How to Lean on Your Friends & Family During Wedding Planning

1. Your Wedding Party: Bridesmaids & Groomsmen 💃🕺

💡 Think of your wedding party as your behind-the-scenes crew.

What to delegate:

• DIY Setup & Decor Coordination: Assign your most organized bridesmaids to help set up DIY decor for smaller events (mehndi, haldi) and coordinate with the decorator for last-minute styling fixes.

• Running Dance Practices: Your bridal party can schedule and lead rehearsals for the sangeet, reception entrance, or surprise performances.

• Helping Non-South Asian Guests: They can guide non-South Asian friends on cultural traditions, outfit etiquette (how to drape a dupatta, wear a saafa), and help them fully experience the festivities.

• Livestream Setup: Got a tech-savvy friend? They can easily set up a livestream for friends & family who couldn’t make it.

• Ceremony Buddy: Assign one person to be your go-to “eye contact” person during emotional moments like the haldi or wedding ceremony. They can subtly pass you water, tissues, or help dab sweat.

• Vendor Communication Point Person: Designate a bridesmaid or groomsman to be the point person for photographers, DJs, or the planner on your big day.

• Outfit Support Crew: Assign 1-2 people to help you get into and out of your outfits (including dupatta or saafa tying, jewelry placement, and packing everything back up at the end of the night).

✨ Pro Tip: Be specific with roles—“Priya handles my dupatta and jewelry,” “Kunj sets up the livestream,” “Pooja runs the dance practices.”

2. Parents & Siblings 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

💡 Family always wants to help—just give them structure to make sure it’s helpful.

What to delegate:

• Guest RSVP Follow-Ups: Let them chase down RSVPs, especially from extended family or elders.

• Programming: Let your siblings or cousins drive the entertainment, including speeches, dances and any other games or fun ideas during the weekend.

• Ceremonial Items & Rituals: They can organize and double-check religious items (puja trays, prasad, etc.).

• Hosting Out-of-Town Guests: Perfect for managing hotel check-ins, family transportation, and hospitality suites.

✨ Pro Tip: Use a shared doc or task tracker so everyone knows what’s delegated.

3. Close Friends & Cousins 👫

💡 They’re the unofficial VIP team behind your wedding weekend.

What to delegate:

• Social Media Management: Let them take over your Instagram Stories, Reels, or TikTok posts throughout the week.

• Transportation/Guest Shuttle Coordinator: Assign someone to manage shuttle schedules and guest pickups on event days.

• Personal Touches & Welcome Gifts: Ask them to help assemble welcome bags, handwritten notes, or favors for hotel guests.

• Afterparty Organizers: Give them free reign to plan late-night eats or a casual afterparty for the crew once the reception winds down.

4. Extended Family & Elders 👵👴

💡 Cultural knowledge and hospitality are their superpowers.

What to delegate:

• Guiding Guests During Ceremonies: Elders are perfect for explaining traditions to guests and ensuring things flow smoothly during pujas or the wedding.

• Gift Handling: Put them in charge of safely collecting and securing gift envelopes or cards during each event.

• Guest Seating Assistance: Elders can help direct guests to mandap-side seating or priority family seating.

💡 How I Did It

✅ I built a shared Google Doc and assigned roles about a month before the wedding.

✅ I walked everyone through it, and gave everyone a chance to opt in or swap tasks, so no one felt blindsided or overwhelmed.

✅ On the wedding weekend, everyone knew their role, and I finally felt like I could just be present and enjoy it all.

💡 Final Thought:

You don’t have to be the superhero of your wedding. Your friends and family WANT to help—just give them a clear plan.💡 And if you need a vendor team who makes delegation even easier? Check out Plan My Desi Wedding.