At Stokely Event Center, we’re no strangers to the stress of planning a wedding! Being the best man comes with a long list of duties that you’ll need to carry out as early as a year before the wedding or when the bride and groom start planning. Whichever comes first, you’ll have the responsibility of helping out the groom in anything he needs the moment you’re named the best man. From running wedding errands for the couple to planning the bachelor party, there are many ways, both big and small, that you can step up in the months leading up to the wedding and help the couple plan their big day.
The day of the wedding can be one of the most important days for the best man to support the groom. Whether he’ll need a second set of eyes and ears, a shoulder to cry on, or someone to keep him on track, you’ll need to be at your best to make sure the groom has everything he needs. You want the groom to have the best wedding day to look back on, so here are some things to keep in mind when trying to help the groom leading up to the big day.
Keep an eye on the groom’s well-being
Wedding planning can be an extremely stressful time in the couple’s lives. Between balancing the wedding budget, coming up with an appropriate guest list, and deciding on hundreds of small details, the endless number of pressures can become a burden on mental and physical health. Keep an eye out for signs that the stress of wedding preparation is starting to wear on the groom. If you notice he’s developing headaches or even thinning hair, steer him toward the appropriate pain reliever or hair loss pills. Make sure that in the midst of errands and appointments he’s not sacrificing his health. He needs to feel mentally and physically ready for the big day
Plan the bachelor party
This can be one of the most enjoyable duties that come with being the best man. Planning the bachelor party allows you to use your familiarity with the groom and groomsmen to plan a fun event or activity that they’ll all love. Use your friendship and some of your best memories to organize a bachelor party that is both enjoyable for all and meaningful to the groom. Keep in mind that not every bachelor party needs to be alcohol-filled chaos. If the groom has a more laid-back personality, plan a low-key bachelor party, by getting tickets for a baseball game or going out to a nice restaurant. Most importantly, if you’re not sure what to plan, check with the groom for some ideas.
Take photos throughout the months leading up
Lots of couples say that the wedding goes by in the blink of an eye. Looking back, they forget little details and experiences and wish they had a rewind button. As the best man, something both helpful and sincere that you can do is to document the process. Take pictures of the bride and groom planning the wedding, running errands, or spending time with friends. Give the couple the photos as an opportunity for them to look back at positive memories from the wedding. At Stokely Event Center, we offer you the option to use our projector and state of the art sound system. Think about offering to create a slideshow for the bride and groom to play during the reception or rehearsal dinner. Capture small, genuine moments they might forget about or moments you might not think are as significant on the wedding day. They’re likely to turn out to be some of their most cherished photos from the wedding.
Bring along the groom’s stuff
As the best man, your duties should start the second you wake up in the morning. Formulate a list of things that the groom needs to bring with him and stay on top of it throughout the wedding day. Check with the bride and add anything on the list that she needs him to remember. Everything from his wallet to his vows should be on the list. You and the groomsmen will also have many stops to make on the big day, so include on the list each place you need to be and the time you need to be there. Assure that in all the preparation you don’t forget any critical items or places to be in order to stay on schedule and make it to the wedding on time.
Calm the nerves
There are plenty of ways for you to help ease the groom’s nerves leading up to the ceremony. The groom can be very nervous about standing up in front of an audience and reciting his vows, so you’ll need to be by his side throughout the day to support him and calm him down. Reassure him of any of his insecurities and remind him that he is well-prepared. If words aren’t comforting enough, organize a quick game or occupy his mind by turning on a sports game. A game in any sense of the word can be instrumental in keeping the mind busy when nervous. Plus, if that doesn’t do the trick, always keep some whiskey nearby, which will most definitely be appreciated by all.
Come up with a meaningful gift
Whether you plan on getting a gift for the newlyweds, the groom, or both, it can be really difficult to come up with a unique and meaningful wedding gift. Lots of wedding gifts come from the registry, but you might want your gift to be more personal and representative of your relationship with the couple. Take the pictures you took throughout the months leading up to the wedding and create an album for the groom. Get them tickets to a concert by their favorite band or a game with some of their favorite teams. The couple will surely be grateful for any gift that you decide on, so try not to put too much pressure on yourself.
Keep track of the rings
The rings are quite possibly the most critical items to remember on the big day. Once they’re out of the groom’s hands and into yours, they become one of your most crucial obligations. To avoid losing important essentials, keep the rings in your pocket or on your fingers inside your pocket so you’re sure that they’re with you. If you don’t fully trust that you’ve secured them in your pocket, keep them in a substantial ring box in your pocket or in your car. Keep them in your sight and in a secure place where you can watch them throughout the day. It’s also a good idea to check on them periodically to make sure they’re in the spot you left them.
Organize the groomsmen
There’s no doubt that when a bunch of old friends gets together, it can be a great time. Mix that in with a wedding and some alcohol, and it can make for a rowdy get-together. However, don’t let drinking and hanging out with the guys get in the way of what you’re all there to do. When getting ready for the ceremony, make sure all the groomsmen have dressed appropriately and know exactly what their roles are. Keep an eye on alcohol consumption and the guys on schedule so there are no obstacles to overcome. It’s your duty as best man to keep the groomsmen in line and guarantee that they, and the groom, get to the altar on time.
Don’t take your title for granted. Though it can be very fun to be involved in the planning and decision-making for one of your best friend’s important life events, you can’t forget that with that comes a heavy responsibility. Be selfless, thoughtful, and prepared for anything that the world could throw at the couple so that there are only positive memories from their big day.