Best man duties
Before the ceremony
On the day of the ceremony
- Organise the stag do – for help doing this, click here.
- Write your speech – for help doing this, click here.
- Help the groom buy a present for the bride.
- Help the groom choose an outfit for himself, for you and for the ushers.
- Attend the wedding rehearsal.
- Arrange the groom’s transport to the ceremony.
- Arrange transport to and from reception.
- Get a list of taxi firms in case there is a problem with the organised transport.
- Find out who’s doing the music at the reception and get in touch to let them know what memorable music you want.
- Make sure you’ve got the phone numbers of other key people, i.e.:
- The bride
- The father of the bride
- The chief bridesmaid
- The ushers
- The church
- The venue for the reception
- Find out where people can park close to the church.
- Print off some maps to give to people to help get them from the church to the reception.
- Find out what the rules are at the church regarding confetti
- If confetti is okay, get some.
Organising the ushers
- Make sure the groom is up early enough to get ready in time.
- Keep and don’t lose the rings.
- Keep the groom calm – he’ll be bricking it but it’s up to you to keep him, make sure he doesn’t leg it and generally try to help him enjoy the day.
- Help the groom get ready.
- Get the groom to the church on time.
- Check that the ushers know what they’re doing.
- Collect telegrams for reading in your speech.
- Collect and arrange the buttonholes.
At the wedding
- Make sure the ushers know what their duties are:
- Handing out orders of service.
- Handing out hymn books
- Instructing which side the guests are to sit on.
- Escorting the mother of the bride to her pew.
At the reception
- Sit on the right hand side of the church with the groom.
- Keep holding on to those rings.
- Escort the chief bridesmaid down the aisle, following the bride and groom.
- Ensure everyone is able to get to the reception.
- Help the photographer to organise people in the photographs.
- It’s the groom’s job to pay for the minister, organist etc so make sure he’s got the money and deal with it for him.
- Announce to the party when everyone should start making their way to the reception.
In general
- Receive the guests at the reception.
- Take cards and presents and put them somewhere safe.
- Do your fantastic speech.
- Read telegrams from absent friends.
- Dance with the chief bridesmaid.
- Decorate the going away car.
- Make sure the bride and groom announce their departure to the guests.
- Keep calm, keep the pressure of the groom, be able to answer any questions anyone has and, above all, have a fantastic time.
