Why a bride is breaking tradition with five friends as maids of honor and going viral on TikTok

A Massachusetts bride changes the wedding tradition by selecting her five closest friends as her maids of honor rather than the typical bridesmaids.

Anna Vatuone, 29, a writer and brand strategist, went viral on TikTok with over 551,000 views for her choice, which she revealed was inspired by a Reddit post.

Anna selected her friends for special roles: Rachel as her maid of loving kindness, Becky as her maid of joy, Kirsten as her maid of passion, Crystal as her maid of courage, and Erin as her maid of generosity.

“I wrote a letter that basically just said, ‘This is the quality I see with you,’ and I shared different examples of different times in our lives where I’ve seen that quality come through,” Anna told Good Morning America.

She then asked them to be specific maids—of courage, generosity, and more—to share what these qualities mean and how to bring them into her marriage.

Anne filmed herself giving letters to her friends, some of whom were touched to tears.

She found it easy to choose each quality and title. As her fall wedding approached, she couldn’t imagine celebrating without her friends by her side.

The bride reflected in the video that her friends loved her first, which she often thinks about.

While she once sought romantic love, she now realizes that her friends had already given her an amazing love story and taught her about love and partnership.

The bride shared her post online, highlighting that wedding planning can be unique for each person.

Anna wanted to show different ways to approach it and to give back to those who supported her.

This fall, her wedding will honor her love for her fiancé Trevor Scanlon, and her deep friendships with her girlfriends.

“In a sense, yes, I’m getting married but it’s a chance to celebrate a community, our community together – his friends, and my friends – have all helped us get to this place that we are today,” she added.

What’s the difference between ‘maid’ and ‘bridesmaids?’

Bridesmaids play a key role before and during the wedding, assisting with planning tasks like invitations, decorations, and dress fittings, says Melbourne Entertainment Company.

They also attend and help plan pre-wedding events like bridal showers and bachelorette parties.

On the wedding day, they assist with the bride’s dress, ensure she looks great, and manage younger attendants.

Moreover, they provide essential emotional support and companionship, helping to reduce the bride’s stress.

On the other hand, the Maid of Honor or maid has more duties than the bridesmaids.

She organizes the bachelorette party, coordinates with the bridal party, and keeps everyone updated on wedding plans.

On the wedding day, she holds the bride’s bouquet, gives a toast at the reception, and helps with practical tasks like managing the gown and ensuring the bride eats and stays hydrated.

Her role is crucial for planning and emotional support, ensuring the wedding day runs smoothly and joyfully.

The bride’s key helper is the maid, offering leadership and emotional support.

She manages practical tasks like organizing events, handling the budget, choosing themes, and making the guest list.

She also supports the bride emotionally, helping her cope with stress and the challenges of wedding planning.

The Maid of Honor ensures the wedding runs smoothly by managing schedules and keeping the bridal party informed, allowing the bride to enjoy her day without worrying about details.

Emotionally, she is the bride’s closest friend or sibling, providing support, celebrating with her, and handling crises to keep her balanced and happy.

Her presence helps reduce wedding stress and offers vital emotional support.

While bridesmaids play an important role, the Maid of Honor has greater responsibilities and expectations, acting as a leader and anchor.

Understanding these roles helps brides organize their bridal party to best support their needs on the wedding day.

Watch Anne’s viral TikTok video explaining why she asked her friends to become her maids instead of bridesmaids at her wedding:

@annavatuone When people ask me who my Maid of Honor is, this is what I tell them 🫶🏻🥹 #maidofhonor #maidofhonorspeech #maidofhonorduties #bridesmaids #2024bride #2024wedding #intimatewedding #creatorsearchinsights ♬ original sound – Jay