Please help..... Our best man has asked me to put a list together for him so he knows what he has exactly got to do ???
please could you help me get a list together my mind has gone blank .....
thanks Ladies xx
Cant Wait to Marry My Soul Mate on 6th July 2013
CommentAuthorOfficially Mrs M
Before the wedding
• Offer help to the bride and groom during the wedding planning process with any organisational tasks that need to be done. Best men often get involved in sorting out wedding transport, booking the wedding disco, and more. • Get to the know the wedding venue as soon possible (if the ceremony and reception are in different locations, get to know them both, as well as how to get between the two). You might need to ask the bride and groom if you can accompany them on a visit. On the day of the wedding, you'll be expected to know about parking, toilets, directions and so on. Remember that – gift list or not - some guests will always turn up with gifts. Make a mental note of where these can be safely stored. • Get to know the ushers. On the day, you and the ushers will have responsibility for helping out with any number of small things, so it's a good idea to meet them first if possible. • Find out the timetable for the day. All weddings run to some sort of timetable – start of ceremony, end of ceremony, start of drinks reception, start of dinner, start of disco, and so on. Make sure you know what is happening and when. • Organise the stag night. Remember to choose something the groom will enjoy, rather than what you and all his mates want to do! • Write a speech. Yours comes last, and you come after the bride's father and the groom himself. You're expected to highlight the groom's qualities, and give him a bit of gentle ribbing too.
On the day • Your most important duty is to get the groom to the ceremony on time, which means at least half an hour before the ceremony is due to begin. Unlike the bride, the groom does not traditionally arrive in a smart car – getting there is the important bit. • Before the ceremony begins you should take your place on the right hand side of the aisle, front row, next to the groom. Generally you can expect the ushers to help guests to find their places. Your job is to look after the groom. • You will usually be asked to look after the couple's wedding rings and produce them at the appropriate moment in the ceremony. • After the ceremony it is traditional for you to escort the chief bridesmaid down the aisle. • If there is a Master of Ceremonies at the wedding, you can expect him to marshal guests to the right place at the right time. If not, it's down to you and the ushers. For example you might need to gather up guests as they enjoy drinks at the start of the reception, and encourage them to join the receiving line. If formal photographs are taking place, you might need to help the photographer to find the appropriate groups of people. • Generally you will give your speech at the end of the meal at the wedding reception. However, some couples prefer to do it before, giving an opportunity for the father of the bride, the groom and you to get the speech out of the way and enjoy the rest of the day. • If there's a wedding disco, then after the bride and groom have had their first dance, you are expected to dance with the chief bridesmaid. (If there is no “chief” bridesmaid, feel free to choose the prettiest one.) • If the bride and groom are leaving the reception in their own vehicle, it's traditional for you to pop out at some point in the evening and give it a bit of decoration. It is more or less compulsory to write “Just Married” on the back window and to have a few things trailing off the back of the car. Anything else is up to you. • You should be one of the last people to leave the reception and you should help ensure people get home safely, assisting with ordering taxis and so on.
After the wedding • One of the traditional best man duties is to take back any hired outfits from the male members of the wedding party. The groom, of course, will be off on his honeymoon.
8th September 2012 I married my best friend
1st September 2014 our little family grew by one
Women are made to be loved, not understood. - Oscar Wilde
CommentAuthorMrsMoran
I found this detailed list on a website for you hun, might give you a guideline:
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.
They look like good lists. I found a list in a book that stated that on the wedding day he should collect the luggage for the honeymoon, which made me laugh. the best man job sounded more like a butler! X
CommentAuthorbarbie86
As with anything bridal party related I think it depends on what you want. IMPO the only essential 'duties' as doing a speech, which is traditional, and greeting the guests and directing them to our seats, as well as possibly organising the stag do, and, of course, going to get a suit if necessary. In our case, this is all ours will be doing; we're not expecting anything else.
My OH is best man in 2015 at his friend's wedding, and I suspect that will be a very different story and much more involved; though I may be wrong.
