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The following timeline checklist will help even the most disorganized Maid of Honor stay on track. From the moment the Bride asks you to be her Maid of Honor up through the Maid of Honor's farewell as the newly married couple leave for their honeymoon, this checklist covers all the bases.

Maid of Honor To Do List: Six to Twelve Months Before the Wedding

• The Maid of Honor should go dress shopping with the Bride, for both the bridal gown and the Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids dresses. A smart Maid of Honor knows that the more she's available to give the Bride input on the dresses, the more likely the dresses will be attractive, and the happier everyone will be!


• As the Bride plans out the wedding, the Maid of Honor should be a supportive ear and a second opinion on everything from flowers to band to reception venues.


• Order the Maid of Honor dress (and possibly shoes), per the Bride's final choice.


• If the wedding isn't nearby, the Maid of Honor should book her hotel rooms and plane, train, or bus tickets.

Maid of Honor To Do List: Three to Five Months Before the Wedding

• As soon as the Maid of Honor dress arrives, it should be tried on and taken to be altered as needed.


• The Maid of Honor should set a date for the Bridal Shower and send out invitations.


• The Maid of Honor should also plan the Bachelorette Party and send out invitations.

Maid of Honor To Do List: One to Two Months Before the Wedding

• This is when the Maid of Honor should have both the Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party. Traditionally some people have opted to hold these events the weekend before or even the night before the start of the wedding festivities (Rehearsal Dinner and so forth). I believe that it's a lot less stressful for the Bride, Maid of Honor, and guests to hold these events a bit earlier. This is becoming more the norm anyway.


• The Maid of Honor should offer to help address and stuff wedding invitations. Later on, the Bride may enlist your help to call guests who have not yet RSVPed.


• Now is the time to write and start rehearsing the Maid of Honor speech.

Maid of Honor To Do List: The Last Few Weeks Before the Wedding

• Don't forget that the Maid of Honor, in addition to all her other responsibilities, is still a wedding guest (a very special one) and needs to bring a wedding gift. As an integral part of the wedding it's easy for the Maid of Honor to forget this one little detail!


• The Maid of Honor should pay particular attention to keeping the Bride calm and happy as the wedding countdown winds down. It's also a nice time for the Maid of Honor to make the Bride's day by sending flowers to celebrate "x number of days until the wedding!"

Maid of Honor To Do List: During the Wedding Festivities

• Plan a last girls get together with the Bride, Maid of Honor, and possibly Bridesmaids on the last night before the wedding festivities start. The Maid of Honor should let the Bride decide, but something low key is usually a good choice (renting a movie, going out for drinks or dinner, for instance).


• One or two more trial runs of the Maid of Honor speech are never a bad idea.


• The Maid of Honor should make sure the Bride has everything she needs, that the Bridesmaids are in the right places at the right times, and try to help out wherever possible.


• The Maid of Honor should check in with the Bride frequently at the wedding reception to see if she needs anything (and especially to help the Bride with her gown if she needs to use the restroom!).


• Then all that's left for the Maid of Honor to do is share the Bride's joy as you successfully complete your term as Maid of Honor!

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