17 year old maid of honor?

I am getting married next summer and i want to have my younger sister be my maid of honor. The only problem is is that she is going to be 17 at the time and won't be able to participate in the bachlorette party activites and planning that sort of stuff since she will be underage. Has anyone else had an underage MOH and what did you do to be able to let them help out?

17 year old maid of honor?
I know this may be crazy but you don't have to have alcohol at the bachlorette party,
Reply:You can have a maid and a matron of honor - the matron of honor would usually be old enough to partcipate and plan that sort of thing. Or you could ask your other brides maids to collectively plan it since they probably understand your choice of MOH.
Reply:U want to make your younger sister a maid ???.
Reply:Can't there be bachlorette party activities that she can attend? I think it's great that you want her to be your maid of honor and I think that you should let her plan stuff she can be involved in.
Reply:you could do something with just you and your sister, like a night out or a spa day. my maid of honor and my bridesmaids are so different i did something different with each one of them.
Reply:You just don't do the drinking thing for the bachelorette party - booze doesn't make the fun, the company and activities do!
Reply:Technically, the maid of honor is supposed to be an adult. The traditional purpose of the maid of honor is that if you become incapacitated for any reason, then she takes your vows for you. A minor cannot do that.





Also, the maid of honor is the one who is supposed to plan an host your wedding shower. That is a lot of responsibilty (and potentially $$) for a 17 year old.





I would have her be a bridesmaid and appoint someone else who is "of age".





If that is not an option, then I would ask one of your older attendents to "act" as maid of honor even though your sister will be the "technical" maid of honor. Have them include and confer with your sister but put the responsibility of everything on them. OR, as mom to oversee it. (which means she'll end up doing most of it anyway)





Also, since you have given her such an important role in your wedding, it would be kind of mean to plan wedding festivities that she cannot attend. Your bachelorette party doesn't have to be something that she cannot attend. Instead of doing something that requires you to be 21 or older, why not plan a party that she can attend. You can go out with your "over 21" crowd separately. Let her help plan a great night out. Why not have spa day with everyone as a bachelorette party? Or how about a day at the beach followed by dinner and a show or concert? Is alcohol that important that it's worth excluding your maid of honor for?


If you think that much of your sister to make her your maid of honor, you will need to make some adjustments for her. If you don't want to do that, then you need to change her to a bridesmaid.
Reply:If you go on a bachelorette party on a boat (not that expensive) I think your sis can drink!
Reply:Are you set on going clubbing. An option might be to go to somewhere like Dave %26amp; Busters or Jillians - so your sister can come as well. Or start out at someone's house around 7pm and have some fun, then head out around 10, so your sister can at least hang out for a little bit.
Reply:I think you should definitely have your sister as your maid of honor. You could have a special dinner just for the gals and then have a slumber party or something. I know that probably sounds dumb but that's what we did for my wedding. We had so much fun too. We stayed up late, talked about guys, watched old movies, and ate all night long. The next morning we all went to breakfast. It was definitely one of the most fun times I had with all the girls. It was nice to just relax before the big day. :) Good luck with it all!
Reply:Actually I was only 17 when I was my sister's maid of honor. Let her help plan your bridal shower, take her with you to try on dresses. Let her help choose the other bridesmaids dresses and accessories. Obviously I wasn't apart of any Bachlorette party type activities but i didn't mind because i was an important part of everything else.
Reply:I was a JR. Bridesmaid in my sisters wedding when I was 16...I think the rule is if they are underage, it's JR. Bridesmaid...she'll be able to go to the wedding shower, and of course the wedding and reception, but of course the bachelorette party will be off limits unless you are doing a tamer version with dinner, or girls going away to a location.


I'm sure she'll understand.
Reply:My sister is my maid of honor and she is 16. It works out great. She can't go to the batchlorrette party... but she made a great DD for those of us that could. She was and is able to help with everything else and she has done a great job at it. Do no worry about the age. Your sister will understand completely. But she will be able to be there for everything else.
Reply:Not sure on the actual question but i dont think she can be a wittness for the signing of the marriage certificate as she is underage
Reply:Well she can particpate in the bachlorette party when you guys are haning at the hotel drinking and stuff half the fun of going out is the drinking and getting ready before hand with all you girlfriends anyway. I say let her bring a friend and they can drive you to the club (DD better safe than sorry!!) and they can go back to the hotel and hang buy the pool and watch movies while you guys are out. PLus they can go out to eat wih you and all sorts of stuff. If you make a weekend out of it they could participate in everything up until its time to go clubbing.
Reply:My fiance's sister was 16 when she was in her brother's wedding. She couldn't exactly plan the bachelorette party, but she planned everything else like the shower etc. It was fine.
Reply:A good time for all can still be had even though your MOH is underage. She shouldnt be left out because of her age. It could ulimately change your relationship if you two are really close.





I have been part of many wedding events and there have been a few with an underage MOH.





In these cases 2 parties were planned. Usually it was a combined effort with the MOH and the bridesmaid. A shower was planned for the same day as the bachorette party set for later that evening. Or a wedding shower one day and the party the next night.





It still turned out great and hey they received more gifts that way. However for obivious reasons there will be things planned for those of age. But the underage MOH also planned events that did not effect the wedding festivities.





A compromise is possible.

lilac