Best Man Duties

Wossi · 25-07-2008, 15:44

My mate has just told me that he proposed to his girlfriend and she has said yes and apparently I am going to be the best man

Only problem is I have no idea what the hell I am supposed to be doing apart from organising some kind of stag thing

Oh and when the time comes hit on the bridesmaids, but that would be a given regardless

Dee · 25-07-2008, 16:05

You're in charge of more than you might think you know

6 months

Discuss the wedding plans with the bride, groom and chief bridesmaid.
Help to choose the ushers and explain their duties to them.

4 months

Organise the stag party.
Prepare your speech for the reception.
Compile a list of close family members who should have special seating arrangements at the ceremony and share the infomation with the ushers.
Visit the ceremony and the reception venues with the bride and groom to check on timings, parking arrangements etc.

1 week before

Check the groom has all the necessary documents for the ceremony and the honeymoon. Double check their passports and visas.
Attend the wedding rehearsal.
Liaise with the ushers on the final arrangements.
Check for roadworks, diversions, carnivals etc taking place on the wedding day that may effect timings or the route.
Arrange transport for the groom and self to ceremony.
Arrange transport to and from the reception.
Arrange going away car for the bride and groom from the reception if required.
Make a note of details and availability of emergency taxi companies.
Finalise speech.
Have your hair cut.

The day before

Collect any hired clothing and accessories.
Wash car if driving to the ceremony.
Organise decorations for the going away car.

On the day

Check final arrangements for the ushers, buttonholes, order of service sheets and rings.
Collect telemessages, cards and emails to be read at the reception.
Keep the rings safe until the required time in the service.
Help the groom get ready (so be ready before him).
Ensure the groom gets to the church on time, which we advise is at least 20 minutes before the ceremony is due to start.

At the church

Check on the ushers.
Sit on the right hand front pew with the groom.
Witness the signing of the register, if required.
Ensure all fees are paid to the church or registrar.
Escort the chief bridesmaid out of the church.
Assist the photographer in organising the guests for the photographs.
Ensure everyone has transportation to the reception venue.

At the reception

Stand in the receiving line and greet the guests.
Announce the speeches and cake cutting, if there is no Master of Ceremonies or Toastmaster.
Read any cards, emails and telemessages.
Give the third and final speech and reply on behalf of the bridesmaids.
Dance with the chief bridesmaid once the bride and groom have completed their first dance.
Decorate the going away car.
Put any luggage required in the going away car.
Make sure the bride and groom go and change on time and announce to the guests that they are about to depart.
Take charge of the groom's wedding clothes, if required.

After the wedding

Ensure the wedding presents are safely stored.
Return any hired clothing and accessories.

Good luck and all that

Lynnie_pitch nee Leigh · 25-07-2008, 16:07

Depending on the type of wedding and what the couple want you to help them with the role can vary.

main thing you'll probably have to do is make a speech. Useful information here

Lynnie_pitch nee Leigh · 25-07-2008, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betty

wedding info

Been to hitched.co.uk lately

leowyatt · 25-07-2008, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynnieleigh

Been to hitched.co.uk lately

looks to me like a straight copy and paste and I haven't even read the site

Dee · 25-07-2008, 16:11

Well duh!

Garp · 25-07-2008, 16:14

There is something missing on that list.

The best man is so called because traditionally it was "best marksman", and was there to defend the bride and groom at their wedding in the case of violence. It's an important responsibility these days as I'm sure you can guess.

Jonny69 · 25-07-2008, 16:40

I did none of that stuff other than the speech and the stag do. I wasn't a very good best man by definition. Though I was the best marksman.

Snuggle Ferret · 25-07-2008, 16:45

And also, if the groom doesn't turn up, you have to marry the bride :P

Chuckles · 25-07-2008, 16:48

I was a best man last year!

Don't worry about the official stuff to much. Organise the big stag night for about a month in advance, and organise the unofficial secret stag night that the bride knows nothing about the night before the wedding.

Write your speech really early. On no account use anything copied and pasted from the internet because it is incredibly obvious and is very impersonal and borderline insulting to the groom. I just told a load of stories from our past and ribbed him a fair bit. Practice the speech out loud in front of your gf or a friend.

Be really supportive of the groom on the day because he'll be very nervous until after the ceremony has finished. Make sure the photographer gets every possible kind of shot (prepare a list before hand).

