So the groom chose you to be his best man, huh? Congrats, that’s quite an honor! The question is: do you even know what you’re supposed to do? We’re sure you have SOME idea, right? Even if you’ve never been anyone’s best man before, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen someone play one in movies and on television. In TV and movies, the best man is usually seen either throwing the bachelor party or being a support beam for the groom whenever he gets cold feet.
Is any of this realistic? Of course it is! It is certainly true that the best man is responsible for planning the stag and bachelor party before the wedding; and it’s also true that the best man should be the groom’s emotional rock. In addition, the best man is often responsible for completing a few logistical tasks too. Below we’ll outline all of the best man’s duties.
Pre-Wedding Duties
Dressing The Groomsmen
If this is a semi-formal or formal wedding, then it’s customary for all the groomsmen to wear matching outfits. It is the best man’s responsibility to help find and secure the suit rental store. Once this is done, the best man should then provide all pertinent details to the groomsmen.
Throwing The Stag & Bachelor Party
The point of the stag party is to raise money for the wedding. As the best man, you should work with the groomsmen on ways to spread the word. During the actual stag, you should make sure that everything goes smoothly: make sure that nobody drives drunk and that everyone has a good time. For more tips on how to throw a successful stag party, check out The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station’s great post.
Like the Stag, the best man is responsible for throwing the bachelor party, too. This means deciding on where to go and what to do, inviting the people that the groom wants there, and ensuring that everyone has the time of their lives.
Attend The Rehearsal Dinner
The entire wedding party should be present for the rehearsal. As the best man, it’s your job to ensure that the groomsmen and bridesmaids all understand what their roles are on the big day. In addition, the best man may give a small toast, so it’s good to prepare something.
Duties On The Wedding Day
Keeping The Groom & Groomsmen On Schedule
The wedding day is meant to be enjoyed; that said, there is generally a specific schedule of events that must be followed. For example, if you’ve decided to have a groomsmen breakfast, then you probably want to be done in time for everyone to get dressed. Your main priority should be getting the groom and groomsmen to the event venue on time. Once there, you’ll just need to keep an eye on the clock to make sure that everyone is in the right place at the right time.
Holding the Wedding Rings
If there is no official ring bearer (dogs do count these days by the way), then this important task falls to the best man. The best man holds the rings for safekeeping until those special vows are said. In addition to the rings, the best man may need to hold onto the groom’s cell phone and wallet.
Serve As a Witness (To Make the Marriage Official)
To make their marriage official, the bride and groom must sign their marriage documents in front of two witnesses. Can you guess who gets this special honor? That’s right: the maid of honor and the best man.
Give a Toast
Traditionally, the best man starts the round of toasts that happen during dinner. Since this is perhaps the best man’s most important moment of the night, the toast should be well-crafted and practiced.
Keep The Reception Alive & Moving
Above all else, it’s the best man’s duty to ensure that this is one of the greatest days of the groom’s life. To accomplish that, the best man should mingle with guests often. When it’s time to get the dance floor started, the best man should be the first one on. If you’re going to be a best man at a wedding, then dance with the bride, the groom, the maid of honor, their parents, grandparents, and other key relatives. The more fun everyone else has the better.
