesses?

According to ancient tradition, witnesses must both be unmarried. Many years ago, there was a belief that if the wedding attendants spent the night together after the event, the newlyweds would be happy for the rest of their lives. The witnesses symbolized the next union. Obviously, if one of them was married, then a passionate night could not take place between them. If the witness and the witness were married to each other, it was believed that the marriage would soon break up after this event.

Modern people almost do not follow these ancient signs, and of those who follow, only a few believe, so there is nothing to be afraid of choosing a married witness. If you want to pay tribute to ancient traditions or are having a wedding in the traditional Old Russian style, try to find a girl from the bride’s side and a friend of the groom who is not married to anyone.

How many times can you be a witness?

There are many ancient customs according to which a witness is chosen at a wedding: signs do not ignore the number of special events that a girl can witness in her life. According to ancient traditions, it is allowed to be an assistant at a wedding of no more than three friends. If a girl decides to become a witness for the fourth time, then she will not be able to get married. However, this belief is refuted by modern girls: bridesmaids calmly got married even after the fourth event.

Answers from experts

Oksana Strugatskaya:

Same. Just “druzhka” is the name of a witness in the southern regions of Russia. Responsibilities are, accordingly, the same.

Margarita:

Bridesmaids participate in the bride price, the witness bears all the responsibility!!!

Alexey Malkov:

I think it's different! The girlfriend helps the bride what to do, for example, carry a half-length dress!! ! But I'm not sure

AS:

A friend is a witness, and a girlfriend is a witness.

Olga:

The duties of a witness on the part of the bride are that she:

-helps the bride in choosing a wedding dress and accessories for it -helps in selecting and writing wedding invitations -on the special day it is the witness who helps the bride get dressed, apply makeup, etc. -meets the groom with friends and conducts the ransom ceremony -after registration helps the bride to accept bouquets - prepares a special toast for the witness and a short but succinct speech for the witness.

The duties of a witness on the part of the groom are as follows:

-he arrives very first to the groom on the wedding day, helping him with the final preparations and preparations -it is the groom’s witness who is responsible for the bride’s ransom, so prepare cash, sweets, alcohol and small souvenirs -the witness is responsible for pouring champagne to all guests after registration and make sure there is enough for everyone. -prepares a special witness toast and speech.

Witnesses are essentially the captains of the celebration. And the captain, as you know, is the last to leave the ship. Likewise, the witnesses are the last to leave the wedding celebration, making sure that all the guests go home, and those who “had too much” are sent by taxi. And only after this, all responsibilities are removed from the witnesses, and they can go home.

The groomsman is the same witness, he was chosen by the groom; groomsmen are more often present at village weddings, where they adhere to old customs and traditions.

Valery Bondar:

Nazar!! ! No wedding is complete without the participation of groomsmen and groomsmen. And even though today these heroes perform only a symbolic role, for the bride and groom these people are simply irreplaceable. Before the wedding, a witness or best man can relieve the groom a little from his worries and assist him in ordering transport and agreeing on where cars will be parked during the banquet. You can ask your friend to organize transport that will take the guests home in the evening.

The main task of the witness in preparing for the wedding is to organize the bachelor party and monitor the condition of the groom so that he does not get too carried away with alcoholic beverages, especially if the bachelor party is celebrated on the eve of the wedding. The groom is personally responsible for food and drinks for the bachelor party. The witness is left with: the bachelor party scenario, entertainment, competitions, ordering strippers. The main goal of the friend is to make the holiday fun and memorable.

In the morning, the witness comes to the groom’s home and helps him get ready. The witness must check whether such important items as wedding rings, passports, champagne (a basket for a wedding walk with everything necessary), sweets and fruits for the bridesmaids, small money and comic bills for the bride price are not forgotten in a hurry. At the ransom ceremony, the witness will have to be smart to help the groom overcome all the obstacles erected by the bridesmaids. After the ransom procedure, the witness, together with the bride and groom, goes to the Civil Registry Office.

At the Civil Registry Office, the witness and witness open the door to the ceremony hall for the newlyweds and guests and lay down a towel for the newlyweds. The witness ensures that all guests in the hall have enough space to sit and that everyone is seated comfortably before the ceremony.

After the painting, the witness opens champagne and also helps the bride accept flowers from the guests. During the banquet, the witness sits next to the groom. The honorable duty of the witness is to pronounce the first toast to the health of the newlyweds, which always ends with the word “bitter”; the best man receives the right to be the first of the guests to dance with the bride.

During the evening, the witness plays the role of assistant toastmaster and participates in competitions. During the banquet, the witness is the guardian of the bride. If he doesn’t pay attention and one of the guests manages to steal the bride or her shoe, then the groom will have to fulfill all the conditions of the kidnappers in order to return his sweetheart to the groom. So the best man will not be able to relax particularly at the banquet.

The last duty of the witness is to escort the bride and groom and make sure that all the guests go home.

