Personal Attendant VS Bridesmaid — What’s the difference?
While all your gals want to support you on your wedding day, a personal attendant and a bridesmaid are NOT the same thing.
What is a personal attendant? And how is this different from a bridesmaid?
Let us tell you what you need to know about a personal attendant’s role on your wedding day.
Innate Light Photography
Is a personal attendant a member of your wedding party?
Technically, no. The wedding party consists of bridesmaids, groomsmen, and flower children or ring bearers. A personal attendant is not involved in your ceremony and they are traditionally not seated at your head table during dinner. While your bridesmaids are involved in the guest-facing aspects of the day, your personal attendant is behind the scenes handling any tasks you give them.
What is the role of a personal attendant?
A personal attendant is there to support the couple, primarily the bride. Think of them as your go-to person for handling the small things you won’t have time for, but need done to ensure you have a stress-free day. They have a more hands-on role in keeping this organized, but they are not a wedding coordinator. Rather than dealing with vendors and overseeing setup like a wedding coordinator, the tasks your personal attendant manages are personal; things like fixing your veil, assisting with outfit snafus, bustling your gown, and making sure you have a fresh drink in-hand. We recommend your personal attendant put together a mini-emergency kit ready to go for any surprise situations! They may also be helping you with pre-wedding planning tasks.
Can a bridesmaid be your personal attendant?
You could ask a bridesmaid to be your personal attendant, but that would really take away from their experience living in the moment on your wedding day. A personal attendant is someone who can “miss” those key wedding formalities and photo moments in case you need help with something. If you designate a bridesmaid to this role, you risk them missing out on parts of the day with you! Of course, there are times when you’ll ask your bridal party to help with a few tasks — but, having a personal attendant there ensures you and your I Do crew are all living in the moment!
What tasks will a personal attendant manage?
Your personal attendant will typically help as you’re getting ready by bringing breakfast or lunch for the wedding party and ensuring everyone is on time for their spot in the hair & makeup schedule. They will help as you get dressed, put in your veil, and fix unexpected snags like a loose button or ripped seam. They should have a mini-emergency kit of personal care items, stain removers, and other random-but-helpful things for just-in-case situations! They are the go-to for carrying around your phone and touchup makeup, and holding your bouquet in between photos. They can run any errands if you’ve forgotten something at home or need your overnight bag brought to the hotel. And they are also often responsible for organizing the bridal suite and gathering personal belongings at the end of the night.
Ultimately, a personal attendant and a bridesmaid are both part of your wedding day “I Do” crew and support system, but they have different roles in the day.
Whereas a bridesmaid is spending the day with you as a member of the wedding party, a personal attendant spends the day making sure you’re taken care of and any random tasks that pop up get handled.
HappiLily Events plans crazy-fun weddings for couples in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We specialize in making each wedding day as unique as it is memorable with thoughtful details and personal touches.
Whether you dream of getting married in a modern downtown venue, a romantic barn, or celebrating in your backyard, HappiLily Events is here to support you through the entire planning process
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