How many witnesses can there be at a wedding? Signs for the witness at the feast. What a Witness Should and Should Not Do

At every wedding, the second most important couple after the bride and groom are the witnesses. As a rule, friends are invited to this role. It is believed that the bride's witness should be unmarried girl, and the groom is also an unmarried young man. But this is nothing more than a tradition, in reality anyone can be witnesses - brothers, sisters, men and women in marriage or divorce. The main thing is that these people be organized, responsible and energetic, because they have many important responsibilities.

Responsibilities of witnesses at a wedding

Witnesses are the first helpers of the bride and groom. Moreover, the range of their duties is not limited only to the presence at the wedding celebration. Their responsible mission begins long before this important day.

Wedding preparation:

  • Duties of a Witness. Usually, the witness becomes the bride's main adviser in choosing a dress, and it is also desirable for her to learn how to lace up a corset, put on petticoats, etc., since she will also have to dress the newlywed. In addition, the witness can take on some of the responsibilities for preparing for the celebration, for example, find a florist, photographer, decorate the hall, make a list of props for the celebration and track its delivery to Right place. Also, it is usually the responsibility of her to draw up a program for the ransom of the bride - to think over contests, prepare props, etc.
  • Duties of a Witness. His main duty before the wedding is organizing a bachelor party. Moreover, the groom can also prepare a table for this event, but the entire cultural program is the concern of the witness. If a bachelor party is planned before the wedding day, the witness must also protect the groom from the consequences of the festivities. He can also help with organizational issues - ordering a car, thinking through the route wedding walk etc.

Morning before check-in:

  • Duties of a Witness. On the wedding day, perhaps the witness will need to get up even earlier than the bride, because in addition to the fact that she needs to get ready herself, her duties also include helping the bride get ready, she may also have to decorate the entrance to the house / apartment, and also the wedding procession. And, of course, she will have to hold a ransom ceremony.
  • Duties of a Witness. On the morning before the wedding, the witness must arrive at the appointed time to the groom to help him in the final preparations - decorate the car, bring a bouquet, etc. Then they go together to the bride. Further, according to tradition, the ransom of the bride follows, on which the witness should become the main character representing the interests of the groom, he will have to participate in competitions, bargain, and subsequently pay for future wife a friend a certain fee (money, candy, alcohol, fruit, etc.). After that, the witness needs to seat the guests in cars and make sure that everyone has enough space.

Registration and wedding:

  • Duties of a Witness. First of all, the witness must morally support the bride and follow her appearance(By the way, she has to do this all day). In the registry office, she needs to stand near the newlywed and help the witness spread the towel. When the young people are congratulated, help hold the bouquets, and then take care of them. Also, it would not hurt the witness to help the witness organize the sprinkling of the newlyweds at the exit from the registry office.
  • Duties of a Witness. First of all, the witness must make sure that the rings and passports get safely into the registry office, and he also needs to distribute everything necessary for sprinkling the newlyweds to the guests. During the ceremony, he must stand near the groom, and in right moment lay out the towel. Depending on the scenario of the painting ceremony, the witness can also give the young people rings and glasses filled with champagne.

Read also:

Bachelor party - what the bride does not know

During the wedding, the main duty of both witnesses is to hold special crowns over the heads of the newlyweds.

wedding walk

On a walk, the main duties of witnesses are to have fun and take pictures with the young. If a picnic is also planned for her, they need to make sure that nothing is forgotten for him, and then lay out food, open bottles, pour drinks, and finally collect and throw away garbage.

wedding banquet

Witnesses will have to take care of all organizational issues so as not to distract the young from the holiday. If the toastmaster was not invited to the celebration, witnesses should assume his role. In this case, it is they who will have to entertain the guests, draw up a program in advance, and then lead it, select music, say congratulations, organize people, etc. If the toastmaster is provided, the duties of the couple are somewhat simplified, but still they should become his main assistants.

almost inseparable concepts, since they will have to participate in almost all, thereby setting an example for the guests and urging everyone to have fun. In addition, they should keep an eye on the young, because, as a rule, it is customary to steal brides at weddings and their shoes. If this happens, the witness should actively participate in the ransom of the kidnapped wife. He must also be prepared to deal promptly with any conflict situations between guests. Witnesses will be able to completely relax after the wedding, when the last guest leaves the celebration, because only then all the assigned duties are removed from them.

