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We are sure that the only thing occupying the best man’s mind in the lead up to the wedding is the speech he will have to deliver at the reception. Public speaking does not come easy to many people and especially when the speech is being conducted in front of friends and family, whereby a bad speech will live with him for the rest of his life. Luckily for the best man, there are plenty of other duties that should keep him very busy in the run up to the big day. These duties are laid out for you below, with a timeline as to when each one should be completed. Furthermore, our speeches section should calm any nerves you may have about that all-important moment.
6 months
Have a meeting with the bride and groom to go over all the details about the wedding so that you are fully informed
Assist the groom when selecting his ushers, it is then your responsibility to tell them their duties
4 months
Start planning the stag party, this will hopefully be a very memorable night!
Begin writing your speech; this will need to be completed well in advance to the wedding day as you will want to practice, practice, and more practice.
Go with the bride and groom to look at all the venues and help them decide which one to choose. You will need to familiarize yourself with the place and confirm parking arrangements etc. with them
Make a list of those guests attending that may need special seating arrangements during the ceremony and make sure all the ushers are well aware of the details.
1 week before
Check that the groom has all the documents he may need for his wedding and/or honeymoon, for example passports, visas etc.
Ensure that the road to the wedding ceremony is free from any diversions, road works etc. If this is the case, there needs to be an alternative wedding route planned.
Organize transportation for the newlyweds from the church to the reception.
Arrange the transportation needed to take yourself and the groom to the ceremony.
Attend any wedding rehearsals so as you know what you are doing on the big day
If it is needed, arrange a going away car to take the couple from the reception.
Have a list of emergency taxi companies ready to hand
Finalize your speech and practice
Get your hair cut
The day before
Make sure you have all the decorations ready for the going away car
Wash your car if it is being used as transportation
Pick up hired items such as suits and other clothing accessories
On the day
Keep the rings safe until the time comes for the vows
Help the groom in getting ready for his big day
Collect any cards, emails or telephone messages from friends or relatives who are not able to attend the wedding
Ensure all the Ushers have order of service sheet and make final arrangements regarding buttonholes.
Make sure that the Groom has arrived at the Church 20 minutes before the ceremony is due to start
At the church
Keep all the Ushers in check and make sure they know what they are supposed to be doing
You would traditionally sit on the right hand side of the front pew alongside the Groom
Witness the signing of the register if this is required of you
Pay any fees to the registrar and/ or church
It is your duty to act as an escort out of the church for the Maid of Honor
Help out the photographer and organize the guests ready for photographs
Ensure that everyone has transportation to get from the Church to the reception
At the reception
Greet the guests by standing in the receiving line
If there is no Master of Ceremonies of Toastmaster at the wedding, it is your job to announce the speeches and cake cutting
Read out all the emails and telephone messages from relatives that you collected before the wedding
Give the final speech of the evening and reply on behalf of the bridesmaids
Take the Maid of Honor for a spin on the dance floor once the bride and groom have finished their first dance.
Decorate the going away car ready for the bride and groom to depart
Load any luggage for the newlyweds
Check up on the bride and groom to make sure they are ready to leave the reception
If required, take the groom’s wedding clothes and look after them for him.
After the wedding
Store all gifts in a safe manner
Be in charge of returning all hired items of clothing on time
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