These are his responsibilities!! ! Good luck!! !

Alena S.:

entertain guests, take the rap for the groom)))

Blocked:

Don't look at the bride.

Responsibilities of the groom's friend

Just like the bridesmaid, the groom's friend begins to participate in preparing the celebration even before the main celebration. Organization of a bachelor party, bride price... In addition, it is the groom's friend who is responsible for ensuring that the future husband does not lose or forget the wedding rings, bouquets for his beloved and the witness.

During the wedding, the best man not only participates in entertainment and competitions for the guests, helps the host, but also makes sure that there are no fights and that everyone has fun. If the newlyweds are planning a wedding or the second day of the celebration, witnesses must be present at these events as well. events.

How to choose a witness

It is believed that the witness should be an unmarried, undivorced girl, several days or years younger than the bride. Agree, when every second couple lives in a civil marriage, it is difficult to determine whether the girlfriend is married or not. But this is more of a practical idea. After all, according to the same signs, the witness should be the first to get married after the bride. From this point of view, it is interesting for an unmarried girl to play the role of a boyfriend. It is not advisable to take blood relatives, such as a sister, as friends. Complete ban on widows. Yes, the circle of acquaintances is sharply narrowing.

By the way, 100 years ago our great-grandmothers were given in marriage by a married witness. She dressed the bride, did her wedding hair, and after the wedding she braided a “female” braid. The woman shared her experience with the bride and helped with advice. In the church, it was the married couple who were taken as witnesses for the wedding. Their successful experience will be the key to the happiness of the newlyweds. Modern signs say the opposite, they say, you cannot take a married couple as witnesses. Allegedly, they will give their happiness to the young, or, on the contrary, destroy their marriage (I wonder how?). This is how modern signs contradict spiritual traditions.

If you approach the choice of a witness more soberly, then she should be a very organized, punctual and responsible young lady. At the same time modest. So that she doesn’t overshadow the bride with her charisma.

Responsibilities of newlyweds' assistants

Witnesses have a great responsibility; they are indispensable participants in the wedding celebration. How to choose witnesses for a wedding? It is desirable that they have organizational skills. Appearance plays an equally important role.

The duties of a bridesmaid are as follows:

Help in preparing for the wedding. List of necessary things to do before the celebration: send out invitations, help choose a wedding dress and accessories, organize a bachelorette party, prepare the ransom ceremony.
Help on your wedding day. On the special day, the assistant should always be with the bride. She performs important duties: she conducts the ransom ceremony, monitors the condition of the bride’s image, and takes an active part in the festive feast.

Responsibilities of the groom's friend:

Help in preparing for the wedding. Responsibilities include preparing and hosting the bachelor party. A close friend can help you choose your wedding suit and accessories.
Help on your wedding day. A close friend is responsible for delivering the bride's bouquet and boutonniere for the groom. The assistant must actively participate in the ransom ceremony, acting as a negotiator between the relatives of the bride and groom. He must control organizational issues of any complexity.

A wedding celebration requires careful preparation; it is necessary to think through the smallest details of an important event. Now you know how to choose witnesses for a wedding and what signs exist regarding the choice of assistants to the newlyweds!

What you need to prepare before the wedding

The period of preparation for a wedding is a rather hectic and exciting time, since there is always a fear of forgetting something, not being on time, etc. And here the witnesses become the first assistants of the bride and groom. They help not only in preparing for the celebration, but also make sure that everything necessary is purchased.

Items for which witnesses are responsible for the presence at the ceremony:

Wedding rings, they must be at the ceremony both in the registry office and at the wedding.
The bride's bouquet and its backup (the newlywed throws the second bouquet into the crowd of unmarried girlfriends).
A cushion or saucer for rings.
Towel for the ceremony in the registry office and at the wedding.
Boxes or piggy banks for collecting money during the celebration. Often such items are signed “for my daughter” or “for my son,” and the witnesses are involved in collecting funds.
Everything necessary for competitions (garlands, posters, materials for games, medals, diplomas, etc.).
Wedding loaf and salt shaker for it.
Rose petals, rice or wheat for showering the newlyweds during the meeting from the registry office.
Wedding items (icons, candles, napkins, 2 towels, a scarf for the bride).

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Duty of the best man on the wedding day

On the day of the celebration, the best man at a wedding has a huge number of responsibilities, but the most important of them is to be a witness at the wedding, serve the rings to the newlyweds and lay out the wedding towel. During the wedding sacrament, witnesses hold crowns over the heads of the newlyweds.

More generally, the duties of the witness include assistance in organizing the wedding. He also makes sure that there is a friendly and warm atmosphere at the holiday. The groom's responsibilities also include organizing a bachelor party before the wedding, as well as paying for the bride's ransom (if provided). In addition, he is involved in:

sending out invitations;
decoration of the hall;
car decoration;
organizing competitions (together with the toastmaster), etc.