What to bring to the wedding

Since one of the main tasks of the witness is to monitor how the bride looks, who, as a rule, does not carry a handbag with her during the celebration, she needs to
take everything you need for this - a comb, a mirror, minimum set cosmetics (maybe lipstick or lip gloss), a few hairpins or hairpins, hairspray, spare tights or stockings, powder, matting and wet wipes, patch, pain pills. If a wedding is planned, be sure to grab another scarf. Many newlyweds pick up boutonnieres or ribbons for witnesses so that they stand out among the guests, they need to be worn at home or taken to the registry office.

The witness must take care not to forget anything for the ransom ceremony. To do this, you need to take a trifle, banknotes, champagne, wine, sweets, fruits, this is a standard set and usually it is enough to pay off the presenters. It will be necessary to stock up on all this in case the bride or her shoe is stolen. Also, the witness should take champagne, a towel, rings and passports from the car before registering, if after painting it is planned to shower the newlyweds, you need to capture everything you need for this - grain, rose petals, sweets. It is also advisable to buy a bouquet for the witness. In addition, witnesses must stock up on patience, endurance and good humor.

Witnesses at the wedding are the main assistants of the bride and groom. That is why it is customary to trust this honorary position only to the closest and beloved friends, whom you can count on always and everywhere, in any situation.

What do witnesses do at a wedding and are they needed at all? About this, as well as about what the future witness and witness need to be prepared for, we will tell in our article.

Are witnesses required for a wedding?

Registry offices no longer require the signature of witnesses for marriage. Does this mean that the need for witnesses has disappeared? Not really.

Witnesses are still important at the wedding, just now they have a slightly different role.

Newlyweds have the right to decide for themselves whether to invite witnesses to their wedding. But how can one not share such a joyful day with close friends who have been there for so many years both in sorrow and in joy?

Why are witnesses needed at a wedding?

Witnesses at the wedding are actually the main organizers. They prepare stag and hen parties, help with decorating and preparing weddings, monitor the mood of the newlyweds and ensure that everything goes according to plan.

How to choose witnesses?

The choice of witnesses is not an easy task. You have to choose not only close friend, but very responsible person who can help you from the moment you start preparing the holiday until it ends.

It is customary to take as witnesses only unmarried and unmarried.

If the witness or witness is in a relationship, make sure his/her partner is okay with it. Or take a couple as witnesses!

The list of what a witness can help the bride with is quite large. But don't be scared, it's indicative list responsibilities, they can always be redistributed among friends, sisters, mother and other relatives or shifted to a wedding planner.


  1. Witness - chief assistant brides in preparation. This does not mean taking all the trouble on yourself, it is rather the moral support of the bride. Listen, suggest, go to the salon together and choose a dress.
  2. The witness arranges a bachelorette party before the wedding.
  3. The witness helps the bride get dressed and looks good.
  4. The witness must look good herself!
  5. The ransom, if it is planned, is also carried out by a witness. Accordingly, the preparation of the ransom is included in her duties.
  6. The witness must check whether the newlyweds forgot to take their passports and rings to the registry office.
  7. After the ceremony at the registry office, when the guests congratulate the newlyweds, the witness takes flowers and gifts from the bride's hands. The same applies to the beginning of the banquet, when guests give gifts to the young.
  8. The witness must come to the bride not help in Hard time. To do this, you will need it for all occasions - if the dress gets dirty / torn, mascara flows, the stocking is torn, etc., etc.
  9. On a walk - take pictures with the young and lead the rest of the guests.
  10. Witness and witness are one of the main actors on the holiday. Leaders emphasize them. Special attention and are often called to participate in competitions and dances. Therefore, the witness should be careful with alcohol, so that she would not be ashamed to watch the video from the wedding later.
  11. From the beginning to the end of the holiday, the main task witnesses - to remind the bride that she is the best! So that the holiday remains joyful under any circumstances.

