bridesmaid vs maid of honor

[Abstract Idea]

What is the difference between bridesmaid and maid of honor ?
By the way, just to confirm: the British spelling is 'honour' while the American one is 'honor', right?

[bhaisahab]

What is the difference between bridesmaid and maid of honor ?
By the way, just to confirm: the British spelling is 'honour' while the American one is 'honor', right?

Usually a bridesmaid is a young girl pre-puberty, whereas a maid of honour is traditionally an unmarried mature (post puberty) woman.

[Anglika]

Usually a bridesmaid is a young girl pre-puberty, whereas a maid of honour is traditionally an unmarried mature (post puberty) woman.

A bridesmaid is an unmarried woman, of any age
A maid of honour/honor is a married woman.

[Ouisch]

In the US, a maid of honor is an unmarried female who serves as the bride's chief attendant during the preparations for the wedding. She is usually at the bride's side assisting her with dress, veil, cosmetics, etc, while the bride dressing for her wedding.During the ceremony the maid of honor stands closest to the bride and often has a gown or corsage that differentiates her from the bridesmaids. (If the woman the bride chooses to fulfill the duties of the maid of honor happens to be married, she is referred to as "matron of honor.") The maid of honor usually holds the groom's ring for the bride during the ceremony. The maid or matron of honor is matched with the Best Man during the ceremony and at the reception.

Bridesmaids are women (single or married) who the bride asks to participate closely in preparations for her wedding (they help plan her shower, help her address invitations, etc). In the US, it is customary that the bridesmaids wear matching dresses and shoes that they pay for themselves. (The dresses are usually chosen by the bride, but often she asks for input by the bridesmaids.)


Here is an example - the maid of honor is the one at the far left holding the larger bouquet of flowers, and hers are peach and white, versus the smaller blue and white bouquets of the bridesmaids.

[bhaisahab]

Usually a bridesmaid is a young girl pre-puberty, whereas a maid of honour is traditionally an unmarried mature (post puberty) woman.

It seems that I was misinformed about bridesmaids by the older female members of my family. On further investigation, it seems they can be any girl or young woman (unmarried). A maid of honour is a "chief bridesmaid" also unmarried, if married, she is called a "matron of honour". I didn't get married in a church so I have no personal experience of all this.

[Anglika]

. On further investigation, it seems they can be any girl or young woman (unmarried). A maid of honour is a "chief bridesmaid" also unmarried, if married, she is called a "matron of honour". I didn't get married in a church so I have no personal experience of all this.

No reason why you, as bridegroom, should know any of this! And it does not depend on being a church wedding these days. Registry Office weddings can have bridesmaids.

I also was too quick off the mark, and of course it is "Chief bridesmaid" here, not "maid of honour" which is the American equivalent.