Finally, get proper drunk in the evening and try your luck with the chief bridesmaid

I had already slept with her a year earlier unfortunately and wasn't in her good books so missed out on that

25-07-2008, 15:44	#1
Wossi Absinthe Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: In the middle Posts: 1,385	Best Man Duties My mate has just told me that he proposed to his girlfriend and she has said yes and apparently I am going to be the best man Only problem is I have no idea what the hell I am supposed to be doing apart from organising some kind of stag thing Oh and when the time comes hit on the bridesmaids, but that would be a given regardless

25-07-2008, 16:07	#3
Lynnie_pitch nee Leigh Princess Mombi Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 2,098	Depending on the type of wedding and what the couple want you to help them with the role can vary. main thing you'll probably have to do is make a speech. Useful information here __________________ Please captain, not in front of the Klingons

25-07-2008, 16:14	#7
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	There is something missing on that list. The best man is so called because traditionally it was "best marksman", and was there to defend the bride and groom at their wedding in the case of violence. It's an important responsibility these days as I'm sure you can guess. __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

25-07-2008, 16:40	#8
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	I did none of that stuff other than the speech and the stag do. I wasn't a very good best man by definition. Though I was the best marksman. __________________

25-07-2008, 16:45	#9
Snuggle Ferret Mellow Birds Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gosport Posts: 367	And also, if the groom doesn't turn up, you have to marry the bride :P __________________ ]

25-07-2008, 16:05	#2
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	You're in charge of more than you might think you know 6 months Discuss the wedding plans with the bride, groom and chief bridesmaid. Help to choose the ushers and explain their duties to them. 4 months Organise the stag party. Prepare your speech for the reception. Compile a list of close family members who should have special seating arrangements at the ceremony and share the infomation with the ushers. Visit the ceremony and the reception venues with the bride and groom to check on timings, parking arrangements etc. 1 week before Check the groom has all the necessary documents for the ceremony and the honeymoon. Double check their passports and visas. Attend the wedding rehearsal. Liaise with the ushers on the final arrangements. Check for roadworks, diversions, carnivals etc taking place on the wedding day that may effect timings or the route. Arrange transport for the groom and self to ceremony. Arrange transport to and from the reception. Arrange going away car for the bride and groom from the reception if required. Make a note of details and availability of emergency taxi companies. Finalise speech. Have your hair cut. The day before Collect any hired clothing and accessories. Wash car if driving to the ceremony. Organise decorations for the going away car. On the day Check final arrangements for the ushers, buttonholes, order of service sheets and rings. Collect telemessages, cards and emails to be read at the reception. Keep the rings safe until the required time in the service. Help the groom get ready (so be ready before him). Ensure the groom gets to the church on time, which we advise is at least 20 minutes before the ceremony is due to start. At the church Check on the ushers. Sit on the right hand front pew with the groom. Witness the signing of the register, if required. Ensure all fees are paid to the church or registrar. Escort the chief bridesmaid out of the church. Assist the photographer in organising the guests for the photographs. Ensure everyone has transportation to the reception venue. At the reception Stand in the receiving line and greet the guests. Announce the speeches and cake cutting, if there is no Master of Ceremonies or Toastmaster. Read any cards, emails and telemessages. Give the third and final speech and reply on behalf of the bridesmaids. Dance with the chief bridesmaid once the bride and groom have completed their first dance. Decorate the going away car. Put any luggage required in the going away car. Make sure the bride and groom go and change on time and announce to the guests that they are about to depart. Take charge of the groom's wedding clothes, if required. After the wedding Ensure the wedding presents are safely stored. Return any hired clothing and accessories. Good luck and all that

25-07-2008, 16:11	#6
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	Well duh!

25-07-2008, 16:48	#10
Chuckles '09 sexual conquests: 4.5 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,075	I was a best man last year! Don't worry about the official stuff to much. Organise the big stag night for about a month in advance, and organise the unofficial secret stag night that the bride knows nothing about the night before the wedding. Write your speech really early. On no account use anything copied and pasted from the internet because it is incredibly obvious and is very impersonal and borderline insulting to the groom. I just told a load of stories from our past and ribbed him a fair bit. Practice the speech out loud in front of your gf or a friend. Be really supportive of the groom on the day because he'll be very nervous until after the ceremony has finished. Make sure the photographer gets every possible kind of shot (prepare a list before hand). Finally, get proper drunk in the evening and try your luck with the chief bridesmaid I had already slept with her a year earlier unfortunately and wasn't in her good books so missed out on that __________________