Matron of Honor vs Maid of Honor: What's the Difference?

Photo: Bella Baltimore / Dyanna Lamora

Smiling from ear to ear because your sister or bestie just asked you to be her Matron of Honor? As the name suggests, it is an honor to be asked to play such an important role. 

But do you know what it actually means? 

What does a matron of honor do? What will you be responsible for? What are you expected to pay for?

Here’s everything you need to know about being a matron of honor, including the fun duties you’ll be in charge of before and during your best friend’s wedding!

What Is a Matron of Honor?

Photo: Bella Boston / Trailing Twine Photography

A matron of honor is essentially the HBIC (head bridesmaid in charge). The truth is, it’s no different than being the maid of honor. The only distinction is that a matron of honor is a married woman.

A lot of brides have a maid of honor and a matron of honor, and it’s usually because they can’t choose just one friend to be the MOH. As long as one of the bride’s close friends is married, she can easily have two people of honor play special roles in her big day.

The matron of honor is sometimes referred to as the "bride's honor attendant."

Not sure if you should have a matron and an MOH? Learn everything you need to know in our ultimate guide on How to Have Two Maids of Honor.

Having a Man of Honor instead? Check out what you need to know here.

Maid of Honor vs Matron of Honor: Is One More Important?

The matron of honor is no more important (or less important) than the maid of honor. The job is exactly the same — the only real difference is the title.

And while you may not want to share the spotlight with a fellow bridesmaid, the fact is, being a matron of honor alongside a fellow maid of honor means you’ll split the pre-wedding and day-of duties that most brides bestow upon their MOH.

Both types of MOHs play an important role in a wedding celebration, and it’s always nice to have someone else share in the fun with you!

What Are the Matron of Honor's Duties?

So what exactly is a matron of honor’s job?

Matron and maid of honor duties include:

All of these are duties that the entire bridal party can take part in. However, as matron of honor, you’ll be the one that she relies on the most, which is exactly what makes it an honor!

Note: It’s not necessarily the matron of honor’s job to help the bride with wedding planning. Some brides don’t want any help with planning, while others rely on their MOH to help them make important decisions. It all depends on the bride! 

What Events Does the Matron of Honor Host?

Matrons and maids of honor have traditionally been expected to plan certain pre-wedding events, including the bridal shower and the bachelorette party.

And if you’re lucky enough to have a maid of honor by your side, you can split the duties so each of you is responsible for planning one big event.

Don’t want to be the one to plan the bachelorette party?

You don’t have to!

Let the maid of honor handle the bachelorette plans and take charge of the bridal shower arrangements instead!

If you’re expecting a child and will be pregnant during the wedding, check out our collection of maternity bridesmaid dresses!

What Does the Matron of Honor Pay For?

If you’ve ever been part of a wedding party before, you already know that there are some costs involved. Here’s what matrons of honor can expect to buy and pay for:

At the most basic, you’ll have to provide information like:

It’s customary for the entire bridal party to chip in on the bridal shower and bachelorette party. Just create a budget that the entire bridal party is comfortable with and split the cost amongst the entire group.

Just because you’re the matron of honor doesn’t mean you have to shoulder the entire cost for the events you plan!

Taking the other ‘maids dress shopping? Head to the nearest Bella Bridesmaids location!

What Does the Matron of Honor Do on the Wedding Day?

Good news future matron of honor:

The bridal shower and bachelorette party are your moments to shine. The better the party, the happier she’ll be that she chose you to take charge of these important events! But your real job is to be her right-hand-woman on the big day.

Here's a quick matron of honor duties checklist:

As a matron of honor, you’ll quickly learn that you play a major role in the wedding, and that’s what makes it so fun! The bride is relying on you because she knows you can handle it. She knows you’ll do whatever it takes to make her wedding day go off without a hitch.

Our suggestion? Make a checklist of your duties so you don’t miss a beat!

See also: What Is an Honorary Bridesmaid (and Do You Need One)?

Conclusion 

Your MOH duties begin as soon as your best friend asks you to be her matron of honor. From shopping for bridesmaid dresses to arranging her train to get those perfect “I Do” photos, your role as MOH doesn’t end until the wedding is over.

But guess what? It’s one of the best jobs you’ll ever have!

The most important thing to remember is this:

It’s not just about what you pay for or what type of pre-wedding events you plan. It’s about being there for her.

So be her support system. Be the shoulder she leans on when wedding planning and making decisions about the big day. And, most of all, keep reminding her that she’s the most beautiful bride ever!

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