The bridesmaids are select friends and family, who are usually about the same age of the bride. They attend pre-wedding parties and also help out in anyway the bride asks. If she needs anything from picking up candelabras, to setting out place cards--these are the girls to ask. They wear matching or coordinating dresses (usually paid for themselves) to the ceremony and are customarily given a gift by the bride as a token of appreciation. The best man is often the groom's best friend or a close family member, even Dad. His formalwear matches the ushers' and he pays the rental fees himself. He hosts the bachelor party, holds the ring during the ceremony, and leads the other men in the well-wishing. Children between the ages of 9 and 14 are best suited for the duties of candle lighters, junior bridesmaids, or junior ushers. These attendants wear coordinating dresses or formalwear. Flower girls are usually family members, or a friend's child between the ages of three and nine, and they carry a small bouquet or basket down the aisle in the ceremony. The ring bearer is often a boy, but the duty can certainly be carried out by a little girl as well. Boys under age four wear an Eton suit or may be dressed in a similar fashion to the ushers. Parents pay for their children's attire when asked to be in a wedding, unless otherwise notified by the bride or groom. Groom's family duties Groom´s ring; bridesmaid luncheon, the first engagement party; invitations, announcements, enclosures, personal stationery, wedding programs, thank-you notes; bride´s dress, veil, accessories; mother of the bride´s dress, father of the bride´s formalwear, bride´s trousseau; floral arrangements for ceremony and reception sites, bouquets for bridesmaids and flower girls; fees for ceremony site, sexton, organist, soloist, rental of aisle carpet, marquee, or huppah; engagement and wedding photos and video; transportation of bridal party to ceremony and reception site; all professional reception services, food, drinks, decorations, music, etc.; bride buys wedding gifts for her attendants and the groom. Bride’s family duties Bride´s engagement and wedding ring; engagement party (it should follow any festivities hosted by the bride´s family), a rehearsal dinner; groom’s thank-you notes, personal stationery; groom´s formalwear, his mother’s dress, his father´s formalwear; bride´s bouquet, corsages for both mothers and grandmothers, boutonnieres for best man and ushers; marriage license, clergy member or judge´s fee; limousine to airport, complete honeymoon; groom buys wedding gifts for attendants and the bride.