Another friend of the groom is often involved in establishing relationships between the newlywed and the bride’s parents. With his participation, the distribution of responsibilities during the celebration takes place. Some best men do quite a lot of work in preparation for the wedding, agreeing on the time, dates, number of guests, prices of services and other details of the event. The honorable duty of a witness on the part of the groom is to deliver a solemn speech at the ceremony. It should be carefully prepared and pronounced properly.

It is worth saying that this prospect frightens many men. Not everyone can handle the role of best man, so you should soberly assess your capabilities and, if you are unsure, it is better to refuse.

Bridesmaid

A witness at a wedding is no less an honorable role than the best man. Her main responsibility is to attend the ceremony as a witness and sign the marriage certificate.

If the newlyweds decide to get married, then the bridesmaid holds the crown over the bride’s head during the sacrament, and the best man holds the crown over the groom’s head. An important condition: in order to take part in the sacrament of wedding, the boyfriend and groom must be baptized in Orthodoxy.

Organizing a bachelorette party is also one of the main responsibilities of a girlfriend. In some cases, she even bears all the costs associated with it. In addition, the bridesmaid helps the bride choose an outfit, hairstyle, shoes, accessories, etc. But the main thing that the bridesmaid does is turn the holiday into the bride’s dream.

If there are too many tasks, then the witness should correctly distribute them among the rest of the bridesmaids. The ability to delegate tasks should be one of her main qualities.

If we talk about unofficial duties, then the girlfriend acts as moral support for the bride, because a wedding is a very emotional event. In addition, she can help with inviting guests, choosing gifts for them, and organizing a meeting with a photographer or designer.

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Groomsmen Clothes

The groom and his companions perform at the celebration as a single team, so the outfits must have a single character, stylistic solution, or have common details. The clothes of the groom and groomsmen may be the same or slightly distinguish the groom from the crowd. The more original the husband’s team of friends looks, the more fun and beautiful the wedding will seem. The image of a male company should not go beyond the general concept of the wedding. Therefore, the outfit of the groom and friends is also a kind of attribute of creating the right atmosphere at the holiday.

Here are several options for creating a single original image for your husband’s team:

Butterflies. Multi-colored or one color, for the young man and friends. The groom's bowtie can stand out in size or tone.
All team representatives wear multi-colored socks.
Suspender.
Bowler hats or hats.
Glasses.
Boutonnieres, pocket squares.
Checkered jackets or pants.
Multi-colored ties of the same style with identical boutonnieres.
Jackets of the same color, tone or material.
No jackets.
Vests.
Costumes of the same style, theme, reproduction of the same era.

When choosing suits for friends and your future husband, you should consider the following points:

Comfort. The character of the costumes should be close to the groom and friends; the outfits should emphasize the state of mind. In addition, suits and shoes should be comfortable and convenient. Bright hues

If there is no thematic need, when choosing the color of the costumes, pay attention to light colors or blue, or try to dilute the image with bright shades so that the event does not look gloomy. Brightness and originality. Bright details and stylistic solutions will help make the wedding fun and memorable.

Harmony. The costumes of friends should not only be included in the overall concept of the wedding, but also be combined with the outfits of the friends. Then there will be no aesthetic dissonance at the event or photographs.
Children. If the groom or friends have a child or younger male brother, invite him to join the groom's team. This will not only allow the boy to feel responsible and grown-up, but will also add touchingness, reliability, and comfort to the team atmosphere.

Groom's friends in bow tie photo

A simple and always winning way to highlight the groom and team is butterflies. Here are some examples of how these accessories enliven the look of friends and the atmosphere of the wedding, see the photo below.

Who can't be chosen?

It has happened for centuries that the assistants of the bride and groom are usually people who will not spoil the holiday. The choice is made based on the relationship with them. Various candidates are suitable for this.

It is prohibited to use divorced people who have already been married several times as witnesses. According to legend, this witness will cause discord in the future family life of the newlyweds. It will be unpleasant for them if a person who has not saved his marriage wishes happiness to his future family.
Even in ancient times, it was believed that a widow could not become a witness. An ancient sign says: such a helper will cause great trouble.
It is very bad if married couples act as witnesses. The newlyweds are not in danger, but married relatives may quarrel and their lives will be ruined.
Shy, passive and boring people cannot become witnesses. They simply will not be able to fulfill their duties, which are very important at a wedding celebration.

Why were witnesses invited to the wedding?

The tradition of calling witnesses for the bride and groom to a wedding dates back to ancient pagan times. In Rus', all weddings took place with the participation of witnesses to the spouses, whose task was to carry out certain assignments. The groom's friend was the first to enter the bride's house and bargain with the bridesmaids about the bride price. He also handed over the ransom money for the young woman.

The bridesmaids helped the bride get ready for the wedding, unbraided her hair, came up with riddles and various competitions for the groom and witness, and only after completing all the tasks did they give the bride to the groom.

