“Matron” of Honor is a doctor. Advice on title???

Personally, I would just call her "matron of honor". If you think that would offend her, I would just ask her. I get where you're coming from, but I don't think her occupation really matters for her title in your wedding.

I don't think her careers matters as far as your wedding either. She's still part of group and to single her out cause of her job is a bit much.

It sounds wrong to you, but does your sister actually want you to highlight that she’s a doctor at your wedding? I can understand that she worked hard to earn the title of Dr., but I don’t know that drawing attention to it for your wedding party is necessary.

In her life and in her career, of course her accomplishments matter more than her marital status. However, her role in your wedding is literally matron of honor. I don’t think that’s insulting.

Your wedding isn't about her career. Matron of honor is fine.

Thank you to all those who have suggested I talk to her about it. I’m not worried about my sister starting drama, but everyone in my immediately family (including me!) is uncomfortable with the title “matron” of honor. Every time we talk about her role in the wedding, we refer to her amongst ourselves as “doctor of honor.” For us it’s not about her career — it’s about her identity. (We’re a family of academics!)


I can understand the concern about singling her out, though. Can anyone suggest gender/marital-status neutral titles for members of the bridal party, in that case??

View Quoted Comment What about “sister of honor” to acknowledge your relationship and her importance to you?

View Quoted Comment I really like that idea!!! Thank you

I'd still call her "matron of honor," but if you have your wedding party listed on a program or a wedding website you can put "Dr." in front of her name to highlight the professional title. "Matron of honor" is the name of the role she will be in at the wedding. I'm not asking people to call me "esquire" instead of "the bride" at my wedding just because I'm a lawyer!

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I agree with this. We have a lot of "accomplished" people in our family as well, and I would find it so off-putting to include people's professional designations in wedding-related stuff, beyond the addressing of invitation envelopes, etc. Personally, I'd find it pretentious, and among our family there would be a lot of eye-rolling (and we have several medical doctors, a bunch of academics, a few attorneys, etc.). It's great to be proud of friends and family members' professional accomplishments, but at a wedding I'd expect the focus to be on the personal relationships. Just my opinion.

Another way of putting this into perspective is to consider if you'd refer to another member of the wedding party as your "plumber or mechanic of honor"? I'd guess not; and if you wouldn't, I probably wouldn't do so for the doctor. In your personal interactions, as a super-proud sister, I think it's cute you refer to her as your "doctor of honor"; I just think it gets awkward if you refer to her that way in public/on wedding signs/etc.

Matron of Honor - her job has nothing to do with your wedding. Or list her as Matron of Honor - Dr. Jane Smith. I'd make sure to use titles for everyone else then too (Mr, Mrs, Ms. etc)

This will be the case when my sister gets married too, as I'll be her maid/matron of honor and I'm a doctor too. Personally I detest the term MATRON of honor and I think it's up to the person to be called maid of honor even if they're married. I will refuse to be called a matron even if I'm married. But I wouldn't want to be called doctor of honor, it's not about her being a doctor, it's your day.

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Being of Honor/Person of Honor

Best Being/Best Person

Groomsperson

Bridesperson

To me these sound ridiculous. I would just ask each member of your party what they prefer if it really is an issue.

Lady of Honor?
I think the term "matron" is weird, too

View Quoted Comment I agree. I've met and been friends with many doctors. They don't always even mention it unless it's part of the conversation or address themselves as Doctor So-and-so socially. If the best man tried something like that, everyone would think he was being pretentious