// BEGIN editorial data
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var DD_BridalParty = new Array();
DD_BridalParty.ID = "DD_BridalParty";
DD_BridalParty.ID_WB = 5936887;
DD_BridalParty.sPubDate = "9/8/2004 12:59:46 AM GMT";
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DD_BridalParty.sTitle = "Daily Diversion: ";
DD_BridalParty.appDeck = "<font size=3 color=#000000><b>Know your wedding duties</b></font><p>Being part of a bridal party comes with responsibilities: Time, money and more time. If you don't feel like you'll be a good addition, decline the offer. To find out just what the job involves, TheKnot.com provides a detailed look into the duties of the bridal party:";
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DD_BridalParty[i++] = new Array("","Best man","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
DD_BridalParty[i-1].body = "<ul><Li>Serve as the groom's personal aide and adviser before and during the wedding. This can include helping him pack for the honeymoon (the valet part).<br><Li>Help the groom choose and rent (or buy) wedding formalwear, and coordinate the other groomsmen's rentals. You may be expected to arrange accommodations for out-of-town groomsmen.<br><Li>Organize the bachelor party. Don't be shy about enlisting other groomsmen to help you out -- most guys won't mind this duty! Put financial worries out of your mind -- the cost should be split among everyone who attends the bash.<br><Li>Attend the rehearsal dinner with the bride and groom and all the other attendants. This is your chance to figure out how you're supposed to walk down that aisle.<br><Li>Stand beside the groom at the altar and keep the bride's ring until vows are exchanged. Find a safe place for the ring (and make sure your pockets don't have holes) -- you don't want to fumble around when it's time to whip it out.<br><Li>Corral the other groomsmen and make sure they're performing their duties.<br><Li>Sign the marriage license as a witness after the ceremony, along with the maid of honor.<br><Li>Give the officiant a sealed envelope with his or her fee (the groom's responsibility) just after the ceremony.<br><Li>You may be announced with the maid of honor when the reception begins.<br><Li>Dance with both the honor attendant and the bride during the newlyweds' first dance.<br><Li>Give the first toast to the bride and groom at the reception. This is your biggest -- and probably most frightening -- duty. Read more about toasting <a href=http://www.theknot.com/ch_article.html?Object=AI91105160120 target=_blank>here.</a><br><li>Collect any gift envelopes guests bring to the reception. You may be asked to deposit them in the couple's bank account or at least to keep them until the couple returns from their honeymoon.<br><li>Decorate the getaway mobile. Grab the other groomsmen and the bridesmaids for this one.<br><li>Drive the couple to the wedding-night hotel or airport after the reception. If you perform this service, you'll need to stay sober throughout the reception. If you have a feeling this may not be possible, hire a limo to drive the couple into the sunset.";

DD_BridalParty[i++] = new Array("","Maid/Matron of honor","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
DD_BridalParty[i-1].body = "<ul><li>Lead the bridesmaid troupe. It's the maid/matron of honor's (MOH) job to direct the other maids through their duties. Make sure all bridesmaids get their dresses, go to dress fittings, and find the right jewelry. Also provide them with the information on all pre-wedding parties.<br><li>Help shop for dresses (the bride's and the bridesmaids'). And the MOH pays for her own entire wedding outfit (including shoes).<br><li>Offer to help the bride with pre-wedding tasks, from addressing invites to choosing the wedding colors to nodding enthusiastically when she waxes poetic about wedding cake.<br><li>Spread the news about where the bride and groom are registered.<br><li>Host or co-host a shower for the bride.<br><li>Attend all pre-wedding parties.<br><li>Keep a record of all the gifts received at various parties and showers (or delegate a bridesmaid to handle this).<br><li>Plan the bachelorette party with the bridesmaids.<br><li>See to it that all bridesmaids get to the rehearsal; coordinate transportation and lodging, if necessary.<br><li>Make sure that all bridesmaids get their hair and makeup done, get to the ceremony on time, and have the correct bouquets.<br><li>Hold the groom's ring during the ceremony. Safest place to put it? On the thumb.<br><li>Arrange the bride's train and veil before the ceremony begins and just after she arrives at the altar. The MOH might also need to help her bustle the train for easy dancing at the reception.<br><li>Hold the bride's bouquet while the couple exchanges vows.<br><li>Sign the marriage license as a witness, along with the best man.<br><li>Stand next to the groom in the receiving line (this is optional; the bride may decide to have attendants circulate among the guests instead).<br><li>Play hostess along with the other bridesmaids at frequent points during the reception: show guests where to sit, direct them to restrooms, tell them to where to put presents, invite them to sign the guest book, etc.<br><li>Collect any gift envelopes brought to the reception and keep them in a safe place.<br><li>Make sure the bride takes a moment to eat something -- refresh her drinks, get her a plate of food from the buffet table, or instruct wait staff to keep her entree warm.<br><li>Dance with the best man during the formal first-dance sequence and possibly be announced with him at the beginning of the party. Also dance with other groomsmen, the groom, and more.<br><li>Toast the couple after the best man.<br><li>Troubleshoot emotional crises. In most cases, this will require lots of tissues, hugging, and hair-smoothing. The MOH continues to be a trusted friend, a good listener, and a smart advisor.<br><li>Help the bride change for her honeymoon and take charge of her gown after the ceremony. Arrange for storage in a safe place until she returns.<br><li>Lend an ear. Whether it's about the planning, the marriage, or the registry china patterns, the MOH should assure the bride that she has someone with whom she can share her thoughts. Even if she seems to dwell on the same subjects repeatedly, the MOH keeps listening.<br><li>Keep the bride laughing. For the stressed-out bride, laughter can be as effective as venting.";

