Best Man Duties

Your duties and responsibilities as Best Man at the wedding should look something like this:

• You have to make sure the groom has the marriage license with him.
• You will be there to help fix the groom’s tie, cufflinks, he might even ask you to iron his shirt!
• Don’t forget the rings, whatever you do don’t forget the rings!!
• Make sure to run through the duties of the ring bearer if there is one in the wedding, whether it is a child, dog, homeless guy or monkey!!
• Make sure that the luggage arrangements have been organized for the bride and groom, if they are not staying at the venue for their first night.
• Make sure car or travel arrangements are set and that the groom is carrying any necessary reservations, tickets, money and travelers checks.
• As best man you will ride with the groom to the wedding location.
• Crack the whip on the groomsmen so they are ready and know their responsibilities prior to the start of the ceremony.
• Make sure all the groomsmen are wearing their boutonnieres(flower thingy) on the left lapel and stem down.
• Be the groom or mother of the bride’s dancing monkey.
• Otherwise, your main pre-nuptial duty is simply to be there for the groom. Calm his nerves, make sure he eats something, purchase the Imodium, fill his shaking glass - whatever he wants or needs.
• You will stand to the right when the groom takes his place
• Remember those rings, well now its time to produce the wedding ring on cue
• You will be the first at the reception to welcome the bride and groom.
• It is your responsibility to make the first toast to the bride and groom. Keep it more than short and less than long with just the right amount of humor.
• The photographer might need your help with organizing the wedding group shots, herd the cats.
• Your job now is to be the social butterfly of the party, helping with guests feel welcome, making any necessary introduction.
• Unless there's an official toastmaster, you will be the man on the mike…. Directing guests to take their seats for dinner, introducing the speeches, announcing the first dance, the cutting of the cake.
• Dance with the bride, both mothers and as many of the bridal attendants and guest as possible – wahay!
• Help decorate the wedding car or sleigh with just married etc.
• After the wedding you will need to return the groom’s tuxedo or to the dry cleaners, as he will be jetting off on his honeymoon and this will be the last thing the groom thinks of.
• A really nice gesture would be to order flowers for the bride and groom's room on their first night of their honeymoon.

This is not license to be a dictator. You’re the fix it man. Keep things running smooth and don’t let ‘em see you sweat.

Have fun, enjoy, its an honor to a best man, good luck!

Additional Help:

http://www.thebestman.com - great advice for the best man