During the wedding ceremony, witnesses held the crown over the newlyweds' heads. At the wedding celebration, they organized various competitions, joked and entertained the guests. During the wedding, the bride was kidnapped, and the boyfriend and groomsman performed various tasks devised by the “kidnapper” in order to return the young wife to the newlywed husband.

In ancient times, witnesses could also replace the bride or groom if they fell ill on the eve of the wedding.

In modern times, the tradition of inviting witnesses of the bride and groom to the wedding has been preserved. They also participate in various competitions, the groomsman pays the bride price, the groomsman helps the bride in getting ready for the wedding, etc. The only thing that modern witnesses of a getting married couple cannot do is replace the bride or groom at the marriage registration. According to Russian laws, marriage can only take place in the personal presence of each party to the marriage. We also suggest that you familiarize yourself with the conditions and procedure for marriage in Russia.

Clothing style and behavior

The witness should also look appropriate at the wedding ceremony so that the newlyweds do not feel ashamed of him. The best man's appearance should be consistent with the chosen style of the wedding celebration, but still, the outfit is chosen according to his own taste.

This could well be a black classic suit with a snow-white shirt and the right tie.
A white suit will look festive, and a bow tie can be a very original accessory.
Considering the fact that the best man at the wedding banquet will have to participate in many competitions and various types of entertainment, it is best to choose a dark-colored suit, and choose shoes to match the color of the suit itself.
The outfit should be elegant and make a good impression, because the best man is the second person at the banquet after the groom. And the presence of a stylishly dressed witness nearby will oblige him to look great all the more.

The witness must behave decently - remain sober until the end of the celebration, because his help may be needed at any moment. The witness should also know that his behavior can directly affect the atmosphere of the entire holiday.

Wedding signs

There are many signs associated with the choice of witnesses and their responsibilities at a wedding.

The importance of the event for the newlyweds and their relatives makes this event special. That is why they attach such great importance to various rituals, traditions and signs.

In some countries it was customary to choose a married couple as witnesses. It had to be a happy marriage.

If the marriage took place in a church, then the witnesses must be believers.

In recent years, signs regarding witnesses have changed dramatically. The reason for this is most likely the Soviet period, when church marriage was not accepted in society.

Witnesses must not be married. Signs say that otherwise one of the married couples will definitely break up if you choose a husband and wife to accompany the newlyweds. Although according to other signs, a happy married couple chosen as groomsmen for the newlyweds will bring them happiness.

People believe that a bridesmaid's dress in a blue, golden or pink shade will protect the bride from the evil eye. But for the witness herself it is better to choose green. They say that this will help her get married sooner. This is where you start to think about whose happiness to protect.

The duties of a modern bridesmaid include the need to hold the bride’s bouquet when she needs to free her hands. But signs strictly forbid giving the bouquet to anyone. I gave away the bouquet and let go of family happiness.

How to choose a witness

Under no circumstances should you take a divorced woman or widow as your girlfriend. You can’t argue with signs here. Even psychologists say that it is difficult for such women to take on the role of the bride’s confidante. The emotional state of a girlfriend can negatively affect both the celebration and the future family.

When choosing a girlfriend, you need to pay attention to her age. Signs say that the bride should be older than her witness

It is very difficult to find an explanation for this custom. But it’s better to take her word for it if the bride has decided to comply with all popular beliefs. In addition, this is another parameter by which it will be easier to choose a girlfriend from everyone.

You can't have a bridesmaid be her namesake. The coincidence of names is considered a bad sign.

Another sign adds responsibilities to witnesses. During the wedding ceremony from beginning to end, no one should come between the newlyweds. The sign says that this person will remain between the married couple all his life. This applies not only to friends and girlfriends, but even to parents. Witnesses must be careful to ensure that the couple is not separated and that no one crosses the path of the young couple. Just as on ordinary days a black cat is considered a bad sign, so unmarried friends who cross the road can ruin the happiness of a new married couple.

The witnesses themselves are not forgotten in folk customs. I've been a bridesmaid at two weddings, and I'm about to have a third of my own. If for the third time you agreed to accompany your friend to the wedding, then you can forget about family happiness for yourself.

In some places it is customary to catch the bride’s bouquet, in others a garter. But all the signs say that the lucky one who catches this accessory will be the next to go to the crown. There have been cases when an already planned wedding was postponed for unknown reasons if the future bride was unable to catch a bouquet at her friend’s wedding.

The bride should not touch the ring box after they are put on her fingers. But a friend can take this simple talisman as a souvenir. They say this will speed up her marriage.

A superstitious girlfriend can perform a ritual that will help her quickly organize her own wedding celebration. This will not affect the marital happiness of the young family, but will benefit the witness. She needs to quietly move to the corner of the table and lightly pull the tablecloth towards her. According to signs, such a ritual will bring a happy marriage to your friend.