The witness also has a lot of wedding responsibilities.


  1. The witness participates in the preparation of the wedding. At least in the form of moral support to the groom. Believe me, they worry no less than brides!
  2. The Witness hosts a bachelor party before the wedding.
  3. If the groom picks up the bride in a car, then decorating this car is the duty of the witness.
  4. If there is a ransom at the wedding, the witness passes all the tests together with the groom. It is also worth preparing for this.
  5. Before leaving the registry office - check the presence of passports and rings.
  6. The witness must have a supply of money (in small denominations) with him. This is in case you have to buy something, pay for something. Situations are different.
  7. Don't get drunk! Only a drunken groom can be worse than a drunken witness at a wedding. Together with the witness, the witness will have to actively participate in the banquet, dances and competitions. Therefore, you need to control yourself.

To be a witness or a witness is a very responsible and honorable thing. This indicates. that the newlyweds really trust you. That's why, wedding day you need to spend it in such a way that everyone remembers it as a bright, cheerful and joyful event!

The wedding portal site wants to warn you about whom. Witnesses are faithful helpers and advisers to the newlyweds. They really help a lot to solve many organizational issues, in addition, they participate in competitions and, thereby, set a wonderful example for guests how to properly have fun at a wedding.

Who can not be taken as witnesses

Witnesses at the wedding: only single!

An unmarried witness and an unmarried witness are not just chosen by newlyweds. Interested why? It is this couple that should “ensure” the bride and groom a happy and long family life. So girlfriends and friends (even if they are the closest) who have already started families, do not disturb them! They are categorically You can't be a witness to a wedding

Divorce means no witnesses

By the way, pay attention, even if your girlfriend or friend is completely free from marriage ties, but still in the past they already had the desired stamp in their passport - stop! Stop! It is strictly forbidden to take divorced as witnesses to the wedding. They were already married, and how did it all end? Think about what a happy and long family life they can bring?

Boring and indifferent, please do not worry

Witnesses at the wedding are the first assistants not only to the young, but also to the toastmaster. And sometimes it happens that they become a direct replacement for the wedding host. Therefore, if you choose witnesses for your wedding, then immediately pay attention to how active, cheerful, charismatic and creative they are, and whether they can stir up the guests, thereby ensuring a groovy wedding party.

Please don't worry

Witnesses at the wedding: but we don't care ...

Traditionally, witnesses on the wedding day come to the newlyweds in the morning (the witness - to the groom, and the witness - to the bride), help them get dressed and collect everything necessary for the wedding ceremony and wedding walk. Then the witness helps the groom during the ransom, and the witness helps the bride during the gathering: she holds the bouquet, has everything she needs at hand. It turns out that they are, in their own way, some kind of wedding stewards.

Therefore, think in advance whether you can fully rely on those people whom you and your loved one have decided to invite to your wedding as honorary witnesses. Or will their function be only emptying glasses and plates, having fun at their own pleasure and then singing songs, or will they quietly sit somewhere in a crowded corner of the hall?

Think well! Don't turn your wedding into a disaster with your wrong choices.

Brother and sister - witnesses at the wedding?

Many take a brother or sister as a witness. Is it possible? Why not! After all, these are the people closest to you and are well aware of the habits and all the desires of the newlyweds. They are really reliable and will certainly try not to spoil wedding celebration native people. Take note: relatives as witnesses are a good option!

Witnesses at the wedding are honorable and responsible persons, the main assistants of the bride and groom. At modern ceremonies, their presence is not mandatory, but the newlyweds cannot do without help. After all, witnesses solve many organizational issues, participate in competitions, and if there is no host at the banquet, they make sure that the guests are fed and cheerful. We will talk about which witnesses should be chosen for the wedding and who should not be taken to these positions.

