Being asked to be a best man is a real honour, but it does come with some pretty big responsibilities.Typically the best man is the groom’s right-hand man. The role stretches from the day you’re asked, right through to the end of the wedding day.
Helping Organise The Groomsmen’s Suits
Making sure the groomsmen are all suited and looking the part is one of the best man’s key jobs. While the overall style and colour scheme is usually decided by the bride and groom, the job of keeping the groomsmen organised tends to land with the best man.
Start by getting the full list of who needs an outfit, the groom, the groomsmen, and sometimes the fathers or page boys too. Once you know the numbers, you can help organise sizing, fittings, and suit purchase well ahead of time. You also might want to consider suit hire, as this is a great option for those who don’t want to outright own the suit.
Getting measurements sorted early is key, as last-minute fittings can be stressful and leave little room for alterations. Everyone should try on their full outfit properly once it arrives as spotting a wrong size or missing accessory early gives you plenty of time to put it right.
Planning The Stag Do
For many, this is the headline duty. Organising the stag do is your chance to give the groom a proper send-off into married life, surrounded by his nearest and dearest.
Above all, the day (or weekend) should reflect the groom. A well organised and thought through stag do that everyone can enjoy beats an extravagant one that leaves people stressed or out of pocket.
Things To Consider When Planning a Stag Do
Start by understanding what the groom wants from his stag do, some want a wild weekend away but others might just want a low key night in town. Once you know the vibe, you can think about the guest list, budget, and dates.
First you’ll want to sort a date for the stag do. It’s a good idea to give people lots of notice and book well in advance. Generally you want to steer clear of anything close to the wedding itself.
One of the most important things to consider is the budget. You’ll need to accommodate the group, and the best idea is to be upfront with everyone about estimated costs at the start. Then you’ll want to collect the money early so that you’re not chasing people later.
On The Wedding Day
Your job on the wedding day is to keep the groom calm, and make sure he is on time and where he needs to be. This means no crazy late nights before the wedding and getting up when the alarm goes off.
Key Responsibilities
The morning usually starts with helping the groom get ready. This means making sure he looks smart, the buttonholes are on, and nobody’s forgotten anything crucial. You’ll often be in charge of getting the groom to the venue with time to spare, so add in some extra time to your schedule.
If there isn’t a designated ring bearer, the best man will have the classic responsibility of looking after the rings until the moment they’re needed. We suggest keeping them somewhere secure and resist the urge to keep checking. In many weddings you’ll also act as a witness and sign the register.
Throughout the day you’ll be greeting guests, helping things run to schedule, and generally smoothing over any hiccups before they become problems. If something goes wrong, the best man or maid of honour are often the first ones that people turn to.
The Best Man Speech
For many best men, this is the part that causes the most nerves, but it’s also a real privilege. The speech is your moment to celebrate the groom, share a few stories, and raise a toast to the happy couple.
A good best man speech strikes the perfect balance between being heartfelt and funny. You’ll want enough humour to keep things lively, but never at anyone’s expense.
Your best man’s speech should be personal, with warm and humorous memories. There will often be grandparents and children in the room, so make sure it is tasteful. Your speech should be around 5 minutes, and rehearsing it out loud beforehand will help ensure a well-delivered speech, even after a couple of drinks.
When ending the toast you should always invite everyone to raise a glass to the newlyweds. If public speaking isn’t your strong suit, remember that sincerity beats polish every time.
What Does a Best Man Wear?
In most cases, the best man’s outfit is coordinated with the groom and the rest of the wedding party, so there’s a sense of unity in the photos. Often you’ll wear something very close to the groom’s attire, perhaps with a subtle difference such as a slightly different tie, buttonhole, or pocket square to show that you are the best man.
What you wear will depend on the formality of the wedding. A morning suit is the classic choice for a traditional, formal affair, whereas a tailored three-piece suit works beautifully for just about any other wedding
The key thing is to follow the couple’s lead as they’ll usually let you know the colour scheme and level of formality, so you can help organise the suits with the groom.
The countdown to the wedding usually flies by so make sure that you book an appointment to get your suits sorted well in advance, especially if they are hired or tailored.
Key Takeaways
From the first planning chat to the final toast, being the best man comes down to one thing, being there for your mate when it matters most. Get the practical bits right, keep calm, and enjoy every moment.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect, no one’s expecting that, they just want you to show up, support the groom, and help make the day one to remember. And when it’s all over and the speeches have been made, you’ll be glad you embraced every part of it.