To believe in omens or not is a personal matter. If you look at examples of married couples who live happily and those who separated, you will notice that signs are not so important. True, superstitious people will find a thousand reasons and explanations here too.

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Are they necessary?

Modern registration rules at the registry office today are such that witnesses are not required to obtain a marriage certificate. However, according to tradition, their presence is necessary.

It is believed that witnesses at a wedding, in the traditional sense of the word, confirm the marriage. These are people who sincerely believe in the love of the young and with all their hearts wish them happiness in their family life. At a wedding, as a rule, there are only two witnesses - a representative from the groom's side and a representative from the bride's side.

In addition, witnesses perform a number of more practical functions. For example, a witness on the bride’s side should organize the holiday, help her friend choose a wedding dress, a bouquet and take care of all the little details and nuances. A lot of trouble also falls on the shoulders of the witness - from choosing a suit to organizing a bachelor party.

It is best to choose as witnesses those who are truly happy for the young people and do not have hidden agendas or envy. This is very important when planning a wedding. Previously, it was believed that witnesses at a wedding should radiate kindness and fun throughout the celebration.

If they are sad and silent, then the family life of the young may not work out. Therefore, when choosing representatives on your part and on the part of your significant other, it is important to take into account the opinion of a particular candidate about the planned marriage.

Who are the groom's friends?

The groom's friends are the closest comrades and male relatives one has. These are the people who, at a wedding, during preparation for it, bear the “burdens” of organizing and holding the celebration. In other words, these are the people who make the event lively, fun, coherent, and organized. The new practice of inviting not one, but several best men to a wedding came to us from Europe (UK) and quickly took root, helping to solve two big problems:

Ease the burden of the spouse and witness. With the advent of several friends, the volume of wedding troubles began to be divided equally among all the groomsmen, and therefore the load on one person decreased noticeably. This also applies to the division of material costs.
Don't offend the groom's friends. Under previous traditions, he had to single out the “best” friend from the rest, appointing him as a friend. Now close friends can become them.

The new tradition has made weddings more fun, carefree, and brighter. The groom at a wedding, where all his friends are groomsmen, feels more comfortable and confident. Therefore, such assistants should be truly congenial people, but even with a large scale event there should not be too many of them, ideally no more than ten.

Witnesses at a wedding - who are they and why are they needed?

During the Soviet Union, the state registration of marriage required the presence of two witnesses. Perhaps this tradition was borrowed from the church, where best men are sure to accompany the newlyweds at weddings. It is possible that the rule was invented as an additional check of the seriousness of the couple’s intentions. Be that as it may, the presence of witnesses at the wedding ceremony at the registry office today is not required. The wedding may well take place without them. However, young people are in no hurry to abandon such a wonderful tradition. The fact is that most wedding ceremonies and signs are in one way or another connected with witnesses. In addition, young people partially take on the burden of organizing the celebration and act as presenters. We can say that without this couple the holiday will lose its charm. During a church ceremony, it will be completely difficult to do without the help of best men. They are the ones who hold rather heavy crowns over the heads of the newlyweds.

What are witnesses needed for?

In Russia, rules have been established that allow painting to be carried out without witnesses. However, the tradition has developed that they must be present. It’s hard to imagine a wedding celebration without them. They just stand next to the newlyweds and don’t sign anywhere. The newlyweds decide for themselves whether they need these people at the wedding, because they can do without them.

In ancient times, witnesses had to be present at the wedding procedure. A marriage was not considered registered if there was no signature. In addition, they helped organize the celebration, buy the bride, etc. Today their paintings are not needed; the wedding can take place without them. If the newlyweds are not planning a magnificent celebration, witnesses are usually not invited. However, for a large-scale event, the help of loved ones will not hurt. Of course, the toastmaster invited to the wedding will host it brilliantly, but he will not be able to provide the bride with moral support or suggest how to fix her hair or dress.

Witness activity

It is now clear who can be a witness at a wedding. And even the tasks of the witness are no longer a secret. What does a witness do? In principle, his duties are somewhat similar to the activities of a groomsman. The groom's best friend helps organize the bachelor party, if there is one. He chooses a suit, tie and other accessories that allow him to create the image of his future husband. Of course, his friend will keep an eye on his appearance on the day of the celebration.

The witness actively participates in competitions, helps his partner getting married to buy the bride, and is “responsible” for the rings and documents at the registry office. He collects money “for the boy” and, together with the witness, holds an auction of the first piece of the wedding cake. If the groom comes to pick up the bride by car, the witness must organize the decoration of the car. At the registry office, it is usually the groomsman who gives the rings to the newlyweds, and the groomsman at this time holds the bride’s bouquet.

One more point - the witness must have a certain amount of money with him in small bills. Changes, small “paper” money - they make life much easier. It is not necessary to take large sums with you; about a thousand rubles is enough.

Signs for a witness at a feast

All signs for a friend are connected with her successful marriage. If you don’t need this, then you can safely skip these points and enjoy your wedding to the fullest. And if you are in search of your happiness, perhaps, with great faith, these signs will help you find your betrothed.

