The wedding entourage is one of the things you have to finalize early on, since its members will be playing supporting roles in your wedding ceremony. They are also involved with your wedding, from its planning stages to the end. Getting the roles jumbled up? Here’s the Belle’s guide to entourage roles and their tasks:

Principal Sponsors. Strictly speaking, your primary sponsors are your ceremony’s only official witnesses as they’ll be signing your marriage contract. Although getting several sponsors have become a trend in recent years, try your best to avoid it so your wedding doesn’t come off as a capital-gaining enterprise. Traditionally, your principal sponsors are the ones whose marriages you admire and aspire to emulate. Choose them carefully.
 
 
Secondary Sponsors. Your secondary sponsors play roles in the actual marriage rites. You need three pairs: 1) to light your candles from the Paschal Candle; 2) to drape and pin the veil over your groom’s shoulder and over your head; and 3) to lay the cord on you and your groom.

Maid/Matron of Honor and Bridesmaids. In theory, your maid of honor—or matron, if she’s married—is your go-to girl, whether a sister, a cousin or your best friend. During the ceremony, she assists you in everything: the train of your gown, your bouquet, your purse, etc. Before the wedding, she has almost just as many tasks as you do, since her primary role is assisting you. She also organizes your bridal shower. Your bridesmaids assist the maid of honor in her tasks; alternately, if your bridesmaids are your BFFs , you can assign them to be in your wedding reception ‘committee.’

 
Best Man and Groomsmen. Your groom’s best man is the guy who keeps your groom calm on the wedding day. On the occasion that the wedding rings aren’t placed inside the ring bearer’s pillow, it is the his task to safeguard the rings until they’re needed in the ceremony. As the maid of honor’s counterpart, the best man organizes your groom’s bachelor’s party. The groomsmen assist the best man in his tasks.

 
 
Roles involving children. While the roles children typically play during weddings don’t seem too demanding, assigning the right child to fill a role needs much discernment. Often, churches and planners encourage getting children 5 years and older for these roles, since they’re less prone to throwing tantrums. Make sure to get children who are generally well-behaved.

 
 
The flower girl showers the aisle with petals either or both at the beginning and end of the ceremony.
The ring bearer carries the pillow that contains the wedding rings. At times, the rings in the pillow are swapped with substitute rings, in case the boy trips or drops the pillow accidentally.
The coin bearer carries the pillow that contains the wedding coins, or arrhae (arras).
The bible bearer is sometimes included in the entourage. Often included in secular ceremonies, he holds the Bible up during the processional.

- Johnina Marfa