Criteria for choosing good witnesses for a wedding

As a rule, one of the close friends of the couple becomes the witnesses of the newlyweds. It is not easy for those who marry later than all their friends, because according to tradition, assistants to the newlyweds must be single. It is allowed to choose two girls or boys for these positions, but it so happened that a bridesmaid or friend of the bride / groom and her / his boyfriend or girlfriend are invited. You need to select people very responsibly so that the celebration is interesting. Wrongly chosen witnesses only add unnecessary trouble to the newlyweds, especially if alcohol is abused during the holiday.

Basic requirements for assistants at the wedding:

1. Responsibility.

2. Organizational skills.

3. Good sense of humor.

4. Ability to communicate.

5. The ability to quickly find a way out of difficult situations.

6. Nice appearance.

People who are not married

You cannot choose two people who are married, divorced or married to each other for a wedding. It is believed that a married couple will bring misfortune to the young, and because of divorced witnesses, newlyweds can also get divorced over time. It is also not recommended to choose widowers for this position, so as not to repeat their fate, because family life one way or another, they didn't work out.

Helpfulness

Witnesses should not be lazy, they need to have such a quality as willingness to help. Therefore, many newlyweds choose their close friends for this position, whom they have trusted for many years. Some far-sighted brides choose some relative of their husband as a friend, showing respect for his relatives. This is justified, because only a relative can be more interested than others in the ideal holding of the event.

Availability of free time

Witnesses chosen for the wedding should have a lot of free time, not only on the day of the thinning of this important event, but also a few days before the celebration. They need to accept Active participation in preparing / holding a stag and hen party, and this also takes a lot of time. Even if the groom will be preparing the bachelor party, the witness will still have to pick up cultural program and also after the bachelor party and before the wedding to have time to sleep well.

Having organizational skills

The presence of organizational skills among witnesses is a mandatory quality when choosing. After all, the wedding will be attended by people who have not even met before, so they may be embarrassed of each other. Witnesses must be organized, direct the feast in right direction, introduce people, make them feel relaxed and be able to hide their excitement. Especially if there is no invited toastmaster, then the whole organization wedding banquet falls on their shoulders.

What should wedding witnesses do?

Newlyweds' assistants have official wedding duties that they must abide by. Therefore, newlyweds, when choosing them, need to take into account the fact how much a person can cope with the tasks. Watch a video of advice from a professional wedding planner on what a witness should be like and their responsibilities on the day:

Duties of a Witness

The responsibilities of a bridesmaid include:

  • selection and sampling wedding dress;
  • decoration of the banquet hall;
  • organization of the table in the restaurant;
  • every minute being next to the newlywed on the day of the celebration.

It is important that the bridesmaid is not dressed too extravagantly, and understands that she is not the main person at the celebration. A friend should not be completely different from the newlywed in style of clothing in order to wedding photos and the video does not draw attention. The witness takes an active part when there is a ransom bride, and controls that nothing is forgotten on this day.

Duties of a Witness

Groom's Assistant Responsibilities include:

  • assistance in all organizational matters;
  • decoration of a wedding car;
  • organization and process of the ransom of the bride;
  • organization and participation in the bachelor party;
  • assistance to the toastmaster in carrying out all events;
  • restriction in alcohol intake;
  • creating a fun holiday atmosphere.

Before the wedding, every girl experiences great stress, because often large-scale preparations for the celebration fall on her fragile shoulders. There are a hundred things to take care of: the wedding procession, the celebration hall, the search for musical accompaniment, choosing a makeup artist, stylist, florist and much, much more. After the troublesome weeks of preparation, the bride wants to relax and spend a carefree wedding day, and the witness at the wedding helps her with this. For the holiday to be perfect, the girl who was chosen must clearly know her role and follow it to the end.

Who can be a witness at a wedding

There are several customs and traditions associated with who can be a witness during the celebration, but modern young people are less and less likely to follow them. The main qualities that a girl should have are responsibility, punctuality, attentiveness, cheerfulness, the ability to have fun and have fun. Many brides want to be a witness best girlfriend, but future spouses should think carefully: does her character have the necessary properties? Will the main assistant at the wedding be able to boldly act in critical situations?