At the feast, the witness needs to sit on the corner so that the husband is “at the corner”;
At the wedding table, pull the tablecloth towards you, but only carefully, without breaking the dishes;
Sit on the bride's chair, but very quickly and unnoticed;
Catch the wedding bouquet;
Let the bride give you a piece of wedding cake from her own hands - fortunately;
It is believed that a stolen fork from a festive table will be a good collateral for a dowry. It is unlikely that a friend caught stealing will become an enviable bride.

There is such a belief. If you were a witness twice, you will soon get married. And if it’s more than three, you won’t be able to become a wife. We don’t know who calculated such statistics. If you have a lot of girlfriends and you are a responsible person, it is not surprising that they want to take you on as a friend. And this does not prevent you from building your own family home.

To believe in omens or not is up to everyone. The role of a witness at a wedding is so great that she simply won’t have time to follow the signs. It is much better to fulfill your duties conscientiously. Help the bride in everything and be in a good mood. After all, this is precisely why the friend was invited to the wedding. But definitely not for her to build her happiness on stolen forks.

Responsibilities

Organizing a bachelorette party

If the bride wants to hold a bachelorette party before the wedding, then the witness should take charge of organizing it. Of course, it’s worth including the rest of the invited friends, as well as consulting with the hero of the occasion on general issues regarding the celebration (for example, the style of the bachelorette party, the venue, the dress code).

Active assistance in organizing a wedding

Search for a decorator, hairdresser, makeup artist

A very important point in preparing for a wedding is finding a first-class team consisting of a florist, decorator, makeup artist, hairdresser and stylist. It is quite difficult for the bride to master this point on her own. The witness must be helped to decide on professionals.

Choosing a wedding dress

Usually the bride involves a witness in choosing a dress, because on the wedding day the newlywed must be irresistible, which means she needs practical and objective advice from her friend. Therefore, choose a day that is convenient for both of you, be patient, wear comfortable shoes and go for the dress of your dreams.

Help with little things

If suddenly the witness is interested in needlework, then it is worth creating a pillow for the newlyweds (with future wedding rings), decorating bottles of champagne and glasses for the newlyweds, and making a basket for wedding gifts.

Bride's handbag

Don't forget to prepare the bride's handbag. Perhaps the hero of the occasion herself will refuse to have a handbag in her overall look: in this case, the witness should take care of the handbag. Put in it everything you might need at a wedding: wet and matting wipes, powder compact, hairspray, spare stockings, comb, hairpins and bobby pins, wedding dress-colored threads, pain pills.

Preparation of ransom

The witness must take full responsibility for organizing the ransom. It is necessary to come up with a fun and original scenario with interesting and simple tasks for the groom.

Psychological support

A very important aspect in preparing for the wedding celebration will be the moral support of the bride. Knowing about all the features and preferences of her friend, the witness can unobtrusively suggest going to a cafe together for frank conversations, watching wedding films to create the right mood, or reading interesting holiday articles together. Well, and, of course, pleasant surprises for the bride from her best friend will be the ideal cure for the exciting pre-wedding bustle.

The best man should always be with the bride on her wedding day.

Morning

The bridesmaid must take care of her own beauty from the very morning in order to be next to the bride at the very moment when the team of professionals is working on the magical wedding image.

It is imperative to consult with specialists on how to maintain a chic appearance of the newlywed during the day, so as not to spoil anything.

Photoshoot

The witness must be present at the photo session (of course, if the newlyweds want it) in order to constantly monitor the impeccable appearance of the hero of the occasion.

Banquet

The holiday is in full swing, so the bridesmaid still needs a lot of strength to participate in various competitions and constantly help the bride.

Useful and relevant information

Responsibilities of a witness

The groomsman also plays an important role at the wedding.

It is to him that young people entrust their wedding rings; the most “difficult” tasks at the redemption ceremony fall to his share.

In addition, the witness has to keep an eye on the groom so that he does not do anything stupid either before the wedding or during the official banquet. In general, being a witness at a friend’s wedding is a pleasant, but very responsible mission.

Wedding preparations

The witness can provide all possible assistance to the future newlyweds by taking on some of the responsibilities for organizing the wedding.

He can be entrusted with ordering cars for the newlyweds' cortege, selecting alcoholic beverages, and developing a walking route after the ceremony at the registry office.

In addition, the witness will have to help in purchasing props for wedding events. They can do this together with the groom or bridesmaid.

Bachelor party

A farewell to single life for the future newlywed is arranged by his friends.

A witness is trusted to organize the bachelor party. He thinks over the cultural program, notifies other friends about the venue, and prepares memorable surprises for the hero of the occasion, designed to remind him of his bachelorhood.

Another important mission of the witness is to look after the future newlywed so that he does not go beyond the bounds of decency.

