bridal attendant vs bridesmaid?

[keannu]

What is the difference between "bridal attendant" and "bridesmaid"?
The former seems to be the person taking care of a bride through the course of wedding, while the latter is the person for photshots carrying flowers.

 

[bhaisahab]

What is the difference between "bridal attendant" and "bridesmaid"?
The former seems to be the person taking care of a bride through the course of wedding, while the latter is the person for photshots carrying flowers.

I've never heard of a bridal attendant.

 

[emsr2d2]

What is the difference between "bridal attendant" and "bridesmaid"?
The former seems to be the person taking care of a bride through the course of wedding, while the latter is the person for photshots carrying flowers.

We don't use the term "bridal attendant" in BrE (as far as I know) but a bridesmaid is most certainly not responsible for photoshots carrying flowers!

In the UK, most brides have a "maid/matron of honour", also known as "head bridesmaid". She is in charge of certain aspects at the wedding, such as arranging the train of the dress, checking the veil and she is responsible for making sure that all the other bridesmaids are where they need to be and that they know what they're doing! The other bridesmaids tend to simply be for decoration! It's true that they usually carry a small bouquet of flowers each so photos of the bride with her bridesmaids will contain a lot of flowers.

I think I might have heard the word "attendants" to refer to all of the bridesmaids and page boys at a wedding (page boys are the male equivalent of bridesmaids).

 

[SoothingDave]

page boys are the male equivalent of bridesmaids

"Groomsmen" here. And the "best man" is the male equivalent to the "maid of honor."

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, the groom has a best man and the bride has a maid/matron of honour. Maid of honour if the lady concerned is unmarried. Matron of honour if she's married.

 

[Route21]

In the UK, the duties of the "best man" are different from those of the maid/matron of honour.

His 3 primary roles are (or used to be):
1. Getting the groom to the wedding on time
2. Custodian of the wedding ring(s), which he doesn't hand over until they are actually about to be blessed/worn and
3. Master of ceremonies at the "reception" (party) following the wedding. He reads out the congratulations received and normally cracks a few jokes from his knowledge of the groom.

He may also have a role in the groom's pre-nuptual "stag party"!

R21

 

[emsr2d2]

Yes, I should have pointed out that they don't do the same thing. They're simply the main supporting character on each side of the [strike]farce[/strike] wedding.

 

[Route21]

Yes. My comment was really in reply to:

And the "best man" is the male equivalent to the "maid of honor."

R21

 

[5jj]

the [strike]farce[/strike]

Were you at the two wedding services I conducted?

 

[SoothingDave]

Yes. My comment was really in reply to:

And the "best man" is the male equivalent to the "maid of honor."

R21

Well, I did not mean that he helped the groom get into his dress and straightened out his train every time he moved! Neither does he throw a groomal shower.

 

[Route21]

Well, I did not mean that he helped the groom get into his dress and straightened out his train every time he moved! Neither does he throw a groomal shower.

Maybe I should have added a query as to whether the role is the same on the other side of the pond.

I'm not even sure it's the same in the UK anymore, as I've not been back for around 20 years - hence my comment about "used to be".

Best regards
R21

 

[SoothingDave]

The best man throws a stag party, if such a thing is going to happen. He is also holding the rings, as you said. Unless, at the ceremony a small boy is used as a ring-bearer.

He gives the main toast to the new couple at the wedding reception.