During the celebration of a solemn event, anything can happen - an unwanted guest will appear, there will be awkward pauses or tension between guests. The witness in this case should dispel the situation, provoke those present, and only active girl who is not afraid to take the lead. When choosing an assistant, the bride should first of all pay attention to those who can cope with all the hardships of control. wedding day– calls to contractors, coordination of guests, resolution of force majeure situations.

If best friend does not possess the above qualities, you should not think that she will be very upset. Every prudent girl will adequately assess her capabilities and say whether she is able to endure such a load. In order not to offend anyone, it will turn out to use Western tradition: invite everyone who did not fit as a wedding assistant to become bridesmaids. And for the role of a witness at a wedding, there is a responsible, patient, caring person who, at the right time, will calm, support, straighten the wedding dress, and correct the “floating” makeup.

When choosing an assistant for your wedding day, you need to be honest with the girl, specify all the details, tell what kind of support you will need. If the bride uses the help of an agency in organizing a wedding, then the wedding manager takes on most of the trouble - in this case, the role of a witness will not be so difficult and many bridesmaids will cope with it. The hero of the occasion must remember that only the girl who can completely trust can be a witness - only then will the future spouse truly celebrate the wedding.

Can a sister be a witness

It has long been customary that sisters rarely witness a wedding, but there is no direct prohibition that speaks of the impossibility of such a choice. If the future spouse wants to take sister as the main assistant of the holiday, and she has all necessary qualities, this is only a plus: after all, such a close relative knows perfectly well the habits of the hero of the occasion, feels her unrest, therefore, in extreme cases, she will help calm down, find the right words to cheer up.

Is it possible for a married person to be a witness

By ancient tradition witnesses must be both unmarried. Many years ago, there was a belief that if wedding attendants spent the night together after the event, then the newlyweds would be happy for the rest of their lives. Witnesses symbolized the next union. Obviously, if one of them was married, then passionate night between them could not take place. If the witness and the witness were married to each other, it was believed that the marriage would soon break up after this event.

Modern people hardly follow this old signs, and of those who follow, only a few believe, so there is nothing to be afraid of choosing a married witness. If you want to pay tribute to ancient traditions or play a wedding in the traditional old Russian style, try to find a girl from the side of the bride and groom's friend who are not married to anyone.

How many times can you be a witness

There are many ancient customs, according to which a witness is chosen at the wedding: signs do not bypass the number solemn events which a girl can testify in her lifetime. According to ancient traditions, it is allowed to be an assistant at a wedding for no more than three friends. If a girl decides to become a witness for the fourth time, then she will not be able to marry. However, this belief is refuted. modern girls: bridesmaids and after the fourth event held quietly got married.

What a Witness Should Do: Responsibilities

The duties of an assistant extend not only to the wedding day, but also to the entire period of pre-wedding preparations, if a friend wants to greatly facilitate the life of her future wife. Below is a list of the main things that a witness at a wedding can perform, starting from the period of organizing the event to implementing the planned scenario:

  • Help with finding a place, ordering a wedding cortege, finding a makeup artist, stylist, flower shop. These functions can be performed by a witness own will, but the organization of such important points will remove a lot of trouble from the shoulders of the hero of the occasion.
  • Organization of a bachelorette party. A girl should approach this event very responsibly, because a bachelorette party is the last fun event which will happen to the bride as unmarried woman. To begin with, the assistant must decide on finances, coordinate with the rest of the invited girls, who, if possible, will help with organizing and writing the script. Then you have to choose the theme of the party - it will be a home bachelorette party in pajamas or a trip to an expensive restaurant in retro dresses. It is advisable to take care of the presence of a camera. During the bachelorette party, the witness should behave proactively so that the future spouse has a lot of fun before the wedding.

  • Buyout organization. The redemption of the main character of the holiday on the wedding day is a solemn tradition that has come to us from antiquity. In ancient times, the ransom meant a very real monetary reward for the bride, but now it is just a performance designed to amuse those present and the heroes of the occasion. The ransom is usually organized by the witness, she needs to try hard so that the event goes well and gives the right charge at the beginning of the wedding day.
  • To begin with, the witness, on her own or with other girlfriends, writes a script where they will include interesting contests for the groom, funny trials necessary for him to prove his love to his future wife with intelligence, strength, or pay money. Then you need to buy or find necessary props, make posters, create an entourage. The ransom, like a bachelorette party before the wedding, can be thematic - this option is much more interesting than the classic competition program.

  • Helping the bride at the beginning of the wedding: meeting a stylist, makeup artist, coordinating their work, delivery wedding bouquet. It is advisable for the witness to buy a few more flowers, which will replace wilted or accidentally damaged plants.
  • Psychological support. Many girls are very nervous on the day own wedding, so the witness must follow emotional state future wife, if possible, calm her down, cheer her up, cheer her up.
  • A trip to the registry office together with the hero of the occasion and the signature in the registration book is the main role of the witness at the wedding.
  • Answering questions that arise along the way from guests, talking on the phone with the driver of the cortege, coordinating people who have come from afar and do not know how to get to the wedding venue.
  • Collection of bouquets after registration, assistance in sorting gifts for the wedding.
  • Assistance in seating wedding guests, active participation in competitive program. The witness also helps to solve problems that arise along the way during the banquet, so as not to disturb the newly-made spouse.
  • Pronouncing a toast and a speech of congratulations for husband and wife. The witness can read poetry or write her own congratulations on the wedding in prose.

  • The witness must monitor the appearance of the bride. The assistant must have an antistatic agent, the bride's lipstick, Foundation, powder, mascara, makeup shadows of the future wife, flowers, thread with a needle, nail polish, wet wipes.

What should the main bridesmaid look like?

Every girl wants to look gorgeous and shine, but the bridesmaid, like all other bridesmaids, should dress up festively, but modestly, during the wedding. It is important to remember that the main character large-scale holiday- this is the future spouse, so all eyes should be turned to her. On this day, it is worth giving up excessive bright colors clothing, short skirts, deep neckline, shining jewelry and bulky hairstyles with lots of detail. Below is a selection of photos of clothing, makeup, acceptable for a wedding event.

Dresses for the witness

The appearance of the witness should be restrained, so it is better to choose dresses middle length A-line or long greek dresses. However, consult the hero of the occasion before choosing, because some girls prefer the Greek Empire style as festive attire. It will be embarrassing if the witness has future wife there will be dresses of the same style. The color of the outfit should be combined with the shade of the wedding dress, it is better to give preference to discreet, rich colors, which are well emphasized by the color type of the main assistant of the wedding.

Hair and makeup

The witness will constantly flicker in the photo next to main character holiday, so it is important that her hairstyle does not turn out to be more magnificent or more interesting. Before choosing, you need to ask a friend who is getting married what style she would prefer. The assistant needs to avoid complex designs, lush curls and loose hair. Perfect fit stylish buns, simple weaving, elegant shell hairstyle.

There are also some tips for makeup. During the wedding day, you should avoid brightly lined eyes, colored shadows, and it is better to refuse wide arrows. To look organically next to a tender future wife, you need to adjust the tone of the face with cream, powder, slightly line your eyes thin arrows, emphasize eyebrows and tint lips with lipstick in light shades.

Video: Contests for witnesses

Witnesses are the main "ringleaders" of the wedding, along with the toastmaster, they should not have embarrassment or awkwardness. Friends of the bride and groom are obliged to set an example for guests by participating in all kinds of competitions, quizzes, inventing toasts and unusual congratulations. Active, cheerful witnesses create positive mood those present, set everyone in the right mood. Watch the video where the witness and the witness participate in funny competition with various wishes to the heroes of the occasion:

Witness at the wedding important person, which helps the hero of the occasion feel as relaxed as possible. Every girl who gets married worries about everything being perfect on her wedding day, and the task of the assistant is to take care of it. A kind, responsible, punctual and patient witness will be a real gift at a gala event.