The groom's friend will also have to make sure that the event participants get home safely.

Morning before the wedding

On the day of the event, the witness comes to the groom's home, after which they go together to pick up the bride.

The groomsman needs to take care of documents for the registry office and rings, and together with the groom, purchase flowers for the bride and her friend.

The decoration of the wedding procession is also the responsibility of the witnesses. Major decorations that need to be attached in advance will need to be delivered to drivers the day before. You can decorate your car with flowers and ribbons before going to the registry office.

Bride ransom ritual

In the bride's house, the most difficult task awaits the witness - a quest called “bride ransom”.

Indeed, the groom’s friend takes the brunt of the blow here. He will have to solve riddles and pay a ransom. You need to stock up on small bills and sweets in advance. Of course, the ransom ritual is just a fun game, but you will have to follow the rules.

Registry office and church

At a civil wedding ceremony, the witness at the very beginning hands over the documents of the couple and the rings to the registry office employee. After the witnesses leave their autographs, following the newlyweds, they will have to organize the guests for photography and then seat them in their cars.

The groom's friend, as a representative of the stronger half, is obliged to help the ladies by opening and holding the car doors.

In the church, the witnesses together spread the towel on which the newlyweds stand during the ceremony.

Walk around the city

When visiting memorable places, the witness's responsibilities include opening bottles of champagne and pouring alcohol for guests. You will also need to take care not to leave trash behind. It is better to store bags for collecting it in advance in the glove compartment of the car. Again, the witness will need to seat the guests in their cars and remind the drivers of the route so that they can navigate in time without creating emergency situations on the road.

Guardians of marriage

Witnesses are usually friends of the newlyweds. They take on the entire burden of organizational issues throughout the wedding. Among other things, it depends on them how the bride price will go. If the groom can hesitate, then the boyar never does. There is a joke about this about a speculator witness who bought the bride and immediately resold her.

So, the witnesses:

main advisers during the selection of outfits and accessories for the bride and groom;
send out wedding invitations;
decorate the newlyweds' cortege;
responsible for hen and stag parties;
monitor the appearance of the bride and groom;
actively participate in the celebration.

They try to follow popular observations and advice on selecting a boyar and cronies, but not quite strictly.

Who could it be

From the bride and groom's side, 1 person is chosen for the wedding. I wonder who it could be? Witnesses at weddings used to be chosen seriously. There were a lot of rules to follow. It is already clear that one best friend should be chosen from the bride’s side, and one best friend from the groom’s side. They will be witnesses.

Previously, it was believed that only single people could be boyfriends and boyfriends. Those who have not yet married at all. And it was considered a good omen if the witness and the witness started a relationship and liked each other. This supposedly served as a symbol of the friends' strong marriage.

Nowadays, too, mostly unmarried/unmarried people are chosen as witnesses. Just by tradition. Due to some superstitions, divorced persons are not often delegated boyfriend and groomsman duties.

But in the modern world there are no restrictions on this matter. The registration in the registry office can take place without witnesses at all. This is an optional item for a modern celebration. And if you decide to keep this tradition, then you have every right to nominate someone you just want to see next to you all day. Remember, this should be a person close to you. But, again, on the bride’s side it’s a girl, on the groom’s side it’s a guy. These could be just acquaintances, best friends, brothers and sisters. The main thing is that people are close to you.

The ideal best man and groomsman - how to choose

The right groomsman is a godsend for the bride. After all, it is she who guarantees that the newlywed will be protected from unnecessary hassle. Let's look at the list below of signs on how to choose a witness for a wedding.

her dress should be light shades: gold, cream, pink, blue, but not white or black;
she should not be a widow: there is no sign that a married witness to a wedding is bad, the main thing is that her husband is alive.
she should be younger, at least by a day, and have different names from the bride;
she should not be expecting a child: today they treat superstition in two ways, and they do not refuse the best friend to be a witness at the celebration because of her interesting position;
she is required not to be related to the bride, even very distant ones, and not to stand near the mirror in front of the bride;
In order to get married successfully, she must make some kind of accessory for the newlywed, which she will wear at the wedding ceremony.

In addition, there are the following signs on how to choose witnesses for a wedding:

An unmarried couple. As the signs say, married witnesses at a wedding are not good. However, it is a good sign if they get married later.
The people's categorical veto of being witnesses is imposed on divorced people.

Bride's side

There should be an important person on each side of the bride and groom. Who could it be? Witnesses at the wedding! It has already been said that it is necessary to choose 1 person on each side - both from the bride and from the groom. At the same time, it is important to remember: the girl is nominated on her side, and the man on his side.

The future wife should choose one girl among her friends who will always be nearby. This is my friend. At the wedding she plays the role of a witness. At the table she is seated closest to the bride.

The witnesses are, one might say, the best friends of the hero of the occasion. And they play a really important role. Especially if you hold a wedding with ransom and kidnapping of the bride. But more on that later. First, remember that there can be no more than one witness at one celebration. This is an important rule. But there can be as many bridesmaids (ordinary guests).

