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Let's be fair. The role of the best man is the toughest, most exhausting and demanding role of all wedding party attendant responsibilities. Whilst it is an honour serving as best man at your friend's wedding, you must be prepared for this role, as it is not an easy task.
When deciding who should be your best man, apart from choosing one of your best friends, it is important to choose one with good organisation skills and can be depended on.
Your best man may either be a close friend, brother or any other close relative.
His role is to assist the groom in all the wedding-related duties, starting months before the wedding and ending some days afterwards. He helps the groom in planning the logistics of the wedding and in other, perhaps more personal, duties where the groom might need his help.
Although not necessary, it is more appropriate that the best man is at least eighteen years of age.
When having a big wedding reception, it would be very helpful if more than one best man is chosen. Sometimes it is impossible for one person to perform all the required duties single-handed. In Malta this is happening more and more often and for some weddings there have been three best men.
Believe it or not a fourth one would have been very helpful!
Underneath you will find a list of duties that are often assigned to the best man. These are only suggestions and must be performed together with the groom. You may add or remove any of the duties to suit your wedding. You may print this document and complete it together with your best man.
Duties before the wedding:
- Assist the groom in the planning of the wedding.
- Plan and organise the bachelors party.
- Help the groom in confirming the honeymoon and travel arrangements.
- Help in confirming the details of all wedding vendors.
- Remind the groom of any unpaid wedding
bills.
- Help in purchasing both the groom's and the ushers' tuxedos.
- Make sure the groom has all the
necessary travel documents and information before leaving for the ceremony.
- Help the groom getting dressed.
- Accompany the groom to the wedding ceremony.
- Reassure the nervous groom!
- Safely
keep the wedding rings.
Ceremony and Reception duties:
- Make sure the groom arrives at the wedding location on time!
(around thirty minutes in advance)
- Make sure the groom looks his best before walking down the aisle.
- Guide the groom to his position during the ceremony.
- Hold the rings until called for to
present them to the couple.
(In Malta we traditionally use a Ring Bearer, a young boy, to hold the rings
but it`s far safer if the Best Man holds the rings
and the Ring Bearer is given fake ones!)
- Make the donation to the church if required.
- Arrange for backup transportation in case there are problems taking the bride and groom from the ceremony to the reception.
- Help the photographer gather and organise the guests for the group shots.
- Liaise with the headwaiter regarding the bars, seating arrangements, timings, etc.
- Make sure that the waiters circulate all areas
of the reception venue with food and drinks.
- Finalise any pending payments pertaining
to wedding vendors e.g. musician, caterer, etc.
- Help decorate the car transporting the newly
weds to their hotel, home or airport.
- Help the groom pack for the 'going-away'.
- If transportation is not provided, the best man must drive the newlyweds to the airport, home or hotel.
- Help load and transport the wedding gifts safely.
- Make sure nothing is left at the reception venue.
- Liaise with the respective vendors regarding any unused spirits, minerals and food.
Duties after the Wedding:
- Return the rented suits
and tuxedos to the respective dress hire vendors.
- Deliver any gifts collected during
the reception to the newly weds.
- Settle any pending bills.
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