The Best Man…Behind the Groom

Men . . . we love ‘em . . . but sometimes they may need some direction…especially when it comes to weddings! They want to help and are capable of anything, so here are some guidelines to help the Best Man (just in case he needs it).

First off, gather all information for the wedding party. Groomsmen and ushers names and contact information, as well as the maid of honor’s information, as you might need to coordinate with her at some point.

Next, help the groom by going with him to pick out the tuxes. If the bride is along, take the backseat and go along with whatever they choose. If it is just the guys, make sure you pick a fabric that will be comfortable for the season of the wedding (i.e. no wool in June). Make sure you get all accessories at this time as well. Candlelight white (light ivory) shirts are a must if the bride is wearing anything but stark white. Also, if you go for real bow ties, make sure you know how to tie them! Send instructions to the other groomsmen on how to tie theirs as well. Send out reminders about fittings and make sure everyone gets their orders in by the deadline.

The given: the bachelor party. You are not expected to foot the entire bill, but the groom’s portion should be divided between you, the groomsmen and ushers. Pick a location that everyone can afford. You don’t want to plan the trip of a lifetime to Amsterdam and have only two people able to attend.  Send out the invitations (an email is fine) well in advance…. at least two months notice. Do NOT pick the night before the wedding, ever. “The Hangover,” while hilarious to watch, would not be hilarious to any bride.  If the bride has expressly told you or the groom that certain activities will not be permitted, respect her wishes. And she will find out, so don’t ever to try to out-sneak a woman

Wedding weekend . . . you are on call to do whatever the groom needs. Make sure he has a ride to all the functions and is on time for all functions. Keep the other groomsmen in line, especially at rehearsal. Listening to the officiant and wedding planner makes rehearsal go a lot faster!

The most important part of the entire wedding ceremony: THE RINGS! This is all up to you! Place both rings on your pinky before you walk down the aisle so you don’t drop/fumble them getting them out of your pocket.

At the reception, make sure your toast is great! Don’t go on and on about embarrassing stories that include a lot of inside jokes….you will be the only one laughing. And definitely do not talk about the groom’s ex-girlfriends! Short, sweet and heartfelt!

And grooms: Asking someone to be your Best Man, Groomsman or Usher a month before the wedding is not okay. Don’t worry about being too “planny.” The women in your life and their lives will thank you, trust us!

Here’s to the Details!

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