Required actions for assistants

During a wedding, folk signs and superstitions oblige witnesses to perform the following actions.

The groomsmen hems the hem of the bride's dress with threads to prevent the evil eye and pins a pin for good luck.
Under the threshold of the groom's house, the witness places an open lock. After the newlywed has transferred his wife, he closes it and gives it to the newlyweds, and throws away the key.
Go everywhere first in front of the newlyweds, so that no one and nothing can cross their path.
Prepare a white thread in case one of the newlyweds drops the wedding ring.
Keep an empty box or cushion for the rings after the couple puts them on each other.
Witnesses shout, “Sweet!” while others chant, “Bitter!”
Kiss at the end of the wedding reception. This is how they insure the young and take upon themselves the possible negativity of someone present.

When hemming the hem and pinning the pin, the groomsman must be extremely careful and not prick anyone, otherwise the bridesmaid will have an unhappy personal life.

Summary

Signs about witnesses at a wedding, like any other, come true if you believe in them. They have become the tool through which loved ones and guests try to make every moment of the wedding perfect. And yet they are not as important as everyone used to think. After all, the main guarantee of a happy life will always be the mutual love of spouses.

Observers

There are many important people at our celebration today. Who could it be? Witnesses at the wedding! The point is that the role of these people used to be extremely important. Witnesses confirmed the fact of mutual consent of the loving couple to enter into marriage. It was necessary to nominate one person from the groom's side and one from the bride's side.

Now witnesses are the most ordinary observers. In the modern world, their significance is not so important. But when the registration takes place at the registry office, these people put their signatures in a special book. This is how they confirm the marriage of the bride and groom. Witnesses are far from the most important people for marriage. But the tradition of their choice has still been preserved. With these persons, the wedding usually takes place according to all the rules and traditions.

What a witness should do: responsibilities

The duties of the assistant extend not only to the wedding day, but also to the entire period of pre-wedding preparation, if the friend wants to make the life of the future spouse much easier. Below is a list of the main tasks that a witness can perform at a wedding, starting from the period of organizing the event to the implementation of the planned scenario:

Help with finding a venue, ordering a wedding cortege, finding a makeup artist, stylist, or bouquet shop. The witness can perform these functions at her own discretion, but organizing such important moments will take a lot of trouble off the shoulders of the hero of the occasion.
Organizing a bachelorette party. A girl should approach this event extremely responsibly, because a bachelorette party is the last fun event that will happen to the bride as an unmarried woman. First, the assistant must decide on finances, coordinate with the other invited girls, who, if possible, will help with the organization and drawing up the script. Then you have to choose the theme of the party - will it be a bachelorette party at home in pajamas or a trip to an expensive restaurant in retro dresses. It is advisable to make sure you have a camera. During the bachelorette party, the bridesmaid should behave proactively so that the future spouse has a lot of fun before the wedding.

Organization of redemption. The ransom of the main heroine of the holiday on her wedding day is a solemn tradition that came to us from antiquity. In ancient times, ransom meant a very real monetary reward for the bride, but now it is just a performance designed to amuse those present and the heroes of the occasion. The organization of the ransom is usually carried out by the witness; she needs to try hard to ensure that the event goes well and gives the right energy at the beginning of the wedding day.
To begin with, the witness, alone or with other girlfriends, writes a script that will include interesting competitions for the groom, fun tests necessary for him to prove his love to his future wife with his mind, strength, or pay money. Then you need to purchase or find the necessary props, make posters, create an entourage. The ransom, like the bachelorette party before the wedding, can be themed - this option is much more interesting than the classic competition program.

Helping the bride at the beginning of the wedding: meeting the stylist, makeup artist, coordinating their work, delivering the wedding bouquet. It is advisable for the witness to buy a few more flowers to replace wilted or accidentally damaged plants.
Psychological support. Many girls are very nervous on their own wedding day, so the witness should monitor the emotional state of the future spouse, if possible, calm her down, encourage her, and lift her spirits.
A trip to the registry office together with the hero of the occasion and a signature in the registration book is the main role of a witness at a wedding.
Answering questions that arise along the way from guests, communicating by phone with the driver of the motorcade, coordinating people who have come from afar and do not know how to get to the wedding venue.
Collecting bouquets after registration, assistance in sorting wedding gifts.
Assistance in seating wedding guests, active participation in the competition program. The witness also helps solve problems that arise along the way during the banquet, so as not to disturb the newly-made spouse.
Providing a toast and speech of congratulations to the husband and wife. The witness can read poetry or write her own congratulations on the wedding in prose.

The witness must monitor the bride's appearance. The assistant must have with her an antistatic agent, the bride's lipstick, foundation, powder, mascara, shadows from the future wife's makeup, flowers, thread and needle, nail polish, and wet wipes.