DD_BridalParty[i++] = new Array("","Groomsmen","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
DD_BridalParty[i-1].body = "<ul><li>Like the bridesmaids, you'll have to pay for your wedding gear. Luckily, you can usually rent a tux for quite a bit less than what the bridesmaids' dresses will cost. Be sure to get fitted at the specified store with time to spare -- you don't want to walk down the aisle wearing high-water trousers.<br><li>Attend all pre-wedding festivities (engagement party, couple shower, bachelor party, rehearsal dinner). <li>Help the best man plan the groom's bachelor party.<br><li>Conspire with the best man -- and the bridesmaids -- to decorate the honeymoon getaway car in style.<br><li>Before the ceremony, you may be asked to usher guests to their seats. <li>Be prepared to serve as information central, directing guests to restroom facilities and to the reception site.<br><li>Purchase a wedding present, perhaps with one of the other groomsmen. This provides more buying power, and two heads are better than one when it comes to gift ideas. Sometimes the entire groomsmen gang pitches in for one knock-them-off-their-feet wedding gift.<br><li>At the reception, you may be introduced with the bridesmaid you escorted during the recessional. You may also be asked to dance with bridesmaids or single female guests during the evening.";

DD_BridalParty[i++] = new Array("","Bridesmaids","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
DD_BridalParty[i-1].body = "<ul><li>Offer to help with pre-wedding tasks. Try to be specific when you volunteer. For example, say, \"Would you like me to help you shop for bridesmaid dresses/stuff invitations/pack for the honeymoon?\" instead of just, \"What can I do?\"<br><li>Scout out bridesmaid dresses, shoes, jewelry and other accessories. Pay for the entire ensemble. (Break in your shoes before the wedding day -- this can minimize slipping, blisters, and aching tootsies.)<br><li>Help to plan, co-host and pay for the shower and bachelorette party with other bridesmaids.<br><li>If the maid/matron of honor isn't already handling this task, keep a record of all the gifts received at various parties and showers (so that the bride/couple can write thank-you notes); maintain RSVP lists.<br><li>Attend ceremony rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. (Keep abreast of all pre-wedding parties, and go to as many as possible.)<br><li>Run last-minute errands. On the day of the wedding, be on hand to confirm flower delivery times, meet and greet the ceremony officiant, or satisfy junk food cravings.<br><li>Stand in the receiving line at the bride's request.<br><li>Serve as auxiliary hostess at the reception by introducing guests, making sure they know where the bar is located, and inviting them to sign the guest book.<br><li>Hit the dance floor when the music kicks in. Dance with groomsmen during the formal first-dance sequence. Also, be on the lookout for toe-tapping guests who might need encouragement and/or a dance partner.<br><li>Give the maid/matron of honor a break by helping to carry the bride's train whenever necessary. Bustle the train before dancing begins, and be ready to help fix it if it comes unhooked. Accompany the bride on visits to the restroom, if asked.<br><li>Purchase a wedding present perhaps with one of the other bridesmaids. This provides more buying power, and two heads are better than one when it comes to gift ideas. Sometimes the entire bridesmaid troupe pitches in for one knock-her-socks-off wedding gift.<br><li>Be a trooper, no matter how stressful the ordeal becomes. Try not to complain about the bridesmaid dress -- even if the color is horrendous. Be gracious and tactful.<br><li>Provide plenty of emotional support during the planning and on the wedding day.